Review of Optometry articles from November 2003

Review of Optometry archives from November 2003

Bausch & Lomb.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Bausch & Lomb posted sharply higher third quarter profit compared with last year. Sales improved 9%, beating Wall Street forecasts. B & L's earnings were boosted from an increase in sales in contact lenses (up 13% in the third quarter) and eye...

Lighthouse International and the Royal National Institute.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Lighthouse International and the Royal National Institute for the Blind have put together a new Web site, www.visionconnection.org, as a one-stop, accessible and interactive Internet portal for and about people with vision impairment. The site...

AOA backs revised Rx release bill: AOA petitions for protections in Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act.(NEWS REVIEW)(current bill, known as The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act )(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... A new and improved bill that mandates significant restrictions on the contact lens replacement market is getting support from the AOA. The current bill, known as The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (H.R. 3140), includes most of the...

Allergan sues FDA over Restasis.(NEWS REVIEW)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Allergan has filed suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because the agency has re-classified Allergan's prescription dry eye drug as an antibiotic. The FDA originally approved Restasis (cyclosporine 0.05%) in December 2002 as...

Part-time patching effective for amblyopia.(NEWS REVIEW)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... A six-hour daily patching regimen for children between the ages of three and seven with amblyopia is as effective as full-time patching, reports a study in the November 2003 issue of Ophthalmology. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Pediatric...

Air Force allows LASIK for non-fliers.(NEWS REVIEW)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... The U.S. Air Force, which had until recently only provided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for its personnel, will now allow LASIK under its "warfighter" refractive surgery program. Contacts and glasses can be lost or become problematic...

Is Cole National up for sale?(NEWS REVIEW)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Cole National Corporation announced that it has received an unsolicited offer to acquire the company for $19.65 per share in cash. The company will not disclose the identity of the party, other than to say that it is not affiliated with HAL...

Comanagement is a risk factor for LASIK lawsuits.(NEWS REVIEW)
November 15, 2003... More than 50% of refractive surgery malpractice claims resulted from surgeries in which surgeons comanaged with an optometrist, according to a study published in the November 2003 issue of Ophthalmology. Although comanagement was listed as...

Eggs: a good lutein source?(NEWS REVIEW)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... They're not just for breakfast anymore. They're for your eyes. A study found that eggs are a better source of lutein (in terms of bioavailability) than either spinach or two types of available nutritional supplements, says Elizabeth...

Forum on aging eye reveals research breakthroughs.(NEWS REVIEW)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Age-related vision problems have commonalties with other disorders associated with aging, which is why physicians from various disciplines gathered in October at the North American Scientific Symposium on Age-Related Vision Impairment. The...

Let's all rant about bureaucracy! I can't even get a driver's permit, and you want a license to practice optometry?(EDITOR'S PAGE)(Editorial)
November 15, 2003... Red tape. In both personal matters and business matters, it is the bane of my existence. So often, the hoops we're forced to jump through seem completely unnecessary, and appear to serve no purpose other than to throw obstacles in our otherwise...

What if an O.D. won the lottery? What would you do if you won Powerball? Here's my ditty that covers it all.(CHAIRSIDE)
November 15, 2003... While preparing this month's column, the Powerball lottery intervened. I didn't win, which was probably good for me. Why? It made me think about patients and such, rather than stupidly fly off to the Caribbean with suitcases full of nickels....

Alcon comments on toxicity.(LETTERS & E-MAIL)(Letter to the Editor)
November 15, 2003... I read with interest Dr. Levy's letter in the August 15th Review of Optometry as it relates to the roundtable supplement (Solutions to Contact Lens Care Problems: A Frank Discussion About Toxicity and Patient Comfort. Review of Optometry, May...

Helpful Web sites for O.D.s: online resources can bolster the business end of your practice.(TECHNOLOGY REVIEW)
November 15, 2003... The business of optometry has never been more challenging. Competition is fierce, technology changes daily, a new technique or treatment modality is introduced almost weekly and third-party payers continually slice us a smaller piece of the eye...

