NEWSspectrum
OVS to Publish Contact Lens Feature Issue
Optometry and Vision Science (OVS) has decided to publish a Feature theme issue entirely dedicated to contact lens comfort. While OVS has published a number of papers on this topic over the past three years, its staff and contributors believe that there are many more research programs and projects currently addressing this contact lens comfort issue in basic, clinical, and practice research settings. The Feature issue will be published in late 2015 or early 2016.
Topics of interest include:
• Studies of subjective comfort of contact lenses, including its measurement.
• Studies of physiological issues for comfort of contact lenses, including its measurement.
• Novel approaches to improving contact lens comfort, including materials, coatings, solutions, lens care, and fitting approaches.
• Basic studies seeking tools for measuring, assuring, enhancing, and correcting contact lens comfort.
OVS will work with a team of guest editors from among those who have already expressed a commitment to this OVS theme issue. Those include Prof. Mark Willcox, Dr. Jason Nichols, Prof. Fiona Stapleton, Prof. Eric Papas, Dr. Debra Schaumberg, Dr. Loretta Szczotka-Flynn, Dr. Pete Kollbaum, Prof. Lyndon Jones, Dr. Tim McMahon, Dr. Meng Lin, Dr. Barbara Caffery, Dr. Nancy McNamara, Dr. Maria Markoulli, and Dr. Robin Chalmers.
All papers accepted in the peer review process will be published in OVS, but the selection of those for the Feature issue will be a separate decision by the guest editor team and the editor-in-chief.
Submissions will be accepted between March 1 and Sept. 1, 2015. Early submissions are encouraged; they have priority dates for e-publication (soon after the authors have corrected the first proofs).
All manuscripts must be submitted online at http://ovs.edmgr.com. Submissions guidelines are available at http://edmgr.ovid.com/ovs/accounts/ifauth.htm. In the “Author’s Comments” box, indicate that your paper is intended for the Feature issue.
Anticipated publication date for the Feature issue is no later than January 2016.
The lead guest editor(s) will coordinate manuscripts with the associate editor (Michael Twa), the editor-in-chief (Tony Adams), and the managing editor. All communications on this issue must be directed through the editorial office (ovs@osu.edu) and not to individual email addresses.
Alden Offers Scleral Case Series
Alden Optical has initiated an email series of 12 case studies on contemporary scleral lens fitting called Scleral Fitting from A to Zen. Edited by Susan J. Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO, the series will include cases prepared by leading North American scleral lens fitters, demonstrate fitting techniques across a wide range of ocular conditions, and feature Alden Optical’s Zenlens scleral design. The series is being deployed across PentaVision’s email database and will be archived on both the Contact Lens Spectrum and Alden Optical websites.
Contamac Expands Team
Contamac recently announced two new hires. Jason Jedlicka, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FCLSA, will join Contamac’s Professional Services Vision Care Team, bringing nearly 20 years of contact lens fitting and design experience. He is currently the Chief of Contact Lens Services at the Indiana University School of Optometry. He was a founding member of the Scleral Lens Education Society and is its immediate past president, and he is a diplomate in the Cornea and Contact Lens Section of the American Academy of Optometry.
In addition, Vanessa Ruiz was appointed as sales executive. Previously, she gained a strong sales background working for the grocery chain Lidl in Germany. She has also worked in the clothing retail and travel industries. She has a good understanding of customer relationship management across cultures and markets.
CDC Spring Break Campaign for Healthy Lens Wear
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its partners promoted healthy contact lens wear and care through social media during the week of March 2 to 6, 2015. The social media outreach occurred just prior to many universities’ Spring Break period as a way to make contact lens wearers aware of poor contact lens hygiene habits that can arise during vacations and times of travel.
The target audience was older teens and young adults, a group at increased risk of contact lens-related eye infections due to poor hygiene habits. Key messages were also appropriate for contact lens wearers of all ages and included:
• Take contact lenses out before bed, even when up late or traveling (unless your eyecare provider tells you otherwise).
• Bring enough contact lens supplies and a spare pair of glasses when traveling.
• Never swim or shower in contact lenses.
• All contact lenses require a prescription from an eyecare provider. Never buy decorative contact lenses from illegal vendors.
The CDC developed a number of materials for partners to promote Spring Break contact lens health tips on social media, including social media posts, campaign announcement, posters and web buttons, and a web-based resource list.
For more information and resources for promoting healthy lens wear and care, visit www.cdc.gov/contactlenses.
PROFESSIONAL CONTACT LENS SITE RECEIVES FUNDING
The Centre for Contact Lens Research at the University of Waterloo recently announced that Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Companies will provide funding to continue the evolution of its four-year-old site ContactLensUpdate.com.
The site serves a worldwide audience with advertising-free access to evidence-based insights, best practices, and new treatment options for common eye health concerns, with a particular emphasis on dry eye and contact lenses. Content is developed by internationally recognized experts on topic areas.
