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CooperVision makes MyDay
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One of the big launches at the recent BCLA exhibition in Manchester was the introduction of another premium daily disposable contact lens - it's been a good couple of months for this segment - with CooperVision's MyDay. Explaining how the lens stands out, the company points to a new chemical structure in Smart Silicone for efficient channels for oxygen delivery. CooperVision adds that, because less silicon is needed for the required oxygen permeability, there are improvements in lens surface wettability, there's a higher water content and a softer, more comfortable wearer experience. This seems to be a modern interpretation of a silicone hydrogel daily, which sounds very promising, but the proof of the pudding is in the wearing and a European launch date of September 2013 is planned. A special mention must be given to the simple, yet memorable name, MyDay, which, in combination with the suggested material improvements could make for a very interesting addition to the daily disposable market. One presumes that price positioning will be at the higher end, but no details as yet have been provided on the monthly costs.
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Findings aren't pretty
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Here is a very good illustration of the harm of buying mail-order colour contact lenses and not seeing an eye care practitioner http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20130525-425119.html - a 17-year-old whose eye condition was that of someone 60 years old. It turns out the patient, a contact lens wearer since childhood, had latterly been purchasing colour lenses by mail order and had not seen an ophthalmologist recently. The trouble really seems to be lack of oxygen permeability in the contact lenses. A survey by the Japan Contact Lens Society revealed a high number of cases involving colour contact lenses and at least 80 per cent of these involved patients in their 20s or younger. This also revealed that of 127 cases where the material in the coloured contact lenses was known, 97 involved materials with low oxygen permeability. The other main concern was not taking proper care of the lenses - an age-old story. Presumably the aim of this mail-order purchasing was to save money, but it comes with a major cost, and education is clearly needed on the benefits of oxygen permeabilty offered by modern materials as well as contact lens care among younger patients.
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Concern in Canada
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Hydrogen peroxide confusion has been touched upon before, in the US http://www.opticianonline.net/opticianspace/blogs/the_contact_lens_blog/archive/2012/06/07/clear-care-not-so-clear.aspx, but now it seems the whole of Canada is being warned of the dangers of failure to neutralise properly http://ca.news.yahoo.com/improper-peroxide-based-contact-lens-cleaners-harm-eyes-200806918.html Health Canada has received reports of eye injuries from consumers who have confused hydrogen peroxide-based solutions with other types of solutions and has requested that manufacturers update their packaging to highlight the risk of improper use, as well as providing step-by-step instructions http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2013/28539a-eng.php#you-vous There are a couple of quite obvious suggestions in the update and these are to read the product instructions and follow the advice of your eye care practitioner. It may not be enough to halt the odd lapse in concentration but if you put your un-neutralised lens in your eye once, you are unlikely to repeat the experience, such is the pain. It also seems manufacturers are acting and updating their packaging as well.
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Some comfort for contact lens wearers
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New research out http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/wkh-cu043013.php highlights the beneficial effects on contact lens comfort from switching to a different lens/solution combination. As someone who has experience of not getting on particularly well with certain contact lens solutions when used with silicone hydrogel lenses, this comes as little surprise. My office based (sometimes) clinician has always advised me to go the preservative-free route and that seems to work. Anyway, this latest research found that roughly half of patients with contact lens-related symptoms reported improved comfort by switching to a different lens/solution combination. The study involved two groups of contact lens wearers - 24 patients who experienced discomfort at some point in the day and 13 symptom-free wearers. Patients were given best and worst combinations (based on previous studies) without knowing the combination they were using. Those wearers who had issues of discomfort rated the best combination as more comfortable, with little difference in the scores of the symptom-free patients. It is perhaps surprising that the results weren't even more decisive, however if you feel that your lens solution combination could be improved upon, it could be time to speak to your contact lens practitioner.
