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OPTOMETRY'S MEETING PROMOTES CHARITY
Spirit of Giving Alive at AOA Congress

Charity claimed a seat front and center at the 109th annual American Optometric Association Congress held in Las Vegas.

The AOA reported on the first year of its InfantSEE program (www.infantsee.org), which served 50,000 infants with no-cost eye assessments. An analysis of the results of 5,000 of the screenings, presented by the AOA in partnership with the Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, showed that 7.1% of the infants had a vision condition that may be a potential concern for visual development. One in 20 were found to be at risk for abnormal prescription status.

"These results validate the need for the program," says Scott Jens, O.D., chair of the InfantSEE Committee.

CIBA Vision presented an update on the work of Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), a global initiative to eliminate uncorrected refractive error and to help those with permanent low vision. In Sri Lanka, the OGS provided 25,000 eye exams and 22,000 pairs of glasses. The organization referred 1,600 patients who had either cataracts or other sight-threatening conditions. CIBA Vision's $1million donation over a five-year period and established a corporate fellowship position within OGS.

Victor Connors, O.D., president of the World Council of Optometry, urged optometrists to become involved in the program. For information, visit www.givingsight.org.

The Illinois College of Optometry announced that Essilor of America will donate 9,000 pairs of customized eyeglasses over the next three years. The donations will support the Illinois Eye Institute's charitable activities, which include the Vision of Hope Health Alliance (VHHA), the Pediatric Outreach Program, Sight for Seniors and the Special Populations program.

"When you think of the cause and see what ICO is doing, it was an easy decision for Essilor," says Mike Daley, president of Essilor Lenses.

The donation complements other gifts, says Arol Augsburger, O.D., president of ICO. "Support from organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation allow us to provide care for the underserved of our community, but didn't offer the means to provide glasses."

In its first year, VHHA served more than 550 patients. Of those, 82% required corrective eyewear and 83% reported systemic disease — 65% were diagnosed with ocular surface disease and 40% were identified as having diabetes mellitus.

AOA Presents Optometrist of the Year Award

The American Optometric Association recognized Dr. Robert C. Layman with its annual "Optometrist of the Year" Award. The award was presented at the 109th annual AOA Congress.

A graduate of the Ohio State University College of Optometry, Dr. Layman works in a private group practice with locations in Michigan and Ohio. The AOA notes that his service to the profession is extensive. He provides care through both the InfantSEE and Vision USA programs and he volunteers for the Ohio Amblyope Registry and the Ohio Optometric Association Realeyes Education Initiative, which stresses the importance of vision care to students in the Toledo area.

Jerald W. Strickland, O.D., Ph.D., L.H.D., F.A.A.O., received the AOA Distinguished Service award. Dr. Strickland received his professional and doctorate degrees from the University of Indiana. Dr. Strickland has held faculty and administrative positions at Indiana University, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and the University of Houston College of Optometry. In 2003, he stepped down as Dean of U.H. College of Optometry and was appointed Interim Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of the University of Houston. His numerous accolades include the Texas Optometric Association "Optometrist of the Year" award in 1996.

The AOA named Barbara L. Horn, O.D., its "Young Optometrist of the Year." A graduate of the Michigan College of Optometry, Dr. Horn is involved in organized optometry on the local, state and national levels. She has held an academic position at MCO since 2001 and has volunteered for numerous programs, including the Special Olympics, VISION USA and InfantSEE.

VEGAS LEADS NATION IN DRY EYE
NWHRA Names 100 Dry Eye "Hot Spots"

The NWHRA based its ratings on six factors most likely to impact dry eye: temperature, humidity, wind, altitude, pollutants and ocular allergens. Rounding out the top 10 are four Texas cities (Lubbock, El Paso, Midland/Odessa, Dallas Ft./Worth) as well as Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Amarillo and Honolulu.

Other major cities on the list include New York (ranked number 23), Los Angeles (68), Chicago (55), Philadelphia (24), Houston (79), Detroit (38) and Boston (16). A complete list of the top 100 cities is available through www.healthywomen.org.

According to a recent Gallup study, nearly 40% of Americans suffer from dry eye symptoms. These symptoms include itching, irritation, light sensitivity, blurred vision, dryness and foreign body sensation.

