Review of Optometry articles from November 2006

Review of Optometry archives from November 2006

FDA.(Food and Drug Administration)(drug approvals)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... The FDA has approved Zaditor (ketotifen fumarate, Novartis Ophthalmics) in full prescription strength for over-the-counter (OTC) use. It's the first OTC allergy eye medication approved for use in children as young as 3. The drug will be...

Prevent Blindness America.
November 15, 2006... Prevent Blindness America is again launching a nationwide search for citizens to become advocates for vision issues. The second annual Eyes on Capitol Hill event will give adults and children from across the country the opportunity to meet...

Blue Mountains Eye Study.(vision loss may lead to hearing loss)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Older people (mean age: 69.8 years) with vision loss are also more likely to have hearing loss, according to an analysis of the Blue Mountains Eye Study published in October's Archives of Ophthalmology. This finding suggests that these...

Which is safer: LASIK or contacts? LASIK appears to be safer than contact lenses, say these three ophthalmologists.(News Review)
November 15, 2006... A short letter to the editor, tucked unobtrusively in the very back of the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, has stirred a hornet's nest of controversy. In the letter, three accomplished ophthalmologists suggest that refractive...

Artificial cornea grows on you.(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Stanford researchers have created a prosthetic cornea that they believe is less likely to be rejected by the human eye. The prosthetic is made from a new nutrient-permeable hydrogel material that can hold a water content of 80%--comparable to...

Two studies document success of AMD drug.(News Review)
November 15, 2006... Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) can stop growth and leakage from choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and help to restore vision in patients who have age-related macular degeneration, according to two clinical studies in the October 5 New...

Parents who smoke affect their child's refraction.
November 15, 2006... The refractions of children who were exposed to tobacco smoke differ from those of children who were not exposed, according to a study in October's Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. (1) Children exposed to smoking--even during...

Specialty know-how: specialty eye care can be a real boost to your practice, but the tricks of the trade can elude even the most astute O.D. This month's CE program takes the guesswork out of sports vision.(Editor's Page)(Editorial)
November 15, 2006... Most doctors understand the need to find that special something that sets their practices apart from the rest. Some have high-end dispensaries that attract patients who have large disposable incomes. Others might focus on low vision,...

Information overload: my mailbox and my brain are all filled up. I only subscribe to two eye-care magazines, so why are there 30 of them on my desk?(Chair Side)
November 15, 2006... Someone thinks I am in search of knowledge. Perhaps this is related to my education at two of the finest institutions between the planets of Mercury and Pluto: Washington and Lee University and Pennsylvania College of Optometry. (Before you...

Practice transitions series, Part V: exit strategies; After 25+ years of practice, many optometrists start to focus on winding down their active practice careers and give some serious thought to what comes next.
November 15, 2006... In this series, Review of Optometry takes a close look at the dilemmas, decisions and life changes at each stage of an optometrist's career--from optometry school to active practice to retirement. In each installment, we talk with...

Group practice gains but not without pain: bigger is better for the bottom line, but group practice also brings many new challenges for practitioners.(Practice Management)
November 15, 2006... It's not exactly a revolution, but you could call it accelerated evolution. As optometrists continue to embrace an expanded scope of practice that requires more expensive instruments, larger offices and bigger staffs, solo practice is on a...

A bird's-eye view of avian influenza: although rare, the avian flu can manifest itself as conjunctivitis. You may be the first health-care professional to see an infected patient.(Patient Care)(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 15, 2006... Imagine this: An 8-year-old boy presents to your office complaining of pain in his left eye. His conjunctiva is obviously inflamed. In addition, his cheeks are flushed, and he has a raspy cough. You take his history, and he tells you his...

Create a winning game plan for sports vision: for advice on how to provide this specialty service, take a page from the playbook of this optometrist who works with professional athletes.(OPTOMETRIC STUDY CENTER)(Cover story)
November 15, 2006... About 90 million Americans, or 35% of the population across all age groups, avidly participate in some sort of sport, while another 84 million participate in a sport occasionally, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association. ...

Part 3 of 3, the genetics of corneal dystrophies: discovery of the mutations that cause corneal dystrophies may change their classification.(Genetic Disease)(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 15, 2006... In the United States, approximately 4,200 persons are affected by a corneal dystrophy, according to research from Prevent Blindness, the National Institute of Special Education and the National Science Foundation. The corneal dystrophies...