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Scary eye recognition
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It's good to see recognition of a public health campaign, as is the case with the American Academy of Ophthalmology's 'Want Scary Eyes? The Dangers of Decorative Contact Lenses' receiving a Gold-Level Bulldog Award. It was chosen as the Best Not-for-Profit/Association/Government Campaign in awards judged by journalists, bloggers and PR critics: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-academy-ophthalmologys-efforts-warn-183200560.html;_ylt=A2KJ2UZw3ndR_yMAgFrQtDMD The campaign, including viral videos and an audio release, featured the case of Laura Butler who received a corneal scar and damaged vision after wearing over-the-counter contact lenses for just 10 hours. The end result of the efforts of the Academy's PR team was that the campaign received 1,500 news stories (including coverage over here in the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2049170/Halloween-2011-Decorative-contact-lenses-damaged-vision.html) and more than 20,000 views of the videos, with an incredible total of 315 million media impressions - job well done. Not happy to rest on its laurels, the Academy is continuing to raise awareness of the need for proper fitting of contact lenses and a valid prescription.
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A new daily lens pitch
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It's always nice to read about new material developments that could lead to more comfortable contact lenses, such as this recent announcement in the journal Nature Materials self-adapting-material-wettness-and-opacity-2013-4. The team involved suggest that a new adaptive material opens up the possibility of very differing developments - contact lenses that clean themselves, as well as water-repellent tents that can darken to block sunlight on bright days. While this all sounds very interesting, I'd much rather focus on a material development that is very much in the here and now. The resulting contact lens has already been available in other parts of Europe and now has been launched on the UK market and it is Alcon's Dailies Total 1. The new lens increases the water content from 33 per cent in the core to over 80 per cent on the surface, with improved lubricity and therefore comfort http://www.opticianonline.net/Articles/2013/04/05/30928/Alcon+launches+Dailies+Total1+.htm. The premium lens, which took a considerable time to develop, aims to address the issue of contact lens drop out through discomfort and statistics presented by Alcon indicate end of day comfort not far removed from that at insertion. The lens may be slippier on the finger, as a result of its lubricious surface, but it sounds well worth getting your hands on to try out.
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Paddling protection
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After my last blog post on the perils of wearing my contact lenses while bobbing with my son in the children's pool and the ensuing splashing from some of the junior participants, the very kind people at Aquaviz have suggested I give their product a try. Launched at Mido just the other week, Aquaviz is a watersport mask with a snap in prescription insert that can take single-vision, bifocal and progressive lens options. It uses a single gasket design, for even distribution of pressure, and includes a hypoallergenic skirt for a watertight fit. The lenses are scratch resistant on the outside and fog resistant on the inside, as well as being UV protective for outdoor use. They also come in a polarised option, so every base is covered. Hopefully the next time I stride manfully into the children's pool at Tooting Leisure Centre, I will do so without my contact lenses and the fear of getting water in my eyes. Perhaps looking like an ironman (purely in terms of the mask) in three feet of water may seem a bit over the top, but it makes much more sense than risking an eye infection. Further details on the watersport mask at www.aquaviz.com.
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Now here's a good idea
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I have to agree with the British Contact Lens Association's lobbying of contact lens manufacturers to place a 'no water' warning on contact lens packaging http://www.opticianonline.net/Articles/2013/03/08/30811/BCLA+argues+merits+of+%27no+water%27+warnings.htm as you just cannot rely on people being sensible, as my story that follows illustrates. The recent flurry of contact lens infection stories in the UK national press show the dangers of coming into contact with water, whether shower or swimming pool, if you're a contact len wearer. I, however, took my young son to the swimming pool the other week, and not having any Rx goggles, wore my contact lenses. I hadn't bargained on some over-enthusiastic splashing from some of the other 'swimmers', got splashed in my eyes and, on return home, immediately took my contact lenses out, cleaned them and left them in solution, giving them another rinse before insertion the next morning. Reading the infection stories had made me much more aware of the dangers and I really should have used some daily disposables, to remove and throw away. The other option I will pursue is to invest in some tight fitting goggles, if these swimming visits are to become regular. Anything manufacturers and practitioners can do to highlight the risk of water contact with contact lenses is a step in the right direction. I'm sure there are plenty of wearers out there who don't know the dangers of wearing them in the shower and a 'no-water' warning and logos of dangers may be enough to change some habits.
