editor's perspective
What's New from the AOCLE Meeting

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.