Review of Optometry articles from May 2007

Review of Optometry archives from May 2007

It's a 'sigh of relief' for O.D.s in Georgia: it took 10 years, but Georgia optometrists can soon prescribe oral drugs.(News Review)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... A bill that would add oral antibiotics, oral antivirals, oral antifungals, oral antihistamines and oral glaucoma agents to Georgia optometrists' scope of practice passed both the Georgia House and Senate and is currently awaiting the Governor's...

Economic impact of vision loss in the United States.(News Review)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Economic Impact of Vision Loss in the United States Total cost: $51.4 billion Costs (in billions) Direct medical costs ($16.2) Other direct costs ($11.2) Lost productivity ($8.0)...

Genes associated with advanced AMD.(News Review)(age-related macular degeneration )
May 15, 2007... Variations of two common genes are associated with progression to more advanced forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and lifestyle factors such as smoking and being overweight greatly increase this risk, according to a study in the...

Bill to bring optometrists back into National Health Services Corps.(News Review)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The National Health Services Corps (NHSC) is a federal program designed to recruit and retain health professionals to work in underserved communities across America. Through loan-repayment programs, the NHSC program ensures that communities...

Optometry mourns loss of Kurt Vonnegut.(News Review)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... In his groundbreaking 1969 novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., created the most famous fictional optometrist: Billy Pilgrim, who reads from a copy of Review of Optometry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the book, Dr....

AOA puts programs under new umbrella.(News Review)(American Optometric Association)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The American Optometric Association recently launched the AOA Foundation for Science, Education and Charity, a new organization that will oversee seven current programs that focus on education, research and charitable giving. The expanded...

Time for a checkup? Just go to the store.(News Review)
May 15, 2007... More Americans get their health care where they do their shopping, a new poll finds. A growing number of adults and children now use "retail clinics" (often called in-store or convenient care clinics) for routine health-care needs, according to...

Missouri legislature requires eye exams for schoolchildren.(News Review)
May 15, 2007... A new bill (HB 914) requires schoolchildren in Missouri to have a comprehensive vision exam--not just a vision screening--before entering grade school. Eye exams will be required for all children before they enter kindergarten or first...

First MRSA keratitis found in refractive surgery patients.(News Review)
May 15, 2007... Researchers reported the first cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) found in 12 patients (13 eyes) following refractive surgery in the April issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology. These cases, they say,...

These mice are seeing red--literally.(News Review)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... A group of mice have been given the ability to see a whole new world of color by researchers from the University of Santa Barbara and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Mice are dichromats that only possess short- and...

Understanding autism: with autism running rampant in American communities, it's time we all get schooled on what it is and what we can do to help.(Editor's Page)
May 15, 2007... When I learned that I was pregnant, a wave of fear overwhelmed me. I wasn't afraid of late night feedings, changing diapers or even colic. Instead, I was downright petrified that my baby would have autism. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A...

Get a feel for it: feelings make us human. It's good to feel happy, and it's OK to feel sad. You can feel sorrow, and you can feel glad. Just don't feel nothing.(Chair Side)
May 15, 2007... As a doctor and healer, you have to be someone who feels. I know how personally I take it when Billy Bob shows up, 10 months after he gets his glasses at the mall, and tells me he never could see through that prescription. The glasses, of...

Make a list, and check it twice: you can never plan too much when relocating your practice.(Practice Management)
May 15, 2007... Suburban St. Louis optometrist Dirk Massie knew it was time to go. He had purchased an existing practice that had been around for 45 years, and the neighborhood was becoming blighted and less than desirable. Plus, with just 1,800 square feet to...

Malpractice the suit that takes you to the cleaners: even the most seasoned O.D.s are not immune.(Practice Management)
May 15, 2007... It used to be that getting slapped with a malpractice suit was not a major worry for O.D.s. However, as optometrists have expanded their scope of practice in recent years, lawsuits against O.D.s have increased. So, how do you continue to be a...

Doctor, take the wheel! The optometrists' role in cataract comanagement is expanding every day. This article will review the latest thinking in pre- and postoperative care.(Cataract)
May 15, 2007... The days of sending a patient to a cataract surgeon to "determine if the cataract is ripe" are a distant memory for some O.D.s and unheard of for many others. In this era of primary-care optometry, we are, or should be, the captain of the...