Be the first to detect thyroid disease: because you could be the first practitioner to detect thyroid disease in a patient, here's a review of the disease and its ocular manifestations.
November 15, 2006... More than 10 million Americans have thyroid disease, and another 13 million are estimated to have undiagnosed thyroid problems. (1,2) In 1985, the incidence of thyroid dysfunction was approximately 0.4% of the entire United States population....

Physiologically fitting progressives: creating designs and technologies for peak performance.
November 15, 2006... In the most recent edition of the "Progressive Lens Identifier" there are more than 300 progressives illustrated, covering design and materials. The ECP has a plethora of choices in lens technologies and fitting philosophies to help in...

Visual problems result from severe stenosis: here's how we managed this rare patient who has vertebrobasilar disease and its attendant ocular manifestations.(Case Report)(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 15, 2006... A 50-year-old white male presented for an exam with no subjective complaints. His medical history was remarkable for hypertension, a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), hyperlipidemia, bilateral carotid artery...

Red in the face? Many patients who have acne rosacea aren't aware that their eye problems are linked to the condition. This is where O.D.s can play a role.(Doctor of Optometry)
November 15, 2006... Q I see a lot of patients who don't know they have acne rosacea. What is our role in educating and treating them? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A "It's true that people with rosacea often don't know they have it, especially in the early...

Corneal erosion commotion: how do you treat a LASIK patient who has RCE from a "leaky" epithelium?(Cornea+Contact Lens Q+A)
November 15, 2006... Q I recently saw a 27-year-old female post-LASIK patient who suffers from multiple episodes of recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) due to a "leaky" epithelium. What course of action should I take with this patient? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Things aren't as they seem: vision loss and atypical findings mimic one disease, but patient's age confounds the diagnosis.
November 15, 2006... A 53-year-old white female presented to her optometrist one week earlier for her first-ever eye exam. The O.D. noted atypical fundus changes and referred her to us for evaluation. This was her first dilated eye exam. Medical and ocular...

Something for 'nothing,' (Part 2): a subconjunctival hemorrhage, though common, can be extremely distressing to patients.(Therapeutic Review)(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 15, 2006... Patients who have subconjunctival hemorrhage (SCH), like patients who have eyelid myokymia (see "Something for Nothing, Part I," October 15, 2006), often are quite worried when they present for an exam. To an individual who has never...

Much ado about staining: what do we really know about the relationship between corneal staining and contact lens multipurpose solutions?(Research Review)(Column)
November 15, 2006... Recently there has been much discussion about corneal staining and contact lens solutions. Although much of the research is sound, some conclusions have little clinical basis. This month's column will serve to sort out what we know. ...

Contact lens package labels.
November 15, 2006... New "L" and "R" contact lens package labels, from Arch Crown, are pressure sensitive, removable and will not damage packaging, the company says. Two styles are available: black lettering on a clear label (style P289LRC) and red lettering on a...

Antimicrobial lens case.
November 15, 2006... The PRO-GUARD Lens Case, from CIBA Vision, has an antimicrobial agent to reduce lens case contamination. The case has a layer of silver ions; as the case is used, these ions are released to preserve the antimicrobial agent. [ILLUSTRATION...

Spring hinge replacement tool.
November 15, 2006... The patented StopFlex tool, from AIT Industries and DB Optic of France, allows you or your lab technician to efficiently replace spring hinge screws without harming the hinge or frame, AIT says. The tool facilitates walk-in repairs of spring...

Blocker software enhancement.
November 15, 2006... The Dimetrix lens verification and finish blocker, from Gerber Coburn, has been upgraded to allow you or your lab technician to view both eyes before blocking the second lens. The device also includes left and right prism imbalance settings...

Dry Eye Test.
November 15, 2006... The Dry Eye Test, or DET, from Amcon Labs, is a fluorescent strip used to determine tear break-up time (TBUT). The strip delivers 1[micro]L of fluorescein dye to the ocular surface without compromising the tear film, the company says....

Management software.
November 15, 2006... Practice Director, practice management software from Williams Group, lets you consolidate your records into one program. The central system of Practice Director is an electronic medical records keeper. Written using JAVA by Sun...

Excimer laser system approved by FDA.(approvals)(Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. MEL 80)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... The MEL 80 Excimer Laser System, from Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., recently received FDA approval for myopic corrective surgery. The MEL 80 uses a small spot size and Gaussian beam profile to create an even corneal ablation and protect the...

