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LEGISLATION NOW AWAITS
HOUSE VOTE
Senate
Approves Decorative Contact Lens Safety Bill
The United States Senate unanimously
approved the decorative contact lens safety bill, S. 172, before the August recess.
S. 172 would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate cosmetic
or "plano" contact lenses as medical devices, just as it does prescription lenses.
The FDA has issued warnings to consumers and acknowledged reports of corneal ulcers
associated with this type of lens wear beginning in 2003.
The American Optometric Association, Prevent Blindness America
and the Contact Lens Institute, among other groups, support this effort to protect
Americans from unnecessary eye injuries caused by the misuse of plano cosmetic lenses.
Representative John Boozman, O.D., (R-Ark.) is the prime sponsor for a companion
bill pending before the House, H.R. 371.
LARGEST
SUM EVER AWARDED IN LASIK CASE
$7.25 Million Awarded in Verdict
A
former Wall Street investment banker has been awarded $7.25 million in a civil suit
after a jury found that laser eye surgery permanently damaged his vision.
The verdict came down in Manhattan Supreme Court and is thought
to be the largest amount ever awarded in a LASIK-related case. A former airline
pilot was awarded $4 million by an Arizona jury several years ago when he contended
that complications from LASIK ruined his night vision and left him unable to fly.
Yale graduate Mark Schiffer, 32, claimed that the poor surgical
outcome of a procedure performed by Mark G. Speaker, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., in October
2000 forced him to abandon his Wall Street career and take a job working for his
father. Schiffer's lawyer successfully argued that his client had keratoconus, which
made him an unsuitable candidate for LASIK. He also argued that Dr. Speaker "departed
from accepted standards of ophthalmological care" when he performed the surgery.
The award is being appealed.
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I
have participated in free vision screenings for children.
Yes: 80.4% (181
votes)
No: 19.6% (44
votes)
In a recent OM Quick Poll, 80.4%
or respondents said that they had donated their services in free vision
screenings for children. |
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THE ELDERLY
REQUIRE REGULAR VISION CARE
The Case Against Drug Store Reading
Glasses
Optometrists
should caution elderly patients not to rely on "drug store" reading glasses as a
substitute for professional vision care, argues an item in the July 2005 issue of
Optometry and Visual Science. The reason: In patients more than 50 years of age,
the difference between both eyes — in terms of astigmatism, hyperopia and refractive
error — "is likely to increase quite significantly" and is not addressed by
readers.
These differences grow greater as patients age. Almost 20% of
those over the age of 85 have at least 2D of astigmatism. Research finds anisometropia
three to eight times greater in the elderly when compared with younger adults. Stereopsis
is 10 times worse in the oldest Americans (over age 85) vs. young adults.
In addition, studies have also shown that of patients with binocular
visual acuities of 20/40 or worse, 44% improved one line or more of Snellen acuity
when an eye doctor updated their refractive error.
Add to the equation age-related eye disease such as macular degeneration,
cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, and there is strong evidence that
regular eye care is critical for older Americans. Readers or any other measures
that reduce "the likelihood of receiving this regular care is not good for our patients
and has to be a concern," writes author Anthony Adams, the journal's editor in chief.
WHEN RAISES
GO BEYOND THE INFLATION RATE
Avoid "Salary Creep" in Your Practice
Service
reviews shouldn't mean automatic raises, say Donna Suter, president of Suter Consulting
Group, and Marilee Blackwell, president of Blackwell Consulting. Routinely giving
raises above the inflation rate may cause you to experience "salary creep." (According
to InflationData.com, the national inflation rate from Jan. 1, 2004 through Dec.
31, 2004 was 2.75%.) Once you raise someone above fair market value, it's very difficult
to cut wages without losing the employee. They advise using a performance review
to determine raises. Measure results against expectations, reflecting on performance
history and setting markers in the future to guide improvement. Use this format:
- Show
appreciation.
- Set
written goals. What's a minimum, reasonable standard for "average?" What about "above
average?" What defines "excellence?"
- Stress
"growth" vs. "change."
Consider a performance improvement plan if there are deficiencies.
Intuitive human resources software makes performance reviews quick. (One source:
Employee Appraiser Deluxe from www.natsem.com). Be sure to determine fair market
value wages before deciding on annual raises — two sources are
Salary.com and
Monster.com.
CONSULTING
NEWS
Gailmard Branches into Consulting
Neil
Gailmard, O.D., M.B.A., has created Gailmard Consulting, a new management-consulting
firm for eyecare practitioners. The firm uses "teleconsulting," (phone, e-mail and
photography) to save clients thousands of dollars by not requiring an on-site visit
by the consultant. The firm then creates a "Comprehensive Practice Report" and "Management
Action Plan" for its clients. Visit Gailmardconsulting.com for more information.
Dr. Gailmard is a contributor to OM.
BLINDNESS
REPORTED RARELY
FDA Approves New Labeling for Erectile Dysfunction
Drugs
The
FDA recently approved new labeling to warn men about possible blindness from drugs
for erectile dysfunction (Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra). FDA officials admit that
they don't know if the drugs cause blindness.
This new labeling states that non-arteritic anterior ischemic
optic neuropathy (NAION) has been reported rarely in patients who use erectile dysfunction
drugs.
Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, agreed to change its labeling, but
said it found no evidence of increased risk of blindness in any of the 103 clinical
trials that tested Viagra. Thirty-eight cases of NAION in Viagra users have been
reported to the FDA. More than 27 million men have used Viagra.
Risk factors for NAION include high blood pressure, diabetes,
high cholesterol and an age of more than 50 years. These traits are also commonly
found in patients with erectile dysfunction. NAION is a common cause of sudden vision
loss in older Americans.
According to the National Eye Institute, about 6,000 people develop
NAION each year. The chance that the drugs may lead to NAION was first made public
earlier this year in an article in the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.
Getting
the word out on dry eye
Allergan
has launched the Web site, FocusonDryEye.com. It features a "chronic dry eye self
exam," an explanation of the causes behind the malady and a list of suggested questions
for patients to ask their doctors, as well as links to further resources.
DRUG MARKETING
PhRMA Approves Guidelines
The
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America announced "Guiding Principles"
for its members in the area of marketing drugs. PhRMA recommends companies submit
new television advertisements to the FDA before releasing them for broadcast. The
principles also call for a balanced presentation of benefits and risks. They call
for "an appropriate amount of time" to educate health professionals about new medicines
or therapeutic indications before starting consumer ad campaigns.
The principles are scheduled to go into effect in January 2006.
UPDATES
FROM CIBA, VISTAKON
Contact Lenses in the News
According
to Health Products Research, silicone hydrogel contact lenses accounted for 29%
of new fits of soft lenses in the United States during the first quarter of 2005.
The year-ago figure was 17%. The firm, which audits eyecare practitioner dispensing
of contact lenses, also reported that CIBA Vision's O2Optix brand was a major contributor
to silicone hydrogel growth, representing 8.5% of all new soft lens fits during
the quarter.
In other news, Vistakon says that two company surveys show more
than three quarters of respondents report being "extremely/very satisfied" with
its Acuvue Advance Brand Contact Lenses for Astigmatism. The same number of respondents
also rated the lens's overall vision and comfort as "excellent/ very good."
Publicity for PureVision
Bausch & Lomb began a multi-media consumer
ad campaign in August to promote its PureVision soft contact lenses. A 30-second
ad designed to raise consumer awareness about PureVision will run on network and
cable TV stations across the United States. It can also be viewed on the company's
Web site at www.bausch.com.
NEW CENTER
IS DEDICATED TO INDEPENDENT OPTOMETRISTS
SCO Established the Hayes Center for Practice
Excellence
The
Southern College of Optometry (SCO) announced that Dr. Jerry Hayes and his wife,
Cris, donated $500,000 for the establish- ment of the Hayes Center for Practice
Excellence at SCO, the first educational center at an optometric college specifically
dedicated to teaching independent optometrists how to manage the business side of
a practice. SCO's board of trustees matched the endowment, bringing the total to
$1 million.
"Optometric education gets criticized for its perceived lack of
education in this area," said SCO president William E. Cochran, O.D. "I think The
Hayes Center for Practice Excellence will go a long way in establishing that the
business of optometry is just as important to the health of the profession as the
art and science of optometry."
Dr. Hayes is founder of Hayes Consulting and
KnowYourStaff.com.
He is a regular contributor to Optometric Management.
O.D.
NOTEBOOK
PEOPLE & PROMOTIONS
Industry
veteran Jay Little dies. Jay Little, Briot-Weco's National Lab Sales Manager for
the United States and Canada, died last month after a sudden illness. Little spent
40 years in optical equipment sales, starting with Coburn Optical Industries and
later working with DAC Vision and Optical Dynamics Corp. "Jay's strong passion for
putting his customers first was widely recognized," said Bret Davis, president of
Briot-Weco USA.
COMPANY NEWS
AcuVue
Oasys to roll out on schedule. A Florida court last month denied CIBA Vision's motion
for a temporary restraining order to halt the launch of AcuVue Oasys Brand Contact
Lenses, by Vistakon.
AMD
treatment wins award. Eyetech Pharmaceuticals' Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection)
was named Innovative Pharmaceutical Product of the Year at the 2005 Pharmaceutical
Achievement Awards. Macugen is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for all
types of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Partnering
on patient education. Eyemaginations and M&S Technologies announced an exclusive
partnership to make Eyemaginations' patient education and instructional software
available for use on M&S's Smart System 2020 Visual Acuity System. The integration
of software systems will allow users to fully control, select and display the patient
education software in the exam room by using M&S's remote control.
Web
site gets renovation. Eyedesign.com's updated Web site features a photo gallery
of office interiors, optical furniture collections, planning and interior design
information and brochures request.
FOUNDATION NEWS
Addressing
keratoconus needs. Addition Technology announced the formation of The Foundation
for Keratoconus Care, a non-profit foundation to help keratoconus sufferers. Addition
is the maker of Intacs prescription inserts for the treatment of myopia and keratoconus.
The foundation will provide financial support to patients who do not have the means
to undergo an Intacs procedure to treat the disease.
Network
with OWA. The Optical Women's Association (OWA) will host a networking social on
Friday, Sept. 16 during the International Vision Expo in Las Vegas. The event will
be held in The Venetian Hotel's Bellini Ballroom from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Optometric Management, Issue: September 2005