Optometry's marathon man: this year marks optometrist Kenneth Rosen's 25th New York City race.(OUT OF THE OFFICE)
November 15, 2003... Residents of River Vale, N.J., fondly know optometrist Kenneth Rosen as their very own Forrest Gump. Living in a town that encompasses just five miles, the people of River Vale are bound to see Dr. Rosen jogging past their cars in the...

Collections 101: how to handle late paying patients; Most agree that offering payment plans is not a good idea.(PRACTICE MANAGEMENT)
November 15, 2003... You know the scenario: A patient has just finished his eye exam and you guide him to the receptionist for payment. When the receptionist says, "That will be $100, Mr. Jones," he responds, "Oh, I forgot my wallet. Can I pay you later?" ...

Teen contact lens patients, new options and strategies: fitting teenagers with contact lenses can sometimes be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you deal with atypical teen cases.(CONTACT LENSES)
November 15, 2003... Just as in "A Tale of Two Cities," teenage contact lens patients in our office include both our most enjoyable patients, giving us the best of times, and our most challenging patients, representing the worst of times. As the parent of two young...

Pressure's dark twin: measuring POBF may help borderline patients.(INSTRUMENTS)
November 15, 2003... One would have hoped that a century and a half of intense study would have produced at least a general consensus as to the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Unfortunately the roots of the disease remain grimly elusive, and widespread prevention efforts...

What's stopping endorsement? It's time to remove the states' shackles and get the ball rolling on licensure mobility.(Cover Story)
November 15, 2003... A new job opening in Santa Fe, N.M., was an opportunity that an ambitious computer programmer couldn't refuse, although it meant leaving her state of Oklahoma. The only problem was that her husband, optometrist Daniel G. Bintz, had a thriving...

New reflections in post-operative cataract care.
November 15, 2003... Optometrists seldom get an opportunity to evaluate the post-operative performance of different IOL designs. Because most optometrists refer to a single surgeon or referral center their entire population of post-operative patients share similar...

Anterior uveitis: treat the symptoms and the cause; As primary-care providers, we must both quiet the inflammation and help uncover systemic disease.(PATIENT CARE)
November 15, 2003... Anterior uveitis challenges us as primary-care providers on several levels. We must halt the inflammatory process to prevent even more significant ocular complications. Also, patients with uveitis often have underlying systemic disease. Our...

When O.D.s become emergency docs: how you can manage medical crises that arise in your office.(OPTOMETRIC STUDY CENTER)
November 15, 2003... Although we are used to caring for patients with ocular emergencies, many of us have limited experience in treating systemic emergencies that occur within or outside the office. Still, appropriate and timely interventions could make the...

Did glaucoma Med induce iritis? After starting travoprost, the patient returned with lower IOP--and a photophobic, red eye.(CASE REPORT)
November 15, 2003... A 65-year-old, white, female presented for an evaluation. She was previously followed as a glaucoma suspect. Her family history was negative for glaucoma. The patient's medical history was remarkable for hypercholesterolemia and migraine...

Is the dry eye really inflamed? Research about this underlying component of dry eye has led to new treatments.(RESEARCH REVIEW)
November 15, 2003... We now know that inflammation is a potential critical component of dry eye disease, now often called dysfunctional tear syndrome. Further, many factors raise an individual's susceptibility, including decreased androgen levels, certain...

Should patient participate in trial? Should your patient participate in clinical trials for a new class of drugs?(COMANAGEMENT Q & A)
November 15, 2003... Q I recently referred a patient to a retinal specialist for evaluation of wet AMD. She later told me that the specialist was trying to recruit her into the "rhuFab study," and she wanted my opinion about whether to participate. What is this...

Can the SARS virus be transplanted? Just how susceptible is ocular tissue to severe acute respiratory syndrome?(CORNEA & CONTACT LENS Q & A)
November 15, 2003... Q Is ocular tissue susceptible to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Ocular tissue is indeed believed to be susceptible to the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). So, current medical...

Lesion turns up in amblyopic child: does this explained reduced vision during an otherwise unremarkable exam?(RETINA QUIZ)
November 15, 2003... An 11-year-old black female presented complaining of blurred vision in her left eye. Another doctor had seen her about two years ago and prescribed glasses. Even with the glasses, however, the left eye was slightly blurred compared with the...