Eye models.(Patient Education)
November 15, 2006... The ICL (Implant-able Contact Lens), Corneo-plastique, and the EPI (Epi-LASIK) eye models, from Gulden Ophthalmics, are designed to facilitate patient and staff education about the techniques of each procedure. Each model is realistically...

Polarized film.
November 15, 2006... Polarized film for printing vectrograph slides, available from International Polarizer, is designed to help you assess the patient's gross and fine depth perception. This film may help identify children's visual problems, such as amblyopia...

Sun lenses.(Ophthalmic Lenses)
November 15, 2006... Blue or green embedded mirror lenses, from Costa Del Mar, are now offered as part of its 580 series. This expansion of the 580 series allows for clearer vision in more lighting conditions than previously possible, the company says. ...

Preservative-free eyewash.
November 15, 2006... OcuFresh, from Optics Laboratories, Inc., is a preservative-free eyewash made of water for injection. It can be used daily to remove bacteria and other foreign bodies, the company says. OcuFresh is packaged in sets of sealed 20ml...

Online training.(internet services)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... STIMULEYE Basic Optics, from Essilor Laboratories of America, is an online dispensary-training program for eye care professionals. It features these five courses: * Eye Function and Ophthalmic Solutions. * Interpreting the Rx for...

Showroom tours.(new showrooms of Fashion Optical Displays)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Fashion Optical Displays has opened two new showrooms--one in St. Paul, Minn., and the other adjacent to the company's factory in Paradise, Calif. Both showrooms feature the patented Shadow Reduction Technology (SRT) panel and other new...

Calvin Klein from Marchon.
November 15, 2006... Marchon introduces new sunwear and ophthalmic frames in its Calvin Klein collection. The sunwear line includes: * 473S, a men's metal modified aviator frame available in brushed bronze with brown lenses, dark silver with gray...

Maui Jim sunglasses.
November 15, 2006... Maui Jim introduces the Maui Jim Shields collection, which offers a one-piece wraparound lens with PolarizedPlus technology, as well as a new sunglass for fishing. The Maui Jim Shields collection includes: * Breakwater, a unisex...

Harley-Davjdson from Viva International.
November 15, 2006... Viva International Group introduces three new collections in its Harley-Davidson line: the H-[D.sup.2] and the Strong and Defined collections for men, and the Super Wide Flex collection for children. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Vogue from Luxottica.
November 15, 2006... Luxottica has added three women's sunglass frames and three ophthalmic frames to its Vogue collection. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The sunglass line now features: * VO 2443S, a sleek rectangular zyl frame. Available colors are...

Meetings + conferences.(Calendar)
November 15, 2006... December * 6. Lighthouse International's Low Vision Management of AMD: A Practical Approach, New York. CE hours: 7. Contact Cathy Czeto, 111 E. 59th St., New York, NY 10022; call (212) 821-9487; fax (212) 821-9781; e-mail...

Red today, gone tomorrow.(Diagnostic Quiz)(chronic eye redness)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... History A 24-year-old white male contact lens wearer presented for a routine eye examination. He had no visual complaints but was concerned about chronic redness in both eyes, which he said had been a recurrent problem during the last...

What your patients may be missing: millions miss out on everyday joys due to visual impairment caused by retinal disease. But, advances in treatments and technology offer many of them hope.(INTRODUCTION)
November 15, 2006... This year got off to an incredible start as my wife and I welcomed our first child into the world. As you can imagine, my son, Ethan Matthew, is not only the great pride and joy of his parents but his grandparents as well. Despite their...

Vascular endothelial growth factor: a new frontier in macular degeneration; A look at the most promising treatments for patients with AMD.(AMD)
November 15, 2006... Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in the Western world. (1) In the United States alone, advanced AMD affects more than 1 million people, and approximately 8 million more are at high risk for...

Nonmydriatic cameras to diagnose DR: does this ever-improving technology represent the wave of the future?(diabetic retinopathy)(Clinical report)
November 15, 2006... Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the Western hemisphere. It's become so prevalent--there are 20.2 million diabetic patients and 40 million prediabetic patients in the United States, according to a...

The influence of HAART on CMV retinitis: this "triple-cocktail" therapy for patients with HIV/AIDS has had a profound effect on treatment for CMV retinitis.(AIDS)(highly active anti-retroviral therapy)(Cytomegallo virus)
November 15, 2006... At the end of 2003, more than 1 million people in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS. (1) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 40,000 people become infected with HIV each year. The human...