In addition to environmental conditions, dry eye may be caused by such medical conditions as hormonal changes due to aging and menopause, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, rosacea, sarcoidosis and Sjogrens's syndrome. According to a 2003 study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from dry eye. 

Awareness of dry eye continues to grow. Working with both the NWHRC and the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, Sen. Mark Dayton (D – Minn.) has declared July "Dry Eye Awareness Month" in the Congressional Record.

BATTLING THE SUCCESS SYNDROME
Why Good Practices Sometimes Go Bad

It's been called the Success Syndrome: the point at which successful practices begin to rest on their laurels; take their success for granted. Its symptoms include: indifference to patients; deteriorating service; and the naïve belief that one can do no wrong. Many businesses and professional practices fall prey to it.

How does it happen?

STAGE ONE: The early years of getting a practice off the ground. New patients are given the "full treatment," including a thorough examination; personalized service; all the niceties. No detail is too small. They payoff: extremely pleased patients and numerous referrals.

STAGE TWO: Practice growth is now steady and strong. At times it gets hectic.

You get behind schedule and think, "I was a little short with that patient but it'll have to do. Others are waiting." There's no longer time for the "little things" to which you and your staff were so attentive in the early days of the practice.

STAGE THREE: You've let your service and standards slip – and you're the last to know your slip is showing. Your patients have been seeing it for a long time and many of them haven't been coming back. You blame it on managed care, the economy or "low-cost competition."

To make ends meet, you may try to get by with fewer employees or cut corners on other overhead expenses - thinking patients won't notice. But they do and things go from bad to worse.

The good news for any practice afflicted with the Success Syndrome is that there is a cure.

Action steps: The first step is recognizing the problem. When patient referrals begin to slow down and/or revenues start to slump, don't look for excuses outside your practice. The first question to answer is: are you and your staff making the same effort you did in the early days of your practice to provide quality care, personal service and exceed patient expectations? If not, draw up a checklist of problems that need correcting and focus on these. Patient referrals and revenue will rebound. I've seen it happen countless times.

By Bob Levoy, O.D.

THERAPEUTIC Notes

►Transitions has created a new database that will allow ECPs to access information on drugs that may cause ocular side effects. The "Ocular Side Effects Database" (www.transitions.com/medications) provides details on the quality and quantity of vision affected by drugs, both prescription and over the counter. The database complements the paper, Ocular Effects Associated with Medications, developed by ocular pharmacologist, D. Jaanus, Ph.D.

►XALATAN (latanoprost ophthalmic solution, Pfizer Ophthalmics), a medication to treat intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or elevated IOP, celebrates its 10th anniversary with more than 19 million prescriptions written. XALATAN was the first prostag-landin analog to be approved by the FDA as a first-line treatment for the reduction of elevated IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

►The FDA has approved the once-daily prescription eye drop Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%, Allergan) as a first-line treatment for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The Lumigan first-line indication is in addition to Lumigan's use as a second-line treatment.

►A study published in the April issue of the Journal of Glaucoma showed that after 12 months, selective laser trabeculoplasty, or SLT, was found to be equally efficacious as Latanoprost in reducing IOP with newly diagnosed glaucoma or OHT. These findings support the consideration of SLT as a first-line therapy for newly diagnosed OAG or ocular hypertension.

►Two ongoing studies showed that adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes treated with Exubera (insulin human [rDNA origin, Pfizer) inhalation powder experienced sustained blood sugar control over a two-year period and gained about half as much weight as those taking injected insulin. Pfizer will introduce the drug in the United States in mid July.

O.D. NOTEBOOK

►Eyemaginations, Inc., announced the appointment of Christie S. Rudolph as national sales director. Ms. Rudolph will be responsible for all U.S. sales of the Eyemaginations in-office software products. Prior to joining Eyemaginations, Rudolph was the national sales manager for Silhouette Optical.

►Allergan and Syntex won a patent infringement lawsuit that prevents Apotex and Novex Pharma from marketing a copy of Allergan's non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ACULAR (ketorolac trome-thamine ophthalmic solution) 0.5%. Apotex and Novex may not introduce a copy of the drug before 2009.