Don't forget the old standbys: a fragile glaucoma patient must have periocular steroid injections.(GLAUCOMA GRAND ROUNDS)
November 15, 2003... A 63-year-old black female presented to the office in January 2003 on recommendation of her previous eye doctor. She was new to the area and had a rather involved ophthalmic history. She was diagnosed with glaucoma approximately five years...

New tools to treat post-LASIK bugs: the new fluoroquinolones may prove a powerful weapon against Mycobacterium.(THERAPEUTIC REVIEW)
November 15, 2003... Historically, sight-threatening eye infections associated with refractive surgery were highly unusual. Within the last few years, however, the risk of Mycobacterium infection in the lamellar interface has gained attention. (1) ...

Thicker option.(CONTACT LENSES)(Hydrogel Vision Corp.)
November 15, 2003... Hydrogel Vision Corp. has expanded its product line with the introduction of the new Extreme H20 G-60 S-Xtra lens. It's a slightly thicker version of the company's Extreme H20 G-60 products, designed for patients who need a lens that is easy to...

Lightweight protection.(OPHTHALMIC LENSES)(from Titmus Optical)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Ultravision Ultra Safe 2.00mm polycarbonate lenses are the latest offering in protective eyewear from Titmus Optical. The finished single-vision lens is available in +3.00D to -6.00D with cylinders of -0.25 to -2.00. The new lightweight lens is...

Refractor/keratometer.(DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS)
November 15, 2003... The new ARK-730A automated refractor/keratometer from Marco boasts enhanced features like fully automatic alignment, tracking and focusing. This new instrument allows the user to take peripheral keratometric measurements including sagittal...

Retinal Imaging software.(DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS)(from Canon)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Canon's new Eye Q Sharp is a software program that provides medical imaging network options and services for users of the company's Eye Q Retinal Imaging. With the system, users can capture view, analyze, print and digitally communicate digital...

New pachymeter.(DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS)(Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry (OLCR) pachymeter from Haag-Streit )(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Haag-Streit has received FDA approval for its new Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry (OLCR) pachymeter, which allows for measurement within 1[micro]m of corneal thickness. The measuring head of the OLCR emits two red LED-aiming beams that...

Occlusion therapy.(THERAPEUTICS)
November 15, 2003... Herrick's new synthetic dissolvable opaque lacrimal plugs, intended for medium-term occlusion therapy, are available in 0.4mm and 0.5mm diameters. The company says foil packaging will preserve the freshness of the device and prevent plug...

Nutraceuticals.(THERAPEUTICS)(Natural Ophthalmics)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Two new nutraceutical supplements intended to support posterior eye health are available from Natural Ophthalmics. Nutraceutical Support for the Macula combines four ingredients that help support the tissues and functions of the eye. The...

Magnifying eyewear.(LOW VISION)(from Eschenbach)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Building on its earlier noves mono system for monocular near magnification, Eschenbach introduces the new noves bino system for binocular reading. The bino system features the same multi-order diffraction (MOD) technology as the mono system,...

Driving kit.(LOW VISION)(Lighthouse Driving Kit, from Lighthouse International)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... The Lighthouse Driving Kit, from Lighthouse International, provides both fitting and training tutorials for O.D.s who prescribe telescopic glasses for driving. A fitting set and training manual are included for the practitioner. For patients, a...

Eye models.(PATIENT EDUCATION)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Two new eye models are available from Gulden Ophthalmics to help you explain punctal plugs and cupping of the optic disk. The Optic Disk Eye Model shows the cupping of the optic nerve and cross section of the eye in three layers; the retina,...

Patient brochures.(PATIENT EDUCATION)(Vistakon's Acuvue Eye Health Advisor program )(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Vistakon's Acuvue Eye Health Advisor program features brochures and eye exam reminder cards. The two-part brochure addresses both parent and teen concerns about teen contact lens wear. A section, called "So Your Teen is Considering Contact...

Rosacea booklet.(PATIENT EDUCATION)
November 15, 2003... A patient education booklet that incorporates the new standard diagnostic criteria for rosacea is available free-of-charge from The National Rosacea Society. Understanding Rosacea identifies the primary and secondary features of rosacea and...

