Review of Optometry articles from March 2003

Review of Optometry archives from March 2003

Put teeth into CL laws, petition says: regulations on contact lenses exist. These O.D.s just want them enforced. (News Review).(contact lenses)
March 15, 2003... Last tall, just days before Halloween, the FDA began a crackdown on beauty parlors, gas stations and anyone who would sell cosmetic contact lenses without a prescription. But what about those who sell corrective contact lenses without a...

Recent studies have underscored the relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Recent studies have underscored the relationship between central corneal thickness (COT) and intraocular pressure. But most of these studies have had primarily white populations. Enter the Barbados Eye Study (BES), conducted on a primarily...

CIBA Vision has purchased the rights to the PRL posterior chamber phakic refractive lens from Medennium Inc. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... CIBA Vision has purchased the rights to the PRL posterior chamber phakic refractive lens from Medennium Inc. The PRL is approved for correction of myopia and hyperopia.

University of Utah have identified a gene for onset foveomacular dystrophy. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Researchers at the University of Utah have identified a gene for onset foveomacular dystrophy, a form of macular degeneration that occurs in one in every 8,000 people.

InSite Vision Inc. has filed an investigational new drug application with the FDA for ISV-403. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... InSite Vision Inc. has filed an investigational new drug application with the FDA for ISV-403, a drug for the treatment of ocular bacterial infections.

1-800 Contacts' growth goes flat. (News Review).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Last year saw some of the glimmer fade from 1-800-Contacts' steady growth. Sales for the mail-order contact lens retailer remained flat in 2002 compared with 2001, and the company lost money. For 2002 the company's net sales were $168.6...

Ocular findings help diagnose West Nile virus. (News Review).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Last year more than 250 Americans died from West Nile virus and nearly 4,000 were infected. If one of these patients had wound up in your chair, would you have been able to diagnose the disease by looking in the patient's eye? Now you can. ...

Promising drug may halt diabetic retinopathy. (News Review).(benfotiamine)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... A drug, already used in Europe, may arrest diabetic = retinopathy and prevent its development. Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York tested benfotiamine, a synthetic derivative of thiamine...

Congress blocks cut in Medicare payment. (News Review).
March 15, 2003... Congress stepped in at the final hour to block cuts in Medicare payments to physicians just before the March 1 deadline. The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate passed the 2003 Omnibus Spending Bill, which includes increasing...

Are you tough enough for today? Why now is a good time to think about growing your practice. (Editor's Page).
March 15, 2003... When the going gets tough, the tough get going. That was a favorite of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi, for whom the Super Bowl trophy is named. Today, that kind of inspiration seems like corn pone. It's just not in-your-face...

Ask Generation Y? Yeah, whatever: will twentysomethings go to optometry school? Only if they get free tattoos. (Chairside).
March 15, 2003... The twentysomethings are bugging me. They're not like Generation X, that last bunch of twentysomethings. At least Gen-X had goals. You know, to get something pierced. They knew that if you got educated and worked hard, you could someday afford...

Letters & E-mail.(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2003... A call to arms on III-gotten contacts The optometric community rallied last fall when the FDA talked of deregulating cosmetic contact lenses. Our profession, with the help of the national news media, successfully appealed to the FDA to halt...

For the record.(Correction Notice)
March 15, 2003... In the article "Why Pachymetry? Why Now?" (January 2003) Vision Medical Instruments was omitted from the list of pachymeter suppliers. Its telephone number is (440) 338-5981.

The long and winding road to private practice: after a diverse career, Dr. Patricia Keech finally goes solo. (Profiles in Excellence).
March 15, 2003... For a woman whose diverse career includes college professor, clinical researcher, chief of an HMO's contact lens clinic and now private practice, optometrist Patricia Keech's biggest professional challenge has always been figuring out what to...

What retailers don't want you to know: how department stores' best practices can make your dispensary more alluring. (Office Design).
March 15, 2003... What does your dispensary really say to your patients when they first enter? Does it immediately tell them what you offer? Is everything well marked, or do your patients have to go on a scavenger hunt to find the frames they want? Is your...

Alcon Challenge Series II: demystify allergy to solve your challenging cases.
March 15, 2003... This literature review will take you back to last year's popular Challenge series and prime you for the rich education to come in 2003. Welcome to Alcon Challenge Series II for 2003. This is the second series of articles, supported by a...

Is it time to upgrade your drab lab? Here's how to critically evaluate these factors, and others, when you're thinking about upgrading your in-office optical lab. (Ophthalmic Dispensing).
March 15, 2003... You've had an in-office lab for years now and you're happy with the results, but all the bells and whistles of newer-generation technology have caught your attention. How do you know whether upgrading your lab will have a positive impact on...

Casting call: will lens molding steal the scene? Here's why cast-to-Rx lenses are poised to gain market share. (Ophthalmic Lenses).
March 15, 2003... Just when it seemed that mold casting of spectacle lenses would be remembered as a once promising technology that never quite took off, the concept of casting a spectacle lens to power is taking hold. Until just a few years ago, lenses that...