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Saline saviour
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Taking your contact lenses on holiday could be a life saver. I'm not talking about my recent holiday to a fairly remote island where, on arrival, I discovered that my washbag with contact lenses and back-up pair had been left sitting on my sofa at home. Without any local opticians to visit, there followed a week in the sunshine with my sunglasses perched on top of my spectacles. Aside from looking slightly deranged, the doubled up eyewear wasn't particularly comfortable. I also had a full bottle of multipurpose solution with me that didn't get used. No, the life saving story relates to the English student who was stranded in flaming conditions in the Australian outback and discovered some daily disposable contact lenses his father had kindly packed away in his rucksack. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/435719/20130215/sam-woodhead-survived-australian-outback-drinking-contact.htm He was able to sip the saline solution and survived for three nights without suffering from dehydration. It also helped that the chap in question was physically fit, had some survival training and managed to avoid venomous snakes. When I next venture off on holiday, I too will be packing some spare contact lenses in my hand luggage.
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Fusarium alerts
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There has been some very alarming contact lens coverage in the past couple of weeks, with The Sun and the Daily Mail carrying a couple of sensational pieces about two particularly unfortunate wearers who have lost eyes as a result of Fusarium infections. As ever with such horror stories, there isn't much detail on optician involvement in the fitting and instruction of wearing the contact lenses, how long they were used for etc. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2272029/Dailies-contact-lenses-Jacqui-Stone-left-eye-removed-contracting-aggressive-infection.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2272029/Dailies-contact-lenses-Jacqui-Stone-left-eye-removed-contracting-aggressive-infection.html and the two cases together http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4790290/Contact-lens-fungus-ate-my-eye-too.html If anything can be learned from these stories it is the need to get your contact lenses fitted by a CL practitioner, attend after-care appointments and follow advice on wear of the lenses eg take them out immediately if you feel pain in your eye, as well as proper care. There are also some questions over supply/manufacture, which will no doubt be covered if the cases are taken to court. Just reading these stories yesterday had me reaching for a new pair of lenses this morning and making sure I'd washed my hands properly before insertion. Using fresh solution, not showering in lenses and throwing them away at the end of their wear schedule are also vital. These cases really make for sorry reading and without doubt cause alarm among CL wearers as attested by the commentary on the Mumsnet site: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/a1675043-Omg-the-Daily-Fail-contact-lens-story-I-now-feel-like-Im-playing-Russian-Roulette-with-my-eyes-reassure-me
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An idea that gels
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It's been a little while since a contact lens story has caught my eye, but this piece about an antimicrobial hydrogel that can destroy multidrug-resistant superbugs is just the thing to get me started: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1249924/1/.html It reminds me of a previous post on an antimicrobial coating that had been signed up by a contact lens firm http://www.opticianonline.net/opticianspace/blogs/the_contact_lens_blog/archive/2012/05/11/superbug-killers.aspx if not quite as far along the road to commercial use - but I stand to be corrected if this is not the case. Anyway the latest gel seems to have possibilities in contact lens coating, wound healing, skin infection treatment and dental fillings. As it's a biodegradeable gel that can be naturally eliminated by the body, I imagine it's more likely to be used with daily disposable contact lenses, although details on this are a bit thin on the ground. I for one can't wait to see some of these technological developments making it into a finished product, optical or dental.
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Vanity thy name is contact lenses
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There's some interesting detail on the potential future market for contact lens use in this report http://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-market-eyeglasses-reach-113-222300690.html;_ylt=A2KJ3CUn3bhQ7SMAdjPQtDMD which predicts the global market to exceed $12.2bn by 2018. However I have to take issue with the comment 'Vanity continues to be the major factor driving contact lens usage'. Obviously this may be true of wearers of coloured contact lenses, but I think it's rather unfair on those of us who prefer the better peripheral vision afforded by a contact lens. I started out wearing contact lenses as a myopic rugby playing teenager and have never been tempted away by fancy spectacles, mainly because I feel much less bumbling when going about my daily activities wearing contact lenses. It's also interesting to note that multi-focus is the fastest growing segment in soft contact lenses and that's presumably as a result of long-term wearers like myself succumbing to presbyopia and wanting to continue with contact lens wear. Nonetheless, compared to the global market for spectacles, projected at $113.2bn by 2018, the contact lens sector remains much smaller at roughly a tenth of the value. Growth drivers of trendy and sporty spectacle frames that create a statement could arguably be called more of a vanity purchase, but good vision whatever your choice of correction is not to be sniffed at.