ARVO report: research presented at this year's meeting covers topics ranging from microbial keratitis to central corneal thickness.(Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)
May 15, 2007... At first, the assignment seemed simple enough: Look through the abstracts of posters, papers and presentations from this year's Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting and choose about 15 glaucoma-related abstracts...

Cornea: new studies discuss microbial keratitis treatment options, HSV and dry eye diagnosis and treatment.(ARVO)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 15, 2007... This year, presentations in the cornea section run the gamut of microbial keratitis, contact lens solutions, herpes simplex virus, dry eye, penetrating keratoplasty and more. Much of this research has immediate and practical clinical...

Retina: this year, findings include more possible uses for Avastin, genetic factors that influence AMD and new uses of OCT in a retina practice.(ARVO)
May 15, 2007... Many of this year's presentations involving the retina deal with the debate between Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab), both by Genentech, Inc., in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The possible use of...

Cataract & refractive surgery: researchers discuss quality of vision among IOLs, prevention of cataract surgery-related complications and new procedures.(ARVO)(intraocular lenses)
May 15, 2007... An estimated 20.5 million (17.2%) Americans past age 40 have cataract in either eye, and the total number of persons who have cataract is estimated to rise to 30.1 million by 2020, according to a 2004 report from the Eye Diseases Prevalence...

Glaucoma: research offers new information about CCT, additional predictors of glaucoma, and ways to increase compliance.(ARVO)(central corneal thickness)
May 15, 2007... An 85-year-old Hispanic female presents for a comprehensive exam with no visual complaints. The exam is unremarkable, and IOP is 18mm Hg, but upon dilated fundus exam, you see large amounts of cupping. You suspect open-angle glaucoma, but how...

Autism spectrum disorders: a primer for the optometrist: as many as one in 150 children are born with autism. But autism--and the ocular conditions associated with it--is not the same in every child. Every optometrist must understand the condition and be able to examine an autistic patient.(OPTOMETRIC STUDY CENTER)
May 15, 2007... By the time Max was two years old, his parents noticed he was not like other children. He did not play with other children. He seldom talked, and he no longer seemed to use the words he once knew. He was becoming lost in his own little world,...

LASIK, LASEK or PRK for cop? Each procedure has pros and cons for a patient about to enter the police academy.(Cornea+Contact Lens Q+A)
May 15, 2007... Q I have a 21-year-old patient who hopes to enter the State Police Academy soon. But, to be admitted, he needs better uncorrected visual acuity than what he currently has. Which refractive surgery procedure is most appropriate, taking into...

Dry eye and contact lenses: contact lens wear may induce dry eye, but new materials and designs may reduce intolerance. They may even serve as a treatment for dry eye.(Research Review)
May 15, 2007... The relationship between contact lenses and dry eye is unique. One study indicated that contact lens wear may induce dry eye. (1) Yet, wearing contact lenses can also be an effective treatment option for dry eye. (2) This month's column focuses...

Is 'wispy' floater a clue? The patient also exhibited areas of hyperplasia in the right eye and changes in the peripheral retina of the left eye.(Retina Quiz)
May 15, 2007... A 41-year-old black female presented complaining of a wispy floater in the peripheral vision of her left eye. Onset was about two weeks earlier, but the symptoms have since disappeared. The patient has been seen here since she was in her...

'Anointing' a standard of care: is there still a role for fortified antibiotics in the management of bacterial keratitis?(Therapeutic Review)
May 15, 2007... A 36-year-old male presents following the development of painful vision loss O.S. over several days. He has worn contact lenses for the past several years without incident. This vision loss initially began as a purulent discharge that he just...

AMD risk assessor.(Diagnostic Technology)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The MacuScope, by MacuChek, tracks pigment density changes in the macula to identify patients at risk for age-related macular degeneration. The device uses flicker photometry to measure the density of macular pigment and quantify the patient's...

BIO and adjustable frame.(Diagnostic Technology)(Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The Sigma 150 Spectacle Mount Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope (BIO) and S-Frame, by Heine Optotechnik, adjust to fit most users, the company says. The Sigma 150 BIO can be adjusted to fit any pupil diameter from 48mm to 74mm and includes...