Drill bits.(DISPENSARY)
November 15, 2003... Santinelli's new drill bits come in a wide array of sizes for all lens materials and are made of micro grain tungsten carbide for maximum durability. The bits range in size from 0.9mm to 2.5mm and have color-coded rings that indicate the size...

Eye Designs' new Stylus collection.(OFFICE DESIGN)
November 15, 2003... Eye Designs' new Stylus collection features modular, semi-custom displays and furniture. Multiple styles in both modern and traditional designs are available. Call 1-800-346-8890 or go to www.eyedesigns.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Eyefinity.(WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB)
November 15, 2003... Eyefinity has a special offer for customers who order frames through eBuy. For every order you place through the end of the year, you will receive a $5 account credit to cover one shipment from each frame manufacturer per day. Leading...

Men's frames.(OPHTHALMIC FRAMES)(Fendi Occhialo)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Fendi Occhialo's new collection of sunwear is designed for men. Materials for this Marchon brand include plastic, metal and leather. * FS274 is a large rectangular zyl frame with elongated temples that display the Fendi logo plaque. Colors...

Unisex frames.(OPHTHALMIC FRAMES)(from Guess Eyewear)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Guess Eyewear introduces its Eye Discovery sunwear grouping. UV protection PC lenses coordinate with frame and shade colors. * X-Ray, GU 6033, is a rimless wrap frame in size 00/00-135. Color combinations include silver with clear flash...

Sport.(OPHTHALMIC FRAMES)
November 15, 2003... Costa Del Mar's latest design, Harpoon, is aimed at sports fishermen. Features include Megol temple tips and nosepads and the company's WAVE technology lenses. Wire core temples include an injected stainless steel rod for a customized fit....

New styles.(OPHTHALMIC FRAMES)(Marchon and Marcolin Eyewear Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Marchon's Coach Eyewear brand features 16 new optical and 11 new sun styles. All feature Coach signature grommets and logo treatments and come with a signature C case. * Penelope is a zyl frame with an oversized Coach logo plaque on the...

Frames for women.(OPHTHALMIC FRAMES)(from Viva International Group)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2003... Viva International's Candie's Eyes introduces a new stainless steel group for women. The three new styles are accented with flexible spring hinges, adjustable nose pads, and the open Candie's logo on both temples. * C Gabriela, and oval...

Meetings & conferences.(Calendar)
November 15, 2003... December * 3. Low Vision Management of AMD: A Practical Approach, Dallas. Sponsored by Lighthouse International. CE hours: 7. Contact Noemi Santiago, Lighthouse Continuing Education, 111 East 59th St., New York, NY 10022; call...

Lens flaking causes trouble.(DIAGNOSTIC QUIZ)
November 15, 2003... History A 42-year-old white female presented complaining of blur at near for a two-month period. Her ocular and systemic history was noncontributory, and she denied taking any medications. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION...

New advances in glaucoma: recent technology and study findings lead us to reevaluate how to care for glaucoma patients.
November 15, 2003... The paradigm of how we manage glaucoma is evolving before our eyes. Glaucoma management has changed in part due to newer medications that more effectively lower the intraocular pressure (IOP). Early diagnosis is also a priority. New imaging...

Imaging in glaucoma.
November 15, 2003... When you see a patient for the first time, you must decide if that patient has a normal or abnormal optic nerve. Unless the patient has a severely diseased optic nerve, you will find it difficult to determine if the nerve is within normal...

The optic nerve in glaucoma.
November 15, 2003... Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a syndrome that is poorly understood in many ways, but it is known that it produces progressive optic neuropathy resulting in damage to the optic nerve and the retinal nerve fiber layer, with concomitant...

The Heidelberg HRT II in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma.
November 15, 2003... Visual fields have long been the standard of following glaucoma patients. Perimetry instruments are noisy and variable, and the tests are tedious for patients. Many glaucoma patients are not good visual field subjects. Keep in mind that a...

Secondary glaucomas: treating secondary glaucoma can vary greatly from primary open angle glaucoma.
November 15, 2003... It is important to understand that the care of the secondary patient is different. The assessment is about the same, and the overall outcomes can be exceedingly different from your standard open angle glaucoma patients. It's critical that...