Retinal complications of systemic medications: the medication your patient may be taking for a systemic disease can adversely affect his vision and eye health.
November 15, 2006... Arange of mild to severe ocular complications can occur secondary to use of several common-and some medications for diseases such as arthritis, breast cancer, hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, malaria and schizophrenia. Many of these adverse ocular...

Retinal diseases in the genes: know the clinical signs of these inherited retinal conditions so that patients do not fall through the cracks.(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 15, 2006... Inherited retinal diseases affect fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States. (1) Despite this low number, however, you're likely to encounter some of them in your practice. Even if the disease is systemic, it's likely to come with...

An atlas of retinal disease: disorders of the retina and the instruments that can help you diagnose them.
November 15, 2006... In what way is the retinal microvasculature unique from all other blood vessels in the human body? Namely, it is the only part of the human circulatory system that can be directly visualized non-invasively in vivo, readily photographed and...

The ABCs of ICD-9s and CPTs: take the mystery out of medical billing and coding for retinal disease, and give your practice a boost.
November 15, 2006... As optometrists assume greater responsibility for diagnosing and managing retinal conditions, they'll want to be appropriately reimbursed for doing so. In this article, I'll discuss both ICD-9 diagnostic and CPT procedural codes for retinal...

Talking points.(Shout Out)(Women In Optometry)(Editorial)
November 15, 2006... In the accompanying "Emails to the Editor," Dr. Philip Kearney questions the validity of Women In Optometry (WO), vents a host of criticisms about WO and asks a number of questions, such as "Are the women in optometry lacking professional...

Medical Network opens its doors to young O.D.(Doctors of Optometry)
November 15, 2006... When opportunity knocked, Angela Berghoff, O.D., rushed to answer the door. It came in a call from physician recruiters for St.Vincent Health, the Indianapolis-based hospital and physician network system. The St.Vincent Physician Network was...

At your service: military O.D. adjusts to quieter pace.(Judith A. Driscoll)
November 15, 2006... Each year while attending New England College of Optometry, Judith A. Driscoll, a recipient of an Army Health Professional Scholarship, would spend six weeks at an Army medical facility as an optometry extern. As a newly minted O.D. and Army...

The rewards of a practice.(Fishbein, Bethany)
November 15, 2006... Bethany Fishbein, O.D., Somerset, NJ, can trace her interest in low vision back to summer vacations during college when she worked as a lifeguard at a summer camp for visually impaired children. "I knew then I wanted to go into a career that...

Jumps for joy: skydiving inspires low vision practitioner.(services of Dr.Jennifer Galbraith)
November 15, 2006... When Jennifer Galbraith, O.D., moved from corporate practice to private practice in Harrisburg, PA, two years ago, she finally had her weekends free. But her husband had just started skydiving, "and he was looking at the sky more longingly...

Ways to improve patient loyalty.(It's Your Business)
November 15, 2006... Patient loyalty is not a given. It's something that must be earned and, once earned, must be cultivated consistently to keep. Author Jill Griffin makes that a central lesson in her 2002 book Customer Loyalty. How to Earn It. How to Keep It....

Ankh if you love eye care: O.D.'s Egyptian-themed practice feels restorative.(Doctor of Optometry)(medical practice of Dr. Jackie Campisi)
November 15, 2006... Before she could open a new practice and treat others, Jackie Campisi, O.D., Mystic, CT, needed to heal herself after a bitter divorce. She found her muse in the form of a symbol. Twenty years earlier, a friend had given her a piece of...

Fifteen minutes to make a connection: emotional connections to patients increase sales, satisfaction.(Statistical data)
November 15, 2006... The Aurora, IL, LensCrafters is the busiest location in the country. It boasts not only the highest volume but the highest O.D.-generated sales. The fact that the four O.D.s who work there are all women may well play a role, says Diana...

Women O.D.s make gains in Academy.(Doctor of Optometry)(American Academy of Optometry)(Statistical data)
November 15, 2006... The American Academy of Optometry, which is expected to draw about 4,500 eye care professionals to its annual meeting in Denver in December, has seen a significant increase in the number of women Fellows in the past decade. In 1995, just 11...