Gonioscopy Lens.(Diagnostic Technology)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The 4 Mirror High Mag Gonio Lens, by Volk Optical, features up to 1.5x magnification and uses four mirrors at a 64-degree angle for a 360-degree view of the anterior chamber. This glass lens does not require an interface solution, and its...

Lens pattern/contour tracer.(Lab Equipment)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Opera Scan, by AIT Industries, scans lens patterns and contours to determine drilling coordinates. This device can act as a tracer by scanning the lens to capture 3-D trace-and-drill point data, or it can function as a database for storage of...

Short-channel progressives.(Ophthalmic Lenses)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Definity Short, by Essilor of America, Inc., are digitally surfaced, short-corridor progressive addition lenses. The lenses feature "Dual Add," a patented dual-surface offset design that splits the add power over both sides of the lens. They...

Photochromic progressive lenses.(Ophthalmic Lenses)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Outlook progressive addition lenses, by Vision-Ease, are now available as part of its Life Rx photochromic line. The Outlook LifeRx polycarbonate lenses are available in powers of -9.00D to +6.25D, with add powers of +0.75D to +3.50D, and are...

Pocket Magnifier.(Low Vision)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The LED Pocket Magnifier, by Gulden Ophthalmics, features 5x magnification and a retractable one-inch magnifying lens. A switch on the side of the magnifier operates the enclosed LEDs. It functions for up to 100 hours on one set of batteries,...

Dietary supplement.(Patient Care)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Fortifeye, a new line of dietary ocular supplements from Fortify Vitamins, Inc., includes Fortifeye Complete, Fortifeye Macular Defense and Fortifeye Dry Eye Therapy. The key ingredient in each of these is resveratrol, which is found in grapes...

Custom microfiber cleaning cloths.(Practice Management)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... XTreme Vue microfiber cloths, by OptiSource, can be custom-printed with an image, practice logo and/or contact information. Stock images are also available for modification. The heavyweight cloths are machine-washable and available in several...

ABO-accredited course.(Practice Management)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The course "Give Your Patients What They Really Want" and the accompanying skills workshop and review module, from Transitions Optical, Inc., provides tools and tips for offering premium lenses to patients. The ABO-accredited course discusses...

Fendi by Marchon.(FRAMES)
May 15, 2007... Marchon introduces a new women's sunwear collection by Fendi. It includes: * FS388, an oversized wraparound plastic frame that features a large Fendi logo treatment on each temple. This frame is available in size 66/14-110 and in colors...

Costa del Mar.(FRAMES)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Costa del Mar introduces two new unisex sunwear collections: Core Collection, a sport-performance line, and Shore Collection, a lightweight stainless steel group. Each wraparound plastic frame in the Core Collection features integral...

Carolina Herrera by Base Curve Eyewear.(FRAMES)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Base Curve Eyewear, a division of R.E.M. Eyewear, introduces a new women's collection by Carolina Herrera. This collection includes: * H111, a pillow-shaped metal ophthalmic frame that features multicolored woven zyl temple tips. This frame...

Candie's Eyes by Viva International.(FRAMES)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Viva International's Butterfly Beauty, a new group of women's frames by Candie's Eyes, includes two double-laminate plastic frames that feature the Candie's logo on the temple and laser-etched butterflies on the temple tips. Each frame also...

Magic Clip by Viva International.(FRAMES)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Viva International's new sparkling metal group, "Ice is Nice," by Magic Clip, includes three metal frames for women. Each features a crystal temple treatment and polarized magnetic sun lens clips with additional crystal detailing. The...

Puma by Luxottica.(FRAMES)
May 15, 2007... Luxottica introduces a new unisex line of sunwear by Puma. This collection includes: * Mystify, a one-piece aluminum wraparound frame that features the Puma logo on the temple. It comes in size 99/99-125 and in colors black with gray...

Meetings + conferences.(Calendar)
May 15, 2007... Summer CE in Maui! Review of Optometry's 2007 Summer CE Symposium is coming to Maui! It will be held at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in beautiful Ka'anapali Beach, June 14 to June 17. You can earn 14 CE credits! Call 1-866-658-1772 to...

More than meets the eye.(Diagnostic Quiz)
May 15, 2007... History A 23-year-old white female presented with a painful red left eye. Four days earlier, she had gone to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with a corneal abrasion. The ER staff medicated her with a topical antibiotic and...