Review of Optometry articles from October 2004

Review of Optometry archives from October 2004

New England Journal of Medicine.(IN THE NEWS)(Japanese scientists developed new methods in corneal transplantation, using cheek thin tissue)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... A cheeky solution: Japanese scientists have developed a way to harvest thin sheets of tissue from the inner lining of the cheek to use as corneal grafts. Post-surgery, the four corneas studied were transparent, and visual acuity improved...

First implantable contact lens.(IN THE NEWS)(produced by Ophtec BV and Advanced Medical Optics)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... The FDA has approved the first implantable contact lens for near-sightedness: the Verisyse lens, produced by Ophtec BV and Advanced Medical Optics. Ophtec says the device will be marketed to nearsighted patients who may not be good candidates...

Archives of Ophthalmology.(IN THE NEWS)(research shows that vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acid does not slow the progression of retinitis pigmentosa)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Combination treatment of vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acid does not slow the progression of retinitis pigmentosa, according to two articles in September's Archives of Ophthalmology. These results contrast with previous studies that have found...

Kids' vision exams are cost-effective: a new report says exams are not only cost-effective, but outperform screenings.(NEWS REVIEW)
October 15, 2004... Every eye doctor knows that catching amblyopia early provides the best chance for treating it effectively. But, eye doctors are split over the most appropriate method. In one corner, organized ophthalmology and pediatricians advocate...

Macugen, retaane, lucentis and other emerging drugs may soon treat AMD.(NEWS REVIEW)
October 15, 2004... More than 20 different wet (exudative) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) products are in both the middle and late stages of development, and an onslaught of diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) drugs are also...

ARBO launches Optometric Education Tracking system.(NEWS REVIEW)(Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... The Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) plans to mail "OE Cards" to all optometrists nationwide beginning mid-October. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The cards are part of the board's new Optometric Education Tracking Program...

Pre-existing hypothyroidism in men may be related to open-angle glaucoma.(NEWS REVIEW)
October 15, 2004... Men who have a pre-existing diagnosis of hypothyroidism may be at greater risk of developing open-angle glaucoma, says a study in the September Ophthalmology. (1) The study took place at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Birmingham,...

Optometric Council on Refractive Technology to hold its first meeting.(NEWS REVIEW)
October 15, 2004... The Optometric Council on Refractive Technology (OCRT) will hold its first annual meeting and educational seminar on Wednesday, December 8, 2004, at the Tampa Convention Center prior to the American Academy of Optometry Meeting. The OCRT...

Florida O.D.s assessing hurricanes' impact.(NEWS REVIEW)
October 15, 2004... The Florida Optometric Association is still in the "information collection stage" and presently conducting a statewide damage assessment poll of its members following this year's historic hurricane season, says its executive director, Kenneth...

Did Rembrandt have strabismus?(NEWS REVIEW)
October 15, 2004... Seventeenth-century Dutch master painter Rembrandt van Rijn could have been strabismic, according to a recent analysis of his many self-portraits. In 23 out of 24 paintings examined, Rembrandt's right eye deviates to the right while his left...

The Great Depression: it's amazing what humans can endure. But, if we lose our ability to see, even the strongest among us may unravel.(EDITOR'S PAGE)
October 15, 2004... Helen Elizabeth Cummings, born in Archbald, Pa., in 1923, spent most of her first 27 years on earth caring for her mother, while the Great Depression took its toll. She stood in doorways waving goodbye as her sisters went out on dates and...

Optometry holds a prestigious place: optometry is one of the most prestigious professions, right below plumbing.(CHAIRSIDE)(Interview)
October 15, 2004... I received a very nice letter from optometrist J. Barry Remey, of Fort Smith, Ark., in which he offered his concern about the use of the word "prestigious" to describe, for example, an optometric practice. The thing that makes optometrists the...

Patient's eyes hold further interest.(LETTERS & E-MAIL)(Letter to the Editor)
October 15, 2004... I enjoyed reading Dr. Dunbar's challenging "Retina Quiz" case, "Just How 'Interesting' Are Patients' Eyes?" (July 2004). However, I believe this looks remarkably similar to a condition known as peripapillary (pericentral) pigmentary retinal...

How to be sued for malpractice: you don't want to dilate? You don't have time to document? You may be on your way to court.(PRACTICE MANAGEMENT)
October 15, 2004... Although malpractice is not a major concern for optometry, cases do occur against O.D.s. And, certain errors are more likely to result in claims. The most common claim alleges negligence--an allegation that the optometrist failed to adhere to...

Part 2 of 2: business strategies for your dispensary; How to increase productivity, and make your dispensary a pillar in your practice.(PRACTICE MANAGEMENT)
October 15, 2004... There are many ways to define productivity in any business. The key indicators in an optical include unit sales of eyeglasses, number of patients served, gross and net income in dollars and more. As business executives, we want all these values...

