Review of Optometry articles from May 2002

Review of Optometry archives from May 2002

Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO). (In the News).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... The Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) is conducting a search for an executive director. The former executive director, James Vrac, left ARBO last year to take the same position at the Southern Council of Optometry. ARBO,...

SECO International. (In the News).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Paul C. Ajamian, O.D., has been appointed chairman of SECO International's continuing education committee. Dr. Ajamian is center director of Omni Eye Services in Atlanta. He is also editor of Review of Optometry's "Comanagement Q&A."

VISX Inc. (In the News).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Economic signs from the refractive surgery sector continue to look bearish. VISX Inc. saw revenues tumble about 28% and net income drop almost 50% in the quarter ended March 31 compared with the same three months last year. Sales of VISX...

AOA Congress to discuss specialties: House of Delegates to consider specialization, and nomination process. (News Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Specialty certification, the nominating process for AOA officers and a focus on eye care as part of public health are some of the issues that the AOA House of Delegates will take up next month at the association's 105th annual Congress in New...

Missouri Senate looks at regulated comanagement. (News Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... A bill that would regulate optometric comanagement of surgical patients based upon a model advocated by ophthalmologic organizations is being reviewed in the Missouri Senate. The bill would not ban comanagement; rather it would establish...

One year later: does settlement level contact lens playing field? (News Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... It has been one year since Vistakon became the last defendant to settle federal litigation that charged Vistakon, the AOA, CIBA Vision, Bausch & Lomb and others with violating antitrust laws. What effect will this settlement really have? Phil...

California scheming: is Gov. Davis setting board up for housecleaning? (News Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Getting a license to practice optometry in California could become quite a trick in the next few months if Gov. Gray Davis doesn't fill vacant seats on the California Board of Optometry. The board may face a new term, set to start in June,...

Will HIPAA revisions cozy to doctors at cost to patients? (News Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Optometrists have welcomed the Bush administration's proposed changes to privacy regulations in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) because they remove some of the strict consent rules proposed by the previous...

Something to talk about. (Editor's Page).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
May 15, 2002... It's nice when you have something to say. It's nicer when someone else listens. A few doctors who responded to this month's survey on the AOA say that the organization needs to do a better job of listening to its members. Exhibit A: The...

An onion a day keeps patients away: sometimes I put my foot in my mouth. Sometimes it only smells that way. (Chairside).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... I blame this doctor I went to one time. One time only. Now, he's an OK guy. I mean, I did get better... but only by force of will. I didn't want to go see him again, or experience his wicked bad breath. I was prepared to die. But I was not...

Why they do it better in Oklahoma: spend some time with Oklahoma optometrists, and you'll find out. (Another Perspective).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Even though we do many of the same things, a note from an M.D. recently posted on the Internet reminded me just how far apart optometry and ophthalmology sometimes are. This doctor was both stunned and outraged to discover that O.D.s had been...

Letters & e-mail.(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Like a mechanic drawing a map. (Letters & E-Mail) In your article "Should This Child Have an Eye Exam?" (cover story, March 2002) Dr. Michael Redmond (president elect of the American Academy of Ophthalmology) expresses views that are not...

PDAs: now more like a desktop; these new hand-helds do more, but may be bigger than your palm. (Technology Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Walk into any airport or continuing education meeting and you'll see people tapping away at hand-held screens. There's no denying it: Personal digital assistants (PDAs) have quickly become a way of life. While there are many choices for...

AOA Report Card not bad ... not bad at all: we ask members and non-members what they think of how the association is doing. Here's what they say. (National Panel).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... If this month's survey of our National Panel, Doctors of Optometry, resulted in a report card for the AOA, then the association would pull down a C. Overall, O.D.s--both members and non-members--think the association has done a fair-to-good job...