Don't you do it ... hand it off: here's the case for delegating information gathering and other tasks in the optometric practice.
March 15, 2003... About 20 years ago Iowa dentist Duane Schmidt began using his newfound toy, a stopwatch, to measure how long it took him and his staff to do various dental procedures. He wasn't very busy then, seeing only eight or nine patients a day. ...

Case report: pediatric problem-solving with a silicone hydrogel.(contact lenses to treat hyperopia and astigmatism)
March 15, 2003... History A 7-year-old Caucasian female, presented to my office for a comprehensive vision exam. She had a physical exam with her primary care physician the week before and failed the vision screening administered at his office. Her mother...

What today's research tells us about treating ocular allergy: studies comparing drugs and treatment modalities may help us get through this season of the itch. (Ophthalmic Drugs).
March 15, 2003... With allergy season around the corner, once again our offices will be swamped with patients with two red eyes complaining of itch. So, now is a good time to review the latest on treating ocular allergy. Over the past year several clinically...

Review of systems, Part III: the bowel, the bones and the eye; these musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal problems can have secondary ocular effects. (Patient Care).
March 15, 2003... The musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal systems are susceptible to myriad diseases that may have secondary ocular effects. An understanding of each disease's basic processes and treatments allows you to correctly diagnose and treat the ocular...

The four steps to conscientious comanagement. (8th Annual Comanagement Report).
March 15, 2003... Taking the right medicolegal measures not only helps to protect you in comanagement arrangements. It also helps you serve your patients better. Let's say you practice in Smallville, a little town halfway between Gotham and Metropolis. A...

Surgical update, Part III your role in repairing the damaged retina: a clinical review of vitrectomy and its comanagement. (Optometric Study Center).
March 15, 2003... For many patients, vitrectomy surgery is unavoidable. Although our goal as primary care doctors is to detect retinal anomalies before our patients reach this point, surgery has become a valuable procedure to prevent vision loss and recover lost...

Drawing a bead on ocular rosacea: its cause is still a mystery, but we're learning more about effective treatments. (Research Review).
March 15, 2003... Acne rosacea is one of the most missed diagnoses in clinical practice. Affecting more than 13 million Americans, it has been associated with blepharitis, meibomitis and other ocular surface and lid diseases. (1) If not diagnosed and treated...

Know the right codes for cataracts: here are some tips to ensure you're in compliance with Medicare codes. (Comanagement Q&A).
March 15, 2003... Q The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be looking carefully at cataract comanagement this year. What can I do to ensure that I'm in compliance? A The first thing you need to do is be sure you're using the appropriate codes...

Is care system to blame for SPK? Could the solution be the culprit behind this lens wearer's problems? (Cornea & Contact Lens Q&A).
March 15, 2003... Q I have a first-time contact lens patient who has a moderate punctate epithelial keratopathy after two months of wearing daily wear, silicone hydrogel contact lenses. It appears worse in the inferior aspects of the cornea with only minimal...

Patient is at a loss over visual decline: symptoms progress and floater develops after treatment for ocular inflammation. (Retina Quiz).
March 15, 2003... A 35-year old Hispanic male presented with painless, progressive vision loss O.D. over three months. He also reported the onset of floaters without photopsia. An ophthalmologist examined him three weeks after his symptoms began and administered...

Study all factors before treatment: despite thick corneas, and other benign factors, this patient does have glaucoma. (Glaucoma Grand Rounds).
March 15, 2003... A 73-year-old white female presented in early 2001. We diagnosed her with pressure-dependant glaucoma and prescribed Xalatan (latanoprost, Pharmacia). Today, given the results of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study, is our management on the...

Post-op options for prophylaxis: there are options for prophylaxis of surgical patients, but how do you choose? (Therapeutic Review).
March 15, 2003... Endophthalmitis is potentially the most sight-threatening condition following intraocular surgery. Thankfully, the current incidence has been reported to be as low as 0.072% or O.082%.[1,2] No doubt, the frequent use of topical fluoroquinolones...

Essilor's new high-index entry. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... The new high-index Finished Single Vision (FSV) Thin & Lite 1.67 aspheric ophthalmic lens from Essilor of America has made its debut. This new lens is 50% thinner than 1.50 index plastic lenses and 25% thinner than a 1.60 index lens,...

Making progress in polycarb. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(new Progressiv XS lens from Rodenstock)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Rodenstock's Progressiv XS lens is now available in high-index polycarbonate. This PAL has a 16mm fitting height for today's smaller frame styles. With a fully aspheric design, the lenses are thinner, flatter, lighter and more cosmetically...

40 tests in one device. (Diagnostic Aids).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... A new visual acuity tester that boasts 40 different visual tests is available from Sifi, an Italian instrument company. The new SifiMAV is a qualitative and quantitative tester of visual performance. It allows you to evaluate contrast...

