Bausch & Lomb's Renu with Moisture-Loc Linked to Keratitis Outbreak

The Center for Disease Control confirmed a link between Bausch & Lomb's contact lens solution and the recent outbreak of Fusarium keratitis.
In a press release, Bausch & Lomb acknowledged the CDC report, saying that it "confirms that Bausch & Lomb took the right action in the interests of consumer health and safety" in recalling ReNu with MoistureLoc.
The CDC's study is published in the August 23 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Threat to Optometry's Scope of Practice

It is important that we, as a profession, keep informed about current legislation that may affect our scope of practice. Currently, H.R. 5688 is one such example. This is organized medicine's attempt to discredit Optometry's current scope of practice. H.R. 5688 is the work of U.S. Congressman John Sullivan (R-OK) who has a track history of opposing optometry and other "non-M.D." professions.
If you are an optometrist, it would be worth your while to visit the AOA's website to send an email to your congressional representative in opposition to H.R. 5688.

Smoking, Fish and Omega-3 Intake Associations with AMD

Taken from Optometric Physician Volume 6 #29, 2006:

The U.S. Twin Study of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is comprised of elderly male twins from the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council World War II Veteran Twin Registry to determine genetic and environmental risk factors for AMD. Twins were surveyed for a prior diagnosis of AMD and underwent an eye examination, fundus photography and food frequency and risk factor questionnaires. The environmental component of the study includes 681 twins, 222 of which have AMD (intermediate or late stages) and 459 who have no maculopathy or early signs.

Current smokers had a 1.9-fold increased risk of AMD while past smokers had about a 1.7-fold increased risk. Increased intake of fish reduced risk of AMD, particularly for two or more servings per week. Dietary omega-3 fatty intake was inversely associated with AMD. Reduction in risk of AMD with higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was seen primarily among subjects with low levels of linoleic acid intake, an omega-6 fatty acid. The attributable risk percentage was 32 percent for smoking and the preventive fraction was 22 percent for higher omega-3 intake.

This study of twins provides further evidence that cigarette smoking increases risk while fish consumption and omega-3 fatty acid intake reduce risk of AMD.

SOURCE: Seddon JM, George S, Rosner B. Cigarette smoking, fish consumption, omega-3 fatty acid intake, and associations with age-related macular degeneration: the US Twin Study of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124(7):995-1001.

OPTHALMOLOGY PODCASTS

Ophthalmology Podcasts - OSNSuperSite.com

You can download podcasts of ophthalmology news at the OSN supersite. You need to register with them but it's free and easy.

CAN MONOVISION DECREASE MYOPIC PROGRESSION IN CHILDREN?

EyeWorld Magazine: August�2006

One theory says that if we can reduce accommodation in children, we can reduce myopic progression. So children were given monovision contact leneses. Interestingly, the children did not use the near eye for near. They used the dominant distance eye for near work by accommodating. The near lens in the non-dominant eye did slow the rate of progression of myopia by .25 to .5 diopters per year, but the near non-dominant eye caught up to the distance eye within 18 months of discontinuing the near lens.

So if you think you're smart and want to try monovision contact lenses to try to slow the progression of myopia in children, keep this study in mind and don't expect success.

GLAUCOMA MEDS

EyeWorld Magazine: August�2006

This article explains what we all probably already know. 40% of patients on a prostaglandin analogue will need adjunctive therapy, and that a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor is more effective than an alpha-agonist (brimonodine or Alphagan-P) as an adjunct. Also brimonodine's effect wears off over time and does not display as flat a diurnal curve as Azopt (or Trusopt).

RECALCITRANT CORNEAL ABRASIONS

ScienceDirect - American Journal of Ophthalmology : Autologous Serum for the Treatment of Corneal Epithelial Abrasions in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Vitrectomy


Several times I have seen diabetic patients who have undergone vitrectomy and had a secondary corneal abrasion that remains recalcitrant over weeks. This abstract summarizes the results of a study that put the use of autologous serum up against Vislube (hyaluronic acid) to determine which one helps the abrasion heal faster. According to the study, Vislube on average took 7.1 days and autologous serum took 4.3 days. The abstract concludes:

It appears that autologous serum leads to a much faster closure of corneal epithelial wounds after abrasion compared with artificial tears.

FDA CONTACT LENS SITE

The FDA has launched a new Web page to offer information about contact lenses to consumers. n It provides information about diffeerent types of lenses, how to get a prescription, tips on buying lenses, and guidelines for proper use and everyday eye care. The site is found at: www.fda.gov/cdrh/contactlenses