Can private-label save private practice? Or, are national brands the best way to retain your contact lens patients? (Contact Lenses).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... As more contact lens wearers purchase replacements from Internet and direct mail retailers, and in the aftermath of lawsuits that have forced major manufacturers to sell lenses to those retailers, independent O.D.s are looking for new weapons...

Insights into sight. (ARVO Report).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Prescribing eyeglasses is no longer our one-and-only role as optometrists. Many of us now diagnose, monitor and treat patients who have retinal disease, glaucoma and ocular allergies. In addition, we're playing an increasingly active role in...

Cornea: new studies may help allergy and dry eye sufferers. (ARVO Report).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... The National Weather service predicts that this year's allergy season, heading into full swing now, will be one of the worst Americans have seen in years. That means your office may soon be full of complaints about itchy, watery, irritated eyes...

Glaucoma: insights into risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. (ARVO Report).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Research presented at this year's Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting was full of useful information about the risk factors for glaucoma. Scientists and clinicians looked at everything--from how discs, cups and...

Retina: new treatments for CNV and diabetic retinopathy. (ARVO Report).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Some 1.6 million Americans past age 50 already have age-related macular degeneration, and the number will increase nearly 70% in the next two decades, the National Eye Institute and Prevent Blindness America recently reported. Diabetic...

Steroid use in ocular allergy: when used judiciously, topical steroids are effective agents in the more severe forms of ocular allergy and they may mitigate associated serious tissue damage. (Alcon Challenge Series).
May 15, 2002... The use of topical steroids is associated with potential complications, most notably elevated intraocular pressure, posterior subcapsular cataract, damage to ocular tissue and delayed wound healing. Treatment therefore calls for the minimal...

Refractive and cataract: improve outcomes with prevention and innovation. (ARVO Report).
May 15, 2002... When comanaging surgery, no two procedures send more patients to your chair than those for refractive errors and cataract extraction. Research at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting underscored much thinking...

How to make NIGHT & DAY[TM] lenses work in your practice: the nuts and bolts of follow-up schedules, fees, troubleshooting and more. (Today's Practice: Advertisement).
May 15, 2002... Before last November, I didn't fit extended wear contact lenses. When the CIBA Vision NIGHT & DAY high Dk silicone hydrogel lens was introduced, I was a bit reluctant but also intrigued by the science that showed this lens to be a healthy...

Upgrade your low vision workup: here's how you can help patients use their remaining vision for everyday functioning. (Optometric Study Center).
May 15, 2002... Today, 3.4 million Americans are blind or visually impaired -- a number that's expected to double by the year 2030, the National Eye Institute (NEI) and Prevent Blindness America report. There will be millions of new cases of AMD, glaucoma,...

High level ERG detects source of metamorphopsia: decreased response rate indicates macular photoreceptor degeneration. (Case Report).
May 15, 2002... A 52-year-old black female was referred for evaluation of central bitemporal visual field defects that had progressed over several years. At this visit, the patient reported symptoms of metamorphopsia in the region of the field depression....

Re-treatment: it's all in the timing; it all depends on knowing when--or if--to schedule LASIK enhancements. (Refractive Surgery Update).
May 15, 2002... LASIK offers rapid visual recovery, safety, adjustability and stability, and it can be an economical alternative to glasses or contact lenses. Thanks to excellent results, advanced surgical techniques and the evolution of new equipment, LASIK...

You'll shoot your eye out! Popular paintball-pellet games can be perilous to patients' ocular health. (Comanagement Q&A).
May 15, 2002... Q Has there been an increase in ocular trauma from paint-ball games? A Ocular injuries from paintball pellets are indeed on the rise as these games increase in popularity. In paintball games, participants use a [CO.sub.2]powered rifle...

How to get BCL reimbursement: many O.D.s have difficulty getting a third-party payer to reimburse for a BCL. (Cornea & Contact Lens Q&A).
May 15, 2002... Q There seems to be a lot of confusion over reimbursement for bandage contact lenses. Some carriers have decided not to cover them at all. Any suggestions on proper coding and strategies to assure reimbursement? A No one can guarantee that...

