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The article provides insights on how eye care specialists could help patients perfect their contact lens insertion and removal technique. It reminds the eye care specialists to match the proper lens to each individual patient amidst the emergence of many contact lens materials in the market. It advises them to notate the initial trial lens in the patient's record and to initiate dispensing visit. It also offers tips on lens handling and follow-up care.

The article discusses the growing trend of multifocal lenses as vision correction for presbyopes in the U.S. It notes that presbyopes who are new to contact lens wear saw the biggest increase in multifocal fits by 64%. The surge in multifocal fitting can be largely attributed to the development in lens designs and materials as well as improving success rate.

The article discusses the emergence of contact lens care systems in the practice of optometry in the U.S. It highlights the critical role of optometrists to comprehend solution efficacy and to prescribe the right solution for each contact lens patient. The application of hydrogen peroxide solution systems is discussed.

The article presents a study on the treatment of contact lens-associated red eye (CLARE) in the U.S. It mentions that CLARE results due to the build up of protein deposits and bacterial byproducts which causes redness, discomfort, and light sensitivity. It states that signs and symptoms of CLARE are related with contact lens use. In conclusion, the treatment for CLARE involves a stopping on lens wear and the use of ZYLET as medical therapy in order to reduce bacterial load on the eye.

The article discusses the advancements in new technology and applications in contact lenses. It notes that the use of contact lenses in place of mobile devices can pave the way for augmented reality overlaying real-world images with computer-generated images and information. Meanwhile, contact lenses industries are advised to avoid the limitation on striving for greater oxygen levels as the improvement in oxygen permeability is the highlight of technological advancements.

The article discusses the use of therapeutic and prosthetic contact lenses for patients who are suffering from ocular disfigurements. It states that colored contact lenses serve as cosmetic and therapeutic tools for patients. It notes that eye-care practitioners face the challenge of offering patients tinted and colored contact lenses as prosthetic devices. They are responsible of positioning themselves within the health care system to use their knowledge in creating special lenses for patients. INSETS: Tint and Color to Match;Ready-Made Does the Trick;Custom Hand-Painted Lens.

The article focuses on the patient factors involved in selecting a toric lens design. It examines the demographics of patients with astigmatism seeking for ideal toric lens design and evaluates the different types of the disease to understand the different lens options available. It also presents a self-assessment examination related to the stabilization factors of toric contact lenses.

The article offers tips for ophthalmologists on how to develop significant contact lens practice. Ophthalmologists should value the patient history, the actual examination, and medical decision-making when considering the contact lens options. In addition, ophthalmologists need to understand the materials used in soft contact lenses.

The article provides information for optometrists on how to customize their patients' needs of using presbyopic lenses. It suggests that doctors need to keep at least one of the special categories for use as a companion to primary designs. These categories include short-corridor progressive lenses, computer progressive lenses and wraparound progressive sun wear lenses.

The article discusses various considerations that optometrists need to keep in mind when recommending intraocular lens (IOL) to patients. It provides information about a wavefront-based explanation of the new IOLs, which is the standard procedure prior to laser vision correction. Meanwhile, the author suggests that optometrists should spend time talking with the patient and learn about his or her specific visual needs.

The article presents the trends in multifocal contact lenses in the U.S. It discusses the concept of the soft, disposable multifocal lens, gas-permeable lenses or hybrid multifocal lenses. Meanwhile, the author also focuses on the patient's correction and how he or she is satisfied with the trends in multifocal contact lenses.

The article specifies four categories of patients with vision disorder who need contact lenses. It is helpful among optometrists to identify the type of their patient to help them determine their needs and demands. They patients may belong to low to moderate myopes, first-time wearers or younger patients, patients with low residual astigmatism and non-compliant patients.

The article describes presbyopic contact lens and identifies its advantages. It is advisable for optometrists to fully understand the considerations and demands of their patients to provide them the satisfaction they need. It is remarkable that contact lenses are developed in an improved manner that cope with the demands of patients.

The article focuses on the use of contact lens and surgical options for keratoconus patients. Authors say that soft contact lens may be prescribed for mild keratoconus but most patients benefit from gas-permeable (GP) contact lens as the condition advance. They add that the surgical options should be taken if the patient is GP intolerance. Furthermore, referral to a fellow who provide contact lens care before assuming that the patient is lens intolerance.

The article discusses several conditions that indicate the use of large overall diameter (OAD) gas-permeable contact lenses and offers tips for the clinician who is just beginning to prescribe these lenses. The article points out that large OAD lenses are probably not the best option for most keratoconus patients. It suggests that eye-care practitioners should fully understand the prescription with large OAD before treating their patients.

The article focuses on the course on progressive lenses that improve visions. With this, two factors are coalescing that will drastically change the eye care industry in the future. They are wavefront aberrometry and presbyopia. In addition, the contact lens and surgical industry have attempted to deliver presbyopic cures with monovision, simultaneous vision, diffractive lenses and other technologies, with mixed degrees of success and patient satisfaction.