Seeing beyond the eye: what you should know about the emotional effects of vision loss and how to meet your patients' needs.(PATIENT CARE)
October 15, 2004... Eleven years ago, then 39-year-old Chip Goehring of Doylestown, Pa., saw his ophthalmologist for his regular yearly checkup (he is near-sighted), when his doctor diagnosed him with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). "I just remember...

Drug therapy for LASIK complications: the best refractive surgical outcomes come from a patient who is well informed and cared for by an expert manager.(10TH ANNUAL REFRACTIVE SURGERY ISSUE)
October 15, 2004... The optometrically co-managed LASIK patient will have only limited contact with the surgeon; therefore, the responsibility for pre- and post-surgical management and potential complications falls mainly on your shoulders. You are the manager of...

The clinical implications of widespread LASIK: as the refractive surgery population grows, we can expect to see more clinical challenges in other areas of eye care, including donor corneal tissue, glaucoma diagnosis and IOL calculation.(OPTOMETRIC STUDY CENTER)(Cover Story)
October 15, 2004... As an overwhelming number of patients enjoy reduced dependency on glasses and contact lenses, public acceptance of laser-vision correction has grown to the point that it is no longer novel but commonplace. Consider: Surgeons in the United...

Two-for-one deal for cataract patients: patients can opt for astigmatic correction during the same procedure.(COMANAGEMENT Q & A)
October 15, 2004... Q I sent a patient for cataract surgery, and the physiological result is excellent. However, astigmatism is still present, and the patient is unhappy. Could this have been corrected at the time of surgery? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A...

A new custom in monovision? Is custom treatment in just one eye appropriate for this 51-year-old myope?(CORNEA & CONTACT LENS Q & A)
October 15, 2004... Q I am considering referring a 51-year-old myopic patient (-1.50D O.U.) for custom LASIK in the dominant eye only (monovision). Are there any concerns about custom treatment of just one eye in this patient? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Of...

No clear cause of blurred vision: initial exam yields no clues to the etiology of patient's acuity loss in the right eye.(RETINA QUIZ)
October 15, 2004... A 63-year-old white male presented with blurred vision in his right eye. He said his eye had been this way for the past two months. The patient's optometrist could not find an explanation for the reduced acuity, so he referred the patient to...

An open mind on ACG: ACG treatment goes beyond pilocarpine.(THERAPEUTIC REVIEW)(angle-closure glaucoma)
October 15, 2004... Editor's note: This month, optometrists Joseph Sowka and Alan G. Kabat take over "Therapeutic Review." Both are faculty members at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry and are co-authors of our "Handbook of Ocular Disease...

Refractive surgery beneath the cornea: intacs for keratoconus and phakic IOLs offer patients new alternatives.(RESEARCH REVIEW)
October 15, 2004... As refractive surgery continues to evolve, we have even more options to offer our patients. We've previously discussed the advances in wavefront-guided ablation (see "Wavefront Systems Available Today," August 2004, page 58). Three recent FDA...

Current concepts in anterior segment infection management.(Letter to the Editor)
October 15, 2004... Dear Colleagues: Internet-based continuing education is clearly the wave of the future. That's one reason why I am especially excited to invite you to this online, on-demand presentation of "Current Concepts in Anterior Segment Infection...

Eni-Eye Soft K.(CONTACT LENSES)(from AccuLens)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... AccuLens' Eni-Eye Soft K Contact Lens received additional FDA approval in August for post-surgical visual enhancement and the correction of irregular astigmatism due to natural or post-surgical conditions. The lens was previously only approved...

Vertex Toric XR.(CONTACT LENSES)(from CooperVision Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... CooperVision's Vertex Toric line of disposable contact lenses has a new sibling: the Vertex Toric XR. Designed to accommodate a larger population of astigmatic patients, the Vertex Toric XR features three cylinders: -2.75D, -3.25D and...

Small-Environment Lens.(OPHTHALMIC LENSES)(Shamir Insight Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Shamir Insight Inc. has expanded its Shamir Office Small-Environment Lens. The lens is now available in polycarbonate material. Also, the power range has been expanded to -2.25D and can meet the needs of patients who require high reading...

ColorMatic Extra.(OPHTHALMIC LENSES)(from Rodenstock Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Rodenstock has added ColorMatic Extra Brown in a 1.56 lens index to its spectacle line. The new addition is available in both Progressive AT and Cosmolit Single Vision lens designs, as is its sibling, the ColorMatic Extra Grey. Rodenstock...