►Contact lens distributor Imperial Optical has entered into an agreement with Strategic Lens Innovations to market and distribute the Solus line of contact lenses directly to U.S. eyecare professionals.

►Luxottica announced it will purchase Canada's 74 Shoppers Optical stores and convert them to the Pearle Vision brand. Pearle will become the leading optical chain in Canada with a total of 268 stores.

►Optos plc won the United Kingdom's most prestigious engineering innovation accolade, The Royal Academy of Engineering 2006 MacRobert Award. The Award recognizes the role of engineering in wealth creation, national prosperity and international prestige.

►On behalf of Blanchard Contact Lens and Rose K International, Jean Blanchard recently made a $10,000 donation to the National Keratoconus Foundation in support of the non-profit organization's patient outreach and educational programs.

►ABB Optical has launched an on-line lens ordering web site, www.abbopti-cal.com. The service extends Internet access beyond the VisionWeb and Eyefinity portals that have served ABB accounts for several years and remain available to ABB customers.

OPTICIANS CAN'T EMPLOY O.D.S
Calif. Court says Pearle Vision Broke the Law

The court ruled that the Knox-Keene Act allowed optometrists and other health professionals to work for HMOs, but did not repeal earlier laws that prohibit opticians from employing optometrists, maintaining them on or near the premises, or having landlord-tenant relationships with O.D.s. The ruling upholds an injunction by state Attorney General Bill Lockyer that prohibits Pearle Vision from advertising eye exams. Mr. Lockyer sued the company in 2002 in San Diego, claiming it falsely advertised that optometrists located in or near its retail outlets were independent of the company. This latest ruling was a result of Pearle Vision's appeal and allows the lawsuit to proceed towards trial.

"Consumers have less protection when the firm selling eyewear also controls the doctor writing the prescription. Today's ruling upholds Californians' insistence that when it comes to their health, those with the credentials should make the decisions," says Mr. Lockyer in a statement released after the ruling.

Luxottica's North American retail division issued a statement noting the court had not yet resolved the legality of the relationship between the optician and optometry subsidiaries, an issue to be addressed in the San Diego suit. The outcome could change the way ECPs do business in California.

INNOVATION LEADS THE WAY
Contact Lens News Shines at AOA

The 109th annual American Academy of Optometry Congress recently played host to a number of contact lens-related announcements, a sampling of which are summarized below.

The Vistakon Acuvue Advance with Hydraclear, Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism and Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus brands were the first to receive a Seal of Acceptance for ultraviolet absorbing contact lenses from the AOA's Commission on Ophthalmic Standards.

The Acuvue lenses met standards for Class 1 UV-blockers: They absorb a minimum of 90% of UVA and at least 99% of UVB radiation.

Vistakon also announced "Click-to-be-Contacted," a program that allows ECPs to receive contact information from consumers who respond to the free trial certificate offer found at www.acuvue.com. For more information or to register, visit www.ecp.acuvue.com.

Bausch & Lomb received FDA approval to add a cold oxygen plasma treatment to the manufacturing process of gas permeable (GP) contact lenses made with Boston materials. The treatment bombards the lens surface with ions in a vacuum. The process may reduce the lens hydration time by reducing the wetting angle and improving comfort without changing the finished lens properties.

CIBA Vision announced that each bottle of its AQuify multipurpose contact lens solution will include a new Pro-Guard contact lens case. The innovative case is infused with silver ions to kill bacteria and help minimize contamination on the lens surface. The case is cleared by the FDA and is available only with AQuify MPS. CIBA notes that contamination of lens cases, which occurs in up to 80% of contact lens wearers, has been associated with eye infections.

CIBA also launched www.clearcaresolution.com, an interactive Web site designed to demonstrate the benefits of Clear Care, a one-bottle lens care system.

Optical Connection and WaveFront Sciences announced that the COAS Precision Aberrometer will be certified for use in making Definition WaveTouch contact lenses. The wavefront-guided soft contact lenses will be manufactured based on individual aberrometry readings, which will correct higher order aberrations. Additionally, Optical Connection was the topic of a recent "Health Journal Television" show hosted by Gen. Alexander Haig. The show airs on Bravo, MSNBC and DirecTV.