Keep peripapillary atrophy on watch: visual fields and C/D ratios are unchanged, yet the PPA may indicate progression. (Glaucoma Grand Rounds).
May 15, 2002... A 72-year-old white female initially presented in October 2000, and was diagnosed with normotensive glaucoma (NTG). She later moved to Alaska, but eventually returned to the area. Meantime, she stopped using her medication. Now, 18 months...

Yellowish material no golden finding: patient with uncontrolled diabetes and unusual fundus appearance reports vision loss. (Retina Quiz).
May 15, 2002... A 56-year-old black female presented complaining of a gradual, progressive decrease in her vision in both eyes for more than a year. Her last eye exam was approximately five years ago, at which time she received a prescription for her current...

Imager goes three ways. (Diagnostic Instruments).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... The Eye Q digital retinal imaging systems from Canon Medical Systems has expanded into three models: Eye Q Pro, Eye Q Lite and Eye Q SuperLite. Eye Q Lite is bundled with Canon's CR6-45NM non-mydriatic retinal camera and EOS D-60 digital...

Ditch the old-fashion look. (Low Vision).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... The Premium Prism Half-eyes low vision aid doesn't look as old-fashioned as other aids, Eschenbach says. Premium Prism Half-eyes feature a modern frame. The eyewear is available in powers 4.00D, 6.00D, 8.00D and 10.00D. It features a...

No-glasses correction for allergy sufferers. (Contact Lenses).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... The FDA has granted Vistakon clearance to revise its Acuvue labeling to reflect the products' benefits for allergy sufferers. The new labeling will indicate that 1 Day Acuvue lenses worn on a daily disposable basis may provide improved comfort...

Colors for higher myopes. (Product Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... ColorBlends lenses are now available to a wider audience. CIBA Vision has launched DuraSoft 2 ColorBlends daily wear, specialty color lenses, incorporating the company's ColorBlends technology. The lenses are available in piano to -6.00D in...

Presbyapic lineup. (Product Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Art Optical added MagniClear plus to its presbyopic product line. MagniClear plus uses the same tri-zone front surface design process as its predecessor, MagniClear. By experimenting with low eccentricity values on the back surface, the contact...

Free lens care for patients. (Product Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... CooperDirect, CooperVision's delivery option that sends lenses directly to a patient's home or office, will now come with a ReNu Great Start Kit. The kit includes a three-ounce bottle of ReNu MultiPlus multi-purpose solution, a lens case and a...

Lenses cast to power. (Ophthalmic Lenses).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Essilor of America is rolling out a new in-lab lens casting technology called DRx. The manufacturing process individually casts each finished lens to the particular patient's prescription. Essilor Laboratories of America is presently...

Water-based tinting. (Optical Equipment).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Two new water-based tinting systems offer a less toxic, more environmentally friendly method for tinting spectacle lenses in the lab. The Hunter Delatour Series 6 and Series 9 water-based tint systems were recently introduced by...

Calvin Klein 181S. (Sunwear).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Marchon's new Calvin Klein unisex style is an oversized shield with a slender metal temple. It is available in size 75/16-125. Colors are gunmetal with light blue flash lenses, anthracite with gray/green flash lenses, coffee with tan flash...

Ray-ban 3148 karma. (Product Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... This new Luxottica style features a metal frame with a double bridge and hexagonal-shaped lenses that are narrow and extend outward. The temples are thin and flexible with a convex ear piece. It is available in sizes 59/17-125 and 62/17-125....

Guess? Ultra lounge GU 5112. (Product Review).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... This new unisex sunwear style from Viva International features an aviator design. It is a double bar rimless wrap with a plastic and metal temple combination. It is available in size 64/17-120. Colors are satin light blue with sky blue lenses,...