Feeling detached. (Diagnostic Aids).(new model of human eye for educating optometrists' patients)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... A new eye model from Gulden Ophthalmics can help you educate patients about vitreous or retinal detachment. The new Detachment Eye Model shows a detached vitreous and retina, including the Vogt ring. It also shows a cross section of the eye in...

An Eye Q test. (Diagnostic Aids).(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... To help you better diagnose diabetes in the early stages, Canon Medical Systems has created the new Eye Q digital retinal imaging system. Eye Q lets you capture high-resolution digital images. Its non-invasive camera captures multi-dimensional...

A rustic spring thing. (Vision Expo Preview).(new eyewear)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Nautica bursts into spring with natural hardwood temples for six new ophthalmic frames and two sun styles in its new seasonal collection. The N7903 features a sharp rectangle lens and a rimless three-piece mount. It comes in size 48/20-140. ...

Titanium trend. (Vision Expo Preview).(Luxottica's House of Chanel introduces the CH 3042 titanium frame)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... The House of Chanel from Luxottica offers a new titanium frame, the CH 3042. This narrow rectangle frame mixes a zyl front with dropped titanium temples for a somewhat retro look. Sizes are 52/17-135 and 54/17-135. Color choices include pearl,...

Impact driven. (Vision Expo Preview).(Viva Group's Guess Eyewear announces Total Eye Impact group product line )(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Viva Group's Guess Eyewear introduces the Total Eye Impact group. The group features styles GU 6017, Highway, an uplifting oval shape in size 58/17-140; and GU 6018, Freeway, a geometric square shape in size 58/17-140. Both styles feature...

Spring into 2003. (Vision Expo Preview).(Marchon Eyewear introduces Donna Karen spring sun collection)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Donna Karen from Marchon Eyewear introduces its 2003 spring sun collection featuring these styles. * DK9819S. A large, rectangle zyl frame with beveled lenses, this style features sculpted temple tips. Color combinations include shiny...

Cowabunga, dude. (Vision Expo Preview).(Luxottica Group Arnette sunwear optical line)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... The new Arnette sunwear line from Luxottica Group caters to surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders with lightweight wrap styles. The Arnette line features multilayer polarized scratch-resistant lenses that filter 100% of UV rays. The 2003...

Revisiting pachymetry. (Diagnostic Aids).(Vision Medical Instruments' VMI-300 pachymeter)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... The VMI-300 pachymeter from Vision Medical Instruments features 0.25[mu] resolution, which the company says is 160 times higher than digital pachymetry. The device displays four measurements for each applanation on a multi-line vacuum...

With this ring, I see red. (Diagnostic Aids).(Volk Optical non-contact diagnostic lenses)(www.volk.com)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Several non-contact diagnostic lenses from Volk Optical now come with colored rings so you can more readily pick out the right lens for the right task. Colored rings in choices of red, gold, green, purple, blue or silver are available for the...

Fully integrated edging. (Optical Equipment).(Lens Express Edging System from Satinelli International)(www.santinelli.com)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Satinelli International has fully integrated automated tracing, blocking and edging in its Lens Express Edging System (LEXES). LEXES has what Santinelli calls "a super intelligent" tracer! blocker that automatically identifies single vision,...

Suped-up. (What's New On the Web?).(Super Systems Optical Technologies web site)(www.fastgrind.com)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Super Systems Optical Technologies has a new web site with easy navigation to find all the products and services the company offers. One new feature of the site is the addition of Vision Council of America's "Check Yearly, See Clearly" logo and...

Report illegal CL sales. (What's New On the Web?).("Complication(s) Due to Contact Lenses Dispensed Without a Valid Prescription." reporting form available online from the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry)(www.arbo.org/complications.htm)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... In response to a presentation by a representative of the state attorneys general, the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) has developed a reporting form for "Complication(s) Due to Contact Lenses Dispensed Without a Valid...

Essilor's central port. (What's New On the Web?).(www.essilorusa.com)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... Essilor of America's new corporate web site allows users to reach all of Essilor's Web site from one central portal, www.essilorusa.com. The site is divided into two main sections: one for professionals, the other for consumers. There are also...

Get Wired! (What's New On the Web?).(PatientWire from Wolf Bioscience Inc. automates online patient lens ordering)(www.patientwire.com)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... PatientWire is the newest online tool aimed to help you compete with mail-order companies by fully automating the process of patient lens ordering online. A venture of Wolf Bioscience Inc., your site is branded in your name and run on Wolf's...

Meetings and Conferences.(Calendar)
March 15, 2003... April * 3. Binocular Vision and Pediatrics forum 2003, Columbus, Ohio. Sponsored by the Ohio State University College of Optometry. CE hours: TBA. Contact Marjean Taylor Kulp, TOSU College of Optometry, A322 Starling-Loving Hall, 320 West...

Did mugger steal vision? (Diagnostic Quiz).(trauma-caused vision disorder)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... History A 47 year-old black male presented complaining of decreased vision O.D. Ocular history was unremarkable. Systemic history was remarkable for trauma which he sustained during a mugging one month before his vision loss. He denied...