Varilux.(OPHTHALMIC LENSES)(from Essilor)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Essilor has extended its Varilux line of ophthalmic lenses with the VariluxLiberty and the addition of Airwear to the Varilux Ellipse line. VariluxLiberty is a progressive lens designed for those transitioning from bifocals and features the...

Pachymeter.(EXAM EQUIPMENT)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... The AccuPach V, from Accutome Inc., is a light, portable pachymeter that is desktop, slit lamp or wall mountable and has an adjustable handle/stand for viewing at different angles. It features a monochrome Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and touch...

Intraocular Lens.(COMANAGEMENT)
October 15, 2004... The Versyse Phakic Intraocular Lens from Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) received FDA approval in September for the correction of myopia ranging from -5.00D to -20.00D in patients ages 21 and older who have less than -2.50D of astigmatism. These...

Crystalens.(COMANAGEMENT)(lens from Eyeonics Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Crystalens, an accommodating intraocular lens from Eyeonics Inc., is now also indicated for presbyopic patients who undergo cataract surgery. As such, the company has revised their labeling. Crystalens initially received FDA approval in...

AllAboutVision.com.(WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB)(internte resource on vision correction options and eye health)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... AllAboutVision.com, an independent resource on vision correction options and eye health for consumers, is offering a free web page hit counter to all eyecare professionals who have their own practice web sites. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Ti-Lite.(FRAMES)(from Rodenstock Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Rodenstock introduces two new Ti-Lite Frames: models 4437 for men and 4438 for women. Both models are made of beta titanium and come in a modified oval shape. Model 4437 (seen below) is available in colors black, blue, brown and titanium gold...

Marchon.(FRAMES)(introduced new frames and a palette display)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Marchon Eyewear Inc. introduces two new frames and a palette display. M812T, a unisex plastic frame with rectangular spectacle slots, comes in sizes 48/16-135 and 50/16-140. M814T, a plastic oval or "cat eye" frame for women, comes in sizes...

Ecko and Ellen Tracy.(FRAMES)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Viva International Group introduces five new frames for women--two under the Ecko Unltd. Frame collection called "Endless Possibilities" and three from Ellen Tracy Eyewear. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Endless Possibilities collection...

Tommy Hilfiger.(FRAMES)(from Viva International)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2004... Viva International introduces two unisex frames for the Fall 2004 season from Tommy Hilfiger: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * TH 3054, a rectangular plastic frame, comes in colors black, tortoise, blue and bone and size 51/15-140. * TH...

Meetings & conferences.(Calendar)
October 15, 2004... October * 17. New England Coding and Compliance Seminar, Framingham, Mass. Sponsored by New England Professional Conferences. CE hours: 6. Contact Bud O'Leary, O.D., P.O. Box 4057, Andover, MA 01810; call 1-877-825-2020; fax (978)...

Eye splotched after car wash botch.(DIAGNOSTIC QUIZ)
October 15, 2004... History A 32-year-old black male presented for a follow-up eye examination after an emergency room visit. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] His chief complaint was a red, swollen left eye, without pain, which he had for the past two days....

Bausch & Lomb.(Company Profile)
October 15, 2004... Dear Colleague, When Bausch & Lomb first introduced ReNu Multi-Purpose Solution to the market in 1987, it ushered in a new era in soft contact lens care, providing patients with greater convenience while at the same time offering...

New technology works to maintain moisture.
October 15, 2004... ReNu with MoistureLoc Multi-Purpose Solution provides a unique combination of ingredients that works to reduce end-of-the-day dryness typically experienced by a contact lens wearer. This technology is a unique multifunctional system that helps...

Protein deposit management to keep lenses clean naturally.
October 15, 2004... In addition to its wetting features, the new ReNu with MoistureLoc formulation has the ability to help keep protein from depositing on the surface of lenses, and to remove deposits that may have formed previously. A key benefit of the...

Superior disinfection for safe lens wear.
October 15, 2004... The combination of the polymers and components of MoistureLoc formula are capable of managing protein and keeping the lens moisturized for long periods of time to maintain comfort in the eye. But ReNu with MoistureLoc is not only capable of...

Cleanliness and comfort sustained day after day.
October 15, 2004... In addition to the extensive laboratory studies of ReNu with MoistureLoc Multi-Purpose Solution, a considerable amount of clinical testing has been conducted to evaluate the relevance of the theory to clinical practice. Typically when Bausch &...

Practitioners share their experiences with ReNu with MoistureLoc.(Letter to the Editor)
October 15, 2004... "I've used ReNu with MoistureLoc Multi-Purpose Solution on 15 to 20 patients, and the majority absolutely love it. Based on this experience, I'm confident that ReNu with MoistureLoc will make my patients' experience with their lenses...