The article presents the third part of a series article about the pioneers in the contact lens field. In this part, the authors examine the groundbreaking practitioners who first eschewed spectacles to establish contact lens-only practices. To mention some, these include, Harold E. Davis, George N. Jessen and Robert L. Davis. Many of these individuals had an early interest in contact lenses and had been fitting rigid polymethyl-methacrylate lenses. INSET: THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF OPTOMETRY.

The article discusses the classification of silicone hydrogel contact lenses in the U.S. In classifying conventional hydrogel lens groups, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed a system which facilitates testing of care systems with the availability of lens materials. The FDA has generated four groups which were based primarily on pre-clinical characteristics and on clinically observed performance differences of the lens materials.

The article discusses the reasons on the differences of company regulations and guidelines when it comes to the use of contact lenses in the workplace in Canada. In the country, most laboratories have signs banning contact lenses because of government agencies' perceptions that it could damage the eyes of a person. These perceptions would become the basis for the formulation of the regulations and guidelines. INSET: New Guidelines for Eye Safety in the Workplace.

The article presents the panel discussion of the contact lens specialists about the effects of contact lens solution. The discussion was made due to the recent published reports accounting corneal and conjunctival staining and the effects on the ocular surface as a consequence of wearing contact lenses. Among the specialists who took part in the discussion include Art Epstein, Glenda Secor, and Eric White.

The article reports that contact lens industry data has revealed good news and bad news for the contact lens portion of the practice of optometry in the U.S. There is a large upswing in male and middle-aged wearers, and contact lens wear continues to increase overall. More than half of contact lens dropouts said they would definitely not return to contact lens wear, and patients are less likely to purchase their lenses from optometrists.

Cites various optical devices for retina examination. Use of direct ophthalmoscope to examine the crystalline lens and opacities; Ability of fundus contact lenses to provide images at the same orientation as the retina; Classification of binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy as very useful for evaluating the posterior segment and retinal periphery.

Explores the in vitro surface wettability of preconditioned silicone hydrogel (SiH) lenses using marketed multipurpose solutions in the presence of artificial tear solutions containing lysozyme, albumin and mucin. Increase in the popularity of the SiH lenses since its introduction to the marketplace; Role of lysozyme in improving the wettability of SiH lenses; Means of measuring the sessile contact angles of hydrophilic contact lenses.

Talks about the benefits of contact lens advances for patients with eye diseases. Interpretation of the concept of super vision through the wavefront technology and optical aberrations; Efforts of several companies and university research laboratories to work on customized wavefront-designed contact lenses; Possibility of the achievement of super vision. INSETS: Aspheric Contact Lenses That Correct Aberrations;Making the Move to Custom Lenses;The Tear Film and Vision.

Focuses on how doctors can keep contact lens patients. Common reasons why patients leave a practice; Importance for practitioners to welcome technological developments; Importance of compliance with contact lens wear.

Focuses on lubricant eye drops for contact lens wearers. Benefits from hyaluronate-based eye drops; Relief from dryness; Description of contact lenses.

The article reports that the advent of silicone hydrogel lenses has heightened practitioner awareness that the oxygen transmissibility of lens materials is one of the critical success factors in contact lens wear. The rapid recovery of corneal tissue that clinicians have observed when refitting low-Dk/t lens wearers with silicone hydrogel lenses has dramatized the insufficiency of the oxygen transmissibility of traditional hydrogels. The first oxygen transmissible hydrogel lens was introduced in 1971, providing a dramatic improvement in contact lens comfort.

The article discusses ophthalmoheliosis and eye care. Eyecare practitioners receive conflicting information about ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection for the eye and the need for incorporating UV absorbers into contact lens polymers. The term "ophthalmoheliosis" derives from the ancient Greece words meaning ''eye," "sun" and "condition." It may be used to describe any eye disorder that is caused by or related to sunlight exposure. The eye and the skin are the only organs of the body exposed to solar non-ionizing radiation. Only UV effects on the cornea, iris, lens and retina can potentially be modified by wearing UV-absorbing contact lenses.

Focuses on the importance of wearing glasses even with the predominance of contact lenses. Comparison of myopia development in children wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses; Option for correcting vision; Prescription of glasses for soft contact lens wearers.

Part II. Summarizes some of the papers and posters on the cornea and contact lenses that were presented at the 2004 Association for Vision in Research and Ophthalmology Meeting. Hypoxic stress levels and physiologically effective Dk/t values for combination contact lens systems; Comfort and vision with inverted soft contact lenses; Effects on the rabbit cornea of reversed geometry ortho-k lens wear.

Explains the importance of post-approval clinical studies in addressing contact lens safety or effectiveness issues that cannot completely be characterized during the pre-approval study. Overview of microbial keratitis or contact lens-related corneal ulcer; Examples of companies that have been give approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market their contact lenses in the United States; Frequency of post-approval studies.

Describes a scientific approach to choosing contact lens care solutions. Disinfection capabilities; Toxicity; Material/solution incompatibilities; Surface wettability.