Meetings & conferences.(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... June * 15-16. Review of Optometry's Glaucoma 2002 Conference San Diego. CE hours:10. Contact Lois DiDomenico 11 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 call (610) 492-1015 e-mail...

What's the problem to hit this boxer? (Diagnostic Quiz).
May 15, 2002... History A 53-year-old black male presented for a routine eye examination. He had no visual or ocular complaints. The patient reported no previous ocular history. He was successfully medicated for hypertension. The patient also...

Introduction.(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... Thankfully, the drug pipeline has slowed enough to allow us all to catch our collective breaths and digest the avalanche of new drugs released over the past two years. This is especially true in the areas of glaucoma and allergy patient care....

Vitamin & mineral supplements: finally, it's official! The long-awaited national eye institute's Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) is complete. (Vitamins).(Brief Article)
May 15, 2002... What many doctors have known in their hearts has been shown to be scientific fact: oral supplements containing antioxidants with zinc can significantly reduce the rate of progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). (Note that we...

Oral medications: at least 37 states allow optometrists some prescriptive authority for oral meds. It's time for us to embrace these drugs as part of our armamentarium. (Oral Medications).
May 15, 2002... These cases at left represent a token sampling of the patients we have treated with oral medicines over the last 20 years. It should be profoundly obvious that oral medicines can be immensely helpful in managing a number of select eye diseases....

Glaucoma medications: what's new for 2002? For the first time in a long time, the answer is: "not much"... and thankfully so. (Glaucoma).
May 15, 2002... There are some slight refinements, but there have been no substantial changes or additions to glaucoma medications in the past year. However, two concerns endure: one-half of all patients with glaucoma remain undiagnosed; and those that are...

Ocular allergy treatment drugs: conventional wisdom holds that if it itches, it's allergy. And as simple as it sounds, this truth is often borne out in clinical reality. (Allergy Drugs).
May 15, 2002... While we often conclude, "If it itches, it's allergy," it is still highly virtuous to attempt to discover the inciting cause, or circumstances that lead to allergy expression. Furthermore, are the patient's complaints of itching primary or...

Antibiotics: these drugs are massively overused, and rarely needed as monotherapy. (Antibiotics).
May 15, 2002... The generic (i.e., undiagnosable) red eye is a common occurrence. A firm diagnosis is elusive, so doctors typically prescribe an antibiotic. We have personally observed this among physicians of all stripes. In reality, bacterial infections...

Corticosteroids: topical corticosteroids remain the cornerstone of ocular anti-inflammatory therapy. (Corticosteroids).
May 15, 2002... Next to refractive error and dry eye, inflammatory conditions represent the most common clinical challenges. It is imperative that optometrists become familiar with the various topical steroids, and become competent and comfortable in their...

Ophthalmic instruments. (Corticosteroids).
May 15, 2002... As the volume of optometric clinical procedures has increased over the years, so has our knowledge of instrumentation. Rather than discuss the more commonplace instruments such as epilation forceps, foreign body removal devices, Alger brushes...

Recommended books and journals. (Books & Journals).
May 15, 2002... Having current reference texts on hand is one of the single most important things you can do to keep on the cutting edge of clinical knowledge. Obviously, monthly journals provide the most up-to-date information, and should be the cornerstone...

Mydriatic and dilation reversal drugs: dilation is about to become easier... again. (Mydriatics).
May 15, 2002... Those of you in practice since around 1993 will remember Paremyd. When it was available, it was our favorite dilating drug; we are thrilled to have it available again. Originally marketed by Allergan, the rights to remarket Paremyd were...

Dry eye products: dry eye is a confounding factor in numerous eye diseases, and is the most common eye disorder we treat. (Dry Eye Products).
May 15, 2002... Although we enjoy the privilege of writing numerous prescriptions every day in the office, our most commonly used drug class remains artificial tears. This is simply a reflection of eye disease epidemiology. As unexciting as dry eye is,...