New topic-based features are added to the site about six times yearly, including practical insights from leading researchers, one-page research briefs on hot topics, patient handouts, review articles, and conference highlights. Most recently, the site has explored the growing prevalence of myopia as well as eye makeup tips for healthy contact lens wear.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Companies will join The Alcon Foundation in providing funding for the website.
B+L, Vision Source Form Vendor Relationship
Bausch + Lomb (B+L) recently announced that Vision Source has selected it as an elite vendor in the therapeutics category and as a vendor in contact lenses and lens care products. As part of the relationship, Vision Source will endorse B+L’s products together with member pricing discounts and rebate programs.
Vision Source members will have access to B+L’s Ultra contact lenses and to Biotrue Oneday and PureVision brands of contact lenses. Biotrue and Renu multipurpose disinfectants for soft contact lenses will also be available to members, as will PeroxiClear, a hydrogen peroxide solution, and the Boston solution line of products for cleaning GP contact lenses.
In addition, in the therapeutics category, members will be offered the line of Ocuvite and PreserVision eye vitamin and mineral supplements; Soothe eye drops for dry eyes; and Alaway eye drops. For skincare, the Elastiderm eye product portfolio, which includes eye cream, eye gel, and eye serum, will be available to members to help patients revitalize the skin around their eyes.
Telescopic Contact Lens for AMD and Low Vision
Medical News Today reported last month on a telescopic contact lens and smart glasses combination about to enter clinical trials that can help improve vision for people who have low vision or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The article states that the telescopic lens magnifies 2.8 times. Since the first prototype in 2013, the developers have been fine-tuning the lens material to allow it to be worn comfortably for longer periods.
The scleral contact lens is 1.55mm thick and has a very thin reflective telescope inside. The lenses are made from several pieces of precision cut plastic, aluminum mirrors, and polarizing thin films, held together with biologically safe glues. The article further states that to improve oxygen permeability, the lenses have air channels about 0.1mm wide; the developers are still working on improving oxygen permeability and image quality.
The lens can be worn by itself for patients who need magnification all the time. For patients who want to control the zoom feature, the smart glasses, which look like normal eyewear, have a light source detector that recognizes winks and ignores blinks. Wearers wink with the right eye for magnification and with the left eye to restore normal vision. The full article is available at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/289504.php.
INDUSTRY BRIEFS
■ In January, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. announced that it is closing its division in South Africa in early 2015, with sales and shipments of all Acuvue products in South Africa to stop in the beginning of March. According to the company, this decision was made after a long and thoughtful review of its business and after exploring a number of options in South Africa. The company release goes on to say that: “Johnson & Johnson Vision Care understands this news is very disappointing for both eye care professionals and contact lens wearers, and is working closely with customers to ensure minimal disruption during this transition.”
■ A watchdog group organized by the American Optometric Association will look for illegal contact lens sales online and in brick-and-mortar shops. Organized by the AOA’s Contact Lens and Cornea Section, the AOA Contact Lens watchdog group will research violations of federal law and regulations related to contact lens sales. It also will work with AOA staff to report these incidents and take additional action.
■ Accu-Lens Inc. and Alden Optical reported independently that they have renewed their platinum level sponsorship with the Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS) for 2015. According to Accu-Lens, the SLS is a great partner and platform for promoting the company’s products. Alden Optical stated that the sponsorship represents a continued commitment to scleral lens fitting by the company.
■ Vision Source has launched Optical Dream, a web-based solution of edutainment provided through a gamification interface, which will be offered to its 3,000+ member practices throughout 2015. Dr. Walter West, vice president of Practice Development, led a multidisciplinary effort to create the program that leverages innovative metrics, technology, and teamwork. Optical Dream is comprised of audio, written instruction, and video role-play demonstrations, and it is reinforced with questionnaires. Practice management tools are also included to assist practitioners and staff with the learning experience.
■ The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) welcomed 20 new Fellows after holding its first-ever Fellowship examinations in India. In a new initiative designed to strengthen and expand BCLA Fellowship internationally, BCLA members residing in India were able to apply for Fellowship and sit their viva voce examinations during the Masterclass Optometry Knowledge Fest held in Pune from Feb. 2 to 4, 2015. Masterclass Optometry is an educational initiative that works to upgrade the optometry profession in India. The Knowledge Fest included a BCLA session, including a keynote presented by Professor James Wolffsohn, BCLA Academic Committee Chairman, as well as a “BCLA to Go” contact lens fitting workshop.
■ Think About Your Eyes has launched its 2015 television, radio, and digital advertising campaign to educate consumers on the benefits of vision health, highlighting the impressive growth and momentum of the industry initiative presented by The Vision Council and the American Optometric Association. This new phase of the Think About Your Eyes campaign is launching on the heels of a successful year in 2014, resulting in a 5% increase in total eye exams, 9.3% increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions or referrals written, and an almost 25% increase in eye diseases diagnosed since the campaign’s inception.
![]({"src":"/media/admgonpq/32015.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})