An A + for effort: O.D. earns education degree to help more students.(Doctor of Optometry)
November 15, 2006... Vision therapy can have some wonderful results, but sometimes it's just not enough. That was the frustration Renee Jacobs, O.D., M.A., Littleton, CO, felt when, after weeks or months of working with a youngster to remedy an ocular motor...

ABC-affiliate TV.(Women in the NEWS)
November 15, 2006... Elise Brisco, O.D., Hollywood, CA, was featured on a Los Angeles ABC-affiliate TV segment on the importance of early vision exams for children. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

New England Eye Institute.(services of Dr. Janis Mertz)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Janis Mertz, O.D., New England Eye Institute's Chief of Homeless Service, led a group of students from the New England College of Optometry in providing comprehensive eye exams to migrant workers in Boston in May. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry.(appointment of Dr. Christina M. Sorenson)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Christina M. Sorenson, O.D., Scottsdale, AZ, was elected to serve a term as vice president of the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

American Optometric Association.(services of Dr. Andrea P. Thau)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Andrea P. Thau, O.D., New York City, became the lead voice in talking about the American Optometric Association's Eye-Q survey, which found that parents don't have a solid understanding of vision issues and eye health. [ILLUSTRATION...

New England College of Optometry.(election of Elizabeth Chen)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... New England College of Optometry has elected its first woman president. Elizabeth Chen, the second non-O.D. to hold the position, is a former CEO of two biotech companies in Massachusetts. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

University of Missouri.(services of Dr. Anne Ream)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Anne Ream, O.D., Mountain View, MO, serves as a curator of the University of Missouri. She is a 1984 graduate of University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Illinois College of Optometry.(services of Dr.Janis Winter and Dr.Eileen Gable)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Janis Winter, O.D., (l) and Eileen Gable, O.D., (r) both of the Illinois College of Optometry, were featured in a video segment on the college's affiliated Illinois Eye Institute's Sight for Seniors program. The O.D.s discuss how the program...

The Arizona Republic.(Women in the NEWS)
November 15, 2006... Kelly de Simone, O.D., Phoenix, AZ, was featured in The Arizona Republic talking about vision therapy in an article in September. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Heart of America Contact Lens Association.(appointment of Dr.Ellen Weiss)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Ellen Weiss, O.D., Omaha, NE, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Heart of America Contact Lens Association at the organization's 2006 annual meeting. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Southern College of Optometry.(awards of Dr.Martha Rosemore Greenberg)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Martha Rosemore Greenberg, O.D., Russellville, AL, was honored with the Southern College of Optometry (SCO) Lifetime Achievement Award in October. A 1974 SCO graduate, she became the first woman to chair the SCO Board of Trustees. ...

Ohio State University College of Optometry faculty.(services of Dr.Karla Zadnik)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Karla Zadnik, O.D., F.A.A.O., Ohio State University College of Optometry faculty, is the only woman currently serving on the American Academy of Optometry's Board of Trustees. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity.(services of Dr.Ruth McAndrews)(Brief article)
November 15, 2006... Ruth McAndrews, O.D., Durant, IA, president, Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), spoke at the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry annual meeting. Her talk, Dare to Care, encouraged more people to consider volunteer...

Rewriting the rules: O.D.s today can shape practices more than in past.(doctor of optometry)
November 15, 2006... When Marcie Welsh, O.D., had her two children, she took off just two weeks from her practice each time. She would have liked to stay home longer, but "as a solo practitioner with no one to cover for me, what could I do?" she says. This was in...

Don't get trapped! Be careful--contractual covenants can limit choices.
November 15, 2006... Signing an employment contract with a restrictive covenant should give anyone pause, but it may be even more important for women to watch what they sign, says Craig Steinberg, O.D., J.D., Oak Park, CA. "Any O.D. who is young and inexperienced...

Small-town feel, great big appeal: O.D. plans her path to a private practice.(doctor of optometry)(Biography)
November 15, 2006... Throughout school and after her 1994 graduation from New England College of Optometry, Mary E. Boname, O.D., F.A.A.O., was hoping she'd be able to go into private practice for herself. Like many O.D.s, she wasn't able to do so immediately...

Mother nurture: O.D. believes in consultative approach with all patients.(doctor of optometry)
November 15, 2006... The tension in the consult room can be as thick as fog. Theresa J. Ruggiero, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., Northampton, MA, sits at the table across from eager and stressed parents. The results of two hours of testing, a comprehensive eye exam, a...