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Bad Hobbits
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I've just stumbled on this random news from New Zealand about hardships exeperienced by actors filming the Hobbit, that include having to share coloured contact lenses and having to wear costumes that cut off circulation: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/121325/nz-actors'-union-still-seeking-minimum-standards A web search doesn't reveal any further detail and I cannot find a great deal more information on Hobbit eyes. Tolkein's decription, via Wikipedia, makes no mention:
'I picture a fairly human figure, not a kind of 'fairy' rabbit as some of my British reviewers seem to fancy: fattish in the stomach, shortish in the leg. A round, jovial face; ears only slightly pointed and 'elvish'; hair short and curling (brown). The feet from the ankles down, covered with brown hairy fur. Clothing: green velvet breeches; red or yellow waistcoat; brown or green jacket; gold (or brass) buttons; a dark green hood and cloak (belonging to a dwarf).
[10]'
While it is unlikely that any Hobbits would be seriously harmed by tight-fitting clothing, the sharing of contact lenses is not to be recommended and can heighten the risk of infection, so there is reason for Hobbit concern. A quick look at cast and production reveals that one crew member was a contact lens painter
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/combined which would imply that the coloured lenses that were in such seemingly short supply were not mass manufactured. The film is due for release in the UK in December, giving viewers the chance to see if such suffering for the sake of art was worth it.
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Multifocals - growing up is (not so) hard to do
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I've only gone and tried a multifocal contact lens and I'm here and happy to tell the tale. Just the other week I was scouring my office diary to find the best available route for a journey across London using the London Underground map in an old Ambassador diary. No matter how I held the diary about my person, I was unable to read the illegible jumble of names that blurred around the tangle of underground lines. I was stumped and knew I could no longer put off the inevitable. I put the diary back in the drawer and accessed a larger tube map online and then decided, warily, to try some multifocal lenses. Now several days into my trial of Sauflon's Clariti one-day multifocals http://www.opticianonline.net/Articles/2012/05/04/29409/New+vision+for+presbyopia.htm I can safely say I'm a convert. The lenses are as comfortable as the previous Clariti one days I've tried and the all-round vision is excellent. Having had some discomfort of late with monthly and two-weekly silicone hydrogel contact lenses, it's nice to be putting in fresh new lenses each morning as well. But the main difference is that I no longer have to shuffle pages around the desk and I can now read the small station names on the offending tube map without magnification. I'm getting older, but no-one really need to know for a while yet.
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The big UV opportunity
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Following on from a recent blog post on UV protective contact lenses http://www.opticianonline.net/opticianspace/blogs/the_contact_lens_blog/archive/2012/05/31/the-uv-message.aspx I can point readers to some new research that shows almost half of UK contact lens consumers would be interested in giving UV protective lenses a whirl. Presented at the American Academy of Optometry meeting in Arizona, the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care-sponsored online study (Contact lens wearers in the UK and Poland and contact lens considerers in Poland) found that awareness of UV protective lenses was low in the UK at 26 per cent, compared with Poland at 66 per cent. That there is a potential market is revealed by the stat that in the UK 43 per cent of contact lens wearers who didn't currently have UV-blocking contact lenses, or were unsure if their lenses offered UV protection, were highly interested in trying them. This is one way of improving the use of protection, with 95 per cent in the UK using some form of protection in sunny conditions, dropping to a lowly 16 per cent in non-sunny conditions. There is also clearly an opportunity for practitioners to promote UV protecting contact lenses and some natty sunglasses.