editor's perspective
What's New from the AOCLE Meeting
BY
JOSEPH T. BARR, OD, MS, FAAO, EDITOR
The Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators
from the North American colleges of optometry held its annual meeting in June in
Montreal. Manufacturer sponsors of the AOCLE meeting informed the educators about
what was new.
Blanchard
Contact Lens Inc. states it is the No. 1 source of GP multifocal lenses in the United
States, recommending primarily Essential GPs, and the company distributes the Rose
K, which it describes as the No. 1 keratoconus lens in the world.
Advanced Vision Research indicates its TheraTears formulation
combats tear hyperosmolarity and brings electrolyte balance. SteriLid is its new
eyelid cleanser for blepharitis and to reduce the risk of endophthalmitis.
Alcon indicates Opti-Free Replenish provides reconditioning with
TearGlyde (C9-ED3A plus Tetronic 1304). It was tested on numerous lens groups including
silicone hydrogels.
CIBA Vision notes that in 2005, 81 percent of U.S. lens sales
were weekly and monthly replacement lenses for both hydrogel and silicone hydrogel.
Only 9 percent were daily disposable compared to 26 percent outside the United States.
CIBA expects silicone hydrogel market sales to equal hydrogel lens sales in mid
2007.
Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) sponsors The Career Advocate Program,
co-sponsored with Vistakon and Williams Marketing and Consulting, to teach practice
development to optometry students annually.
Bausch & Lomb reviewed the recent Fusarium keratitis
outbreak and its actions to investigate the cause. A Start Healthy Stay Healthy
initiative to re-launch its ReNu MultiPlus is under way.
CooperVision promotes toric and multifocal soft contact lens workshops.
One of its lead products is the new two-week replacement aspheric Biomedics XC made
from omafilcon material (like Proclear), and the company will introduce a Proclear
1-day lens and a Biofinity silicone hydrogel lens later this year.
X-Cel Contacts, A Walman Company, promotes itself as a one-stop-shop
resource for contact lenses. They make custom GP lenses and Flexlens specialty soft
contact lenses. They perform plasma treatment of GP lenses to improve wetting.
Dr. Jeff Walline, representing Paragon Vision Sciences, shared
one-year data indicating that CRT treatment of children may inhibit the progression
of myopia somewhat compared to spherical daily GP lens wear and provide for less
growth of the axial length of the eye and vitreous chamber.
Vistakon's Vision Care Institute offers education especially on
patient communication to optometry fourth year students at its Jacksonville facility.
SynergEyes
hybrid lenses, SynergEyes A (spherical) and KC lens (for keratoconus) designs are
now available.
Contact Lens Spectrum, Issue: July 2006