Eyeguysteve's Blog

Alcon Ciba Dailies Total 1 lenses FDA approved

Steve Rubinstein — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:25:32 +0000

Mr. Joseph Jimenez the CEO of Novartis mentioned in a conference call on Jan 25, 2012 that the new Dailies Total 1 has been approved by the FDA for sale in the US. He said that it is the first daily silicon hydrogel his company has brought to market.

The question is when?

New Dailies Total 1 Announcement for Europe

Steve Rubinstein — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:01:24 +0000

From the post below, it seems that Dailies Total 1 is a hit in Norway! It seems to be expanding to parts of Europe. We will find out in a few days.

News

20 January 2012

Optician news in brief

Following the launch of Dailies Total1 Water Gradient Silicone Hydrogel Contact lenses by CIBA Vision in the Nordic countries in November, a European Dailies Total1 meeting is being held in Barcelona on January 30 to mark a number of European countries launching the product. The lenses will then be launched in the UK at a later date. CIBA’s Water Gradient SiH daily lenses feature an increase from 33 per cent to over 80 per cent water content from core to surface.

New Dailies Total 1 a new 156 Dk Breathability one day contact lens

Steve Rubinstein — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:38:29 +0000

The only problem is you need to get to Norway to buy them!

Are they FDA approved? I dont know. I am sure they will be available in the US within the year.

The video about them can be seen here : a href=http://www.dailies.no/hva-er-best-for-meg/dailies-total-one.shtmlCiba Alcon One Day link /a

It is in English, and is very well produced with great images.

This will hopefully bring in a new era of high breathability one day contact lenses that are as healthy as the current 2 week and monthly lenses.

Avaira sphere contact lens recall part 2

Steve Rubinstein — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:14:35 +0000

I have been informed by a CooperVision representative that the recall is from one of three places of manufacturing for the product.

I will replace any lenses with a “made in the UK” label.

I don’t think there is a major cause for concern. I think this is a minor issue. There should be enough stock to replace the UK product.

Avaira Sphere Contact Lens Recall

Steve Rubinstein — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:17:02 +0000

As of today, November 16, 2011 I have been informed by CooperVision that there is a new recall in effect on CooperVision Avaira Spherical contact lenses.

I have had one patient that probably has the effected lot. She complained of pain and blur 1 hour after insertion of a new set of contact lenses.

She kept the foil tops of the contacts, and I am in the process of notifying the manufacturer.

SP (my patient) did the correct thing, she took out the lenses and came in. The eye is fine. She also kept the foil tops! This allows me to inform the manufacturer.

I took all of her lenses back, and replaced it with a competitor. Please let me do the same thing for you!

Problems? Call or email 914-835-6990, Dr.Steve@SoundShoreVisionCenter.com

Keratoconus treatment by Corneal Cross Linking

Steve Rubinstein — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:25:13 +0000

Source: news-medical.net

Patients in the United States who have the cornea-damaging disease keratoconus may soon be able to benefit from a new treatment that is already proving effective in Europe and other parts of the world. The treatment, called collagen crosslinking, improved vision in almost 70 percent of patients treated for keratoconus in a recent three-year clinical trial in Milan, Italy. The treatment is in clinical trials in the United States and is likely to receive FDA approval in 2012. The results of the Milan study are being presented today at the 115th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Orlando, Florida.

Avaira Toric recall, the attorneys, new info?

Steve Rubinstein — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:37:41 +0000

I have just been informed(10/12/2011 10:36am Eastern time) by CooperVision that they have changed their policy concerning Avaira Toric lenses.

They are no longer accepting orders for product or trial lenses as of last Thursday.

CooperVision expects to release product and trials in the Spring of 2012.

I have just read a few press releases by various groups claiming a different story from the Hong Kong Health Department, and what has been released in the USA.

I read the Hong Kong Health Department press release from August. It states very similar information to what CooperVision has released here.

The new information given to me by CooperVision may have something to do with the press releases, but I have not been informed by CooperVision at this time.

VSP and you the patient, and you the eye care provider

Steve Rubinstein — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:48:10 +0000

I have just come from a very interesting meeting with a former board member of Vision Service Plan and some state representatives from VSP.

This company is run by and for eye care providers (really eye doctors), and the company has been undergoing some changes recently. Notably the acquisition of Marchon Eyewear and Officemate software.

The management of the company has been trying to communicate with the eye doctors that provide the services that are paid for by the VSP insurance company. It is a difficult job. Most of these people wear two hats, one as an eye doc, and the other as a bureaucrat in the largest vision insurer in the US market.

My point to them was, just let us the little guy know what is happening when you change the rules. Also it would help to know why you are changing the rules.

It seemed like they understood the message, and were happy to explain why they opened an eye care location on the grounds of Cisco Industries a few months ago. They also explained why they want medical data reporting on diabetes and hypertension.

They are also looking to get more medical data reporting from the member doctors to show how cost effective optometrists can be in the competitive economic environment we all live in at this time.

All of the optometrists in the room felt as I did that optometric board certification is an incorrect move for the future of Optometry.

On the whole, I felt honored to have met a few of the movers and shakers in my field, and agree with the thrust of what VSP and these people in particular are doing.

Breathable One Day contact lenses…

Steve Rubinstein — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:31:34 +0000

There is one “almost” breathable one day contact lens on the market in the US today, the Vistakon TruEye.

Soon there will be more.

Both Ciba Vision, soon to be called Alcon, and Bausch & Lomb will have truly Breathable one day contacts on the market.

The new lenses will have permeability numbers above my delineation point of 100 units. TruEye is slightly below 100 in the US, and at 100 outside the US?

When will the nene lenses be out? Hopefully by the new year, in January.

Avaira Toric Recall, part 2

Steve Rubinstein — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:29:59 +0000

I have spoken to the technical consultation specialists at CooperVision. They have assured me that none of my patients are in the affected lots.

They also said that they expect to begin releasing the unaffected lots from “back order” status within the next week or so.

I have delayed any orders for this product as of now.

Avaira spherical product is Not affected. 08.24.11