Offers a look at some of the applications for color contact lenses that will help eyecare practitioners provide more options to benefit their patients. Cosmetic colored lenses; Enhancer cosmetic tints; Custom tinting; Sports applications; Low-vision aids; Color blindness. INSET: Reasons to Fit Prosthetic Lenses.

Discusses the most common problems that occur with contact lens wear and how to treat them. Dry eye; Hypoxic edema; Neovascularization; Corneal distortion and warpage; Epitheliopathies; Contact lens peripheral ulcers; Infectious complications. INSET: Contact Lens Complications Beyond the Cornea.

Looks at the developments and different uses of cosmetic contact lenses. Several tints for patients with low-vision conditions; Use of cosmetic lenses for theatrical purposes; Therapeutic uses; Prosthetic uses. INSET: A Different Way to Tint.

Provides information on wavefront contact lenses. Detection and correction of higher-order aberrations; Factors affecting refractive surgery; Contact lenses and vision optimization.

Provides information on corneal reshaping lenses along with manufacturers' comments on their designs. Product name; Wearing schedule; Range of correction; Fitting method; Recommendation for fitting set/inventory.

Reports on issues related to modern optics for the contact lens practitioner in the U.S. Implications for the application of wavefront technology on contact lenses; Role of understanding optical aberrations in harnessing the technology for ophthalmic lenses; Capability of clinicians to apply the theoretical in a practical way.

Suggests ways in diagnosing and correcting contact lens problems. Outline of some question that needs to be ask in determining the cause of the contact lens problem; Importance of the slit examination in diagnosing the cause of patient's problem; List of proactive steps in keeping patient in contact lenses. INSET: Practice Management Pearls for Recapturing Dropouts.

Describes the most vexing complications of contact lens wear which involves the appearance of corneal infiltrates. Definition of corneal infiltrates; Discussion of the differential diagnosis for contact lens-induced peripheral ulcer (CLPU); Features of microbial keratitis that clinically differ from CLPU.

The article reports on the advancements in the treatment of dry eye disorders. Keeping dry eye patients happily wearing contact lenses involves a thorough knowledge of dry eye and the treatments available. Researches have discovered a plethora of information about dry eye, and the pharmaceutical industry has provided us with several new products. Coupled with a good knowledge of contact lens materials and solutions and a medical approach to the patient's eyes and general health, eye care practitioners can turn some of those 17 million per year contact lens dropouts into contact lens successes. INSET: Case Example.

The article focuses on the issue of ocular allergy in the context of contact lenses. Estimates suggest that out of 35 to 36 million contact lens wearers in the United States, 20 to percent to 30 percent suffer from allergic eye diseases and a significant number of contact lens wearing patients are expected to develop them. By carefully examining patients' total contact lens regimen and modifying items as needed, in most instances eye-care practitioners can keep the patients wearing their lenses comfortably.

Describes some contact lens care solutions in the United States. Cleaning agents; Preservatives; Indications; Directions.

The article suggests that it is important for eye care practitioners to take stock of the contact lens available to fit their presbyopic patients. It discusses the available approaches, including monovision, bifocals, toric multifocals, gas-permeables and sclerals. The article concludes that industry innovation and new technology have provided practitioners with some solid options to help many patients who are interested in continued contact lens wear.

The article presents the main issues to discuss with patients who will be wearing presbyopic contact lens. It includes individual vision requirements and visual demands, the current ocular health status and patient's goals in terms of contact lens wear. In connection, several cases are also presented in the article in relation to patients wearing the lens.

The article discusses the important role that optometrists play in educating their patients in caring for their contact lenses. Over 30 million people in the U.S. wear soft contact lenses and the responsibility to educate them belongs to the optometrists. The use of compliance contract may not be enough, with this, a new set of guidelines was issued to improve practitioner awareness and patient compliance.

A case study of a 58-year-old white male who presented for a contact lens examination complained of seeing subtle spots before both eyes is presented. His ocular history is negative for any surgery, trauma or disease. His medical history is significant for mild hypertension and hyperlipidemia. With the series of examinations, it has been found that the patient has multiple cotton-wool spots, as suggested by the changes demonstrated in the fundus photographs.

The article discusses the developments in the chemistry and solutions of contact lens care industry. According to the author, contact lens cleaning and care solutions are critical to the safety and comfort of lenses. The challenge for the industry is the growing dominance of silicone hydrogel lenses that have defied easy classification based on the earlier system devise for hydrogel lenses.

The article discusses an approach which is helpful to make rigid contact lenses easier to fit and adapt. According to the author, the presentation of contact lenses, specifically gas permeable ones, to patients greatly affects their satisfaction and attitude towards it. Proper denomination of information regarding the product has been found to be essential to patients who hardly decide in choosing the right lens.

The article focuses on the causes of deposits on silicon hydrogel of contact lenses. Deposits are caused by tear film substances, care system, water content, surface charge, polymer composition and lens age which forms a chance of bacterial growth. Former studies have shown that some silicon hydrogels with poly vinyl pyrollidone, a wetting agent, may develop deposits faster than other lenses.