Can Keratoconus Progression Be Predicted?

12/9/14

This article on keratoconus progression is from the National Keratoconus Foundation’s monthly e-update. To receive this valuable source of KC information to your inbox, you can subscribe here.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) ratio is a new potential predictor of systemic inflammation in several diseases. The aimed of this study, conducted by a group of researchers in Turkey, was to evaluate NLR ratio in patients with keratoconus.

The study included 54 patients with keratoconus and 25 age- and sex-matched control subjects. All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination and corneal topography. The KC patients were divided into progressive and non-progressive keratoconus groups on the basis of topographic parameters. Serum samples were obtained from all subjects, and the NLR ratio was calculated.
The study authors reported that the NLR ratio was 3.27 ± 1.37 in the progressive keratoconus group versus 1.87 ± 0.39 and 1.87 ± 0.52 in the non-progressive and control groups, respectively (p<0.01). They also observed that there was a positive correlation between the NLR ratio and progression (p<0.05). In the receiver-operating characteristic analysis, an NLR ratio ? 2.24 predicted the presence of progression with 79% sensitivity and 81% specificity.

The NLR ratio is a simple and inexpensive marker of systemic inflammation. The NLR ratio was found to be higher in patients with progressive keratoconus than in the non-progressive group and controls.

SOURCE: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may predict progression in patients with keratoconus. By Karaca EE1, Ozmen MC, Ekici F, Yüksel E, Türko?lu Z.
Cornea. 2014;33(11):1168–1173.

Catherine Warren, RN
Executive Director
National Keratoconus Foundation
A program of the Discovery Eye Foundation

Adjustments Can Help With Depression

11/25/14

Eye disease can lead to isolation and depression. But making some adjustments can help with the depression. Robin Heinz Bratslavsky (pictured below with her oldest son) was diagnosed with keratoconus (KC) 20 years ago at age 25. Now a mother of two who works from home as a freelance editor. She participates in NKCF’s KC-Link.

When I was diagnosed with KC, I was an editor at a major women’s magazine. The diagnosis didn’t mean much to me at the time. Things changed when I was fitted with RGPs. I had limited wear time and pain, and I started to feel anxious about my career. There were times I had to leave work early and drive to my eye specialist — several times a week. As a young editor in a highly competitive field, I was concerned these absences would interfere with my ability to move up at the magazine.

When I had my first child, my husband and I decided I would stay home with him and work on a freelance basis. I’ve been doing this for 14 years now. Through a series of corneal abrasions, infections and lens-tolerance issues, I have had to rely heavily on my husband and family and friends to drive me and my children when my eyes would not cooperate. I have had moments of extreme despair, because I am not used to being so dependent. My husband works incredibly long hours, and he used to travel a lot. I was always worried I would not be able to drive my children in an emergency.

As my KC has progressed, I have moments in which my normally well-controlled clinical depression manifests, and I feel helpless because of my vision limitations. My sons are both avid soccer players, and I miss a lot of their on-field accomplishments, because I simply cannot see well enough.

At this point, I wear Kerasoft lenses, and I have had Intacs placed in my right eye. My vision, corrected, is about 20/30, but that can vary from day to day. After 20 years, it appears my KC is stabilizing, so I have a pair of emergency glasses; they get me to approximately 20/60, so I can’t drive, but I can function somewhat around my house to give my eyes a break. I’ve been living with KC for a long time; it’s a manageable disease — as long as you are willing to make some adjustments.

Robin Heinz Bratslavsky
Keratoconus Advocate

Living With KC Isn’t Easy

10/23/14

The Discovery Eye Foundation Fall 2014 e-newsletter focused on depression and eye disease. At the time we asked for people that were willing to share their stories. Jennifer Villeneuve is one of the many that responded. She is 26 years old and lives in Ontario, Canada. A participant in KC-Link, she talks about the emotional toll keratoconus has taken on her life and living with KC.

At age 13, I was diagnosed with keratoconus and given RGP lenses, with which I struggled intensely. ?I became very quiet, and my bubbly personality disappeared. The lenses often got irritated and made my eyes water and turn red, which made me look like I was crying. My doctor didn’t really give me much information on the disease. He just told me my corneas were the shape of footballs instead of circles.

I couldn’t be a normal teenager. I often squinted and had red eyes, which made me very self-conscious. I couldn’t wear makeup or have a free-for-all teenage life. I had to worry about my lenses and what people saw when they looked at me. Some people knew about my KC, but not many. I was just that quiet person who squinted. Because of this, my self-esteem got very low. All in all, my high-school life was hell.

Every time I went to the doctor, he said my pain is normal, the discomfort is typical, and I needed to get used to it. I was also diagnosed with two learning disabilities, in addition to my vision impairment. Throughout high school, I had major anxiety and depression, though I never wanted to admit it. A close teacher even spoke to my mom about the anxiety and low self-esteem. I got through high school, still with the depression being untreated — and still with the same doctor who never even sent me for a topography scan. Each time I went in, it was, “Yup your eyes the same; see ya.”

In college, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and was finally getting treated. ?I also went to the University of Ottawa Eye Institute of The Ottawa Hospital in Ontario, Canada. They did topographic scans; my KC had gotten significantly worse. My contacts’ sizing changed twice that year. Again, I couldn’t be normal. College students go out partying, but not me. I stayed in my room by myself. I worried whether I could see enough to go out. What if I drank too much and lost a lens? It wasn’t worth the risk, especially given how expensive they are. In college, I got great help and acceptance. My teachers all knew about my KC, and I was set up with the Centre for Students with Disabilities at Algonquin College in Ottawa. They were my backbone and my support.

After my two years in college, I moved on to my career working with children. At each job, I had to explain why I always had a mirror and my contact stuff. At first, I was ashamed and almost embarrassed, explaining why I squinted and that I may not be able to read a kids’ book if the writing is too small. Not only did I get accepted by coworkers, but also by the kids. They knew my eyes were red from my contacts or that my tears meant something was in my eye. I began working in with special-needs children, which was incredible but also challenging — especially in ensuring my eyes were at their best.

At this same time, my vision had gotten worse. I went for corneal crosslinking (CXL) in one eye. I had to take? time off from work, which caused a lot of stress. Unfortunately, there were complications from the CXL. I had a scar in the same eye that caused the crosslinking to be difficult and not as successful. When it came time to do my other eye, I was hesitant, but I needed it. It worked, and the disease slowed down.

A year or so later, the disease had a spike and caused my eye to rub on a lens and make a blister. I had laser surgery to get rid of that and the scar, too. Because KC isn’t covered by insurance in Ontario, I had to pay for every lens, every $11 bottle of solution and countless eye drops. It was expensive, and money was a struggle. I still struggle with the costs of things.

I also have to worry about eye infections. Since I work with kids, they are easy to get, but if I get an eye infection, I can’t wear my contacts, which means no driving, which means no working, which means no money. Things can snowball so quickly.

My vision is up and down. My lenses don’t last as long in my eyes as they used to, and my nighttime vision can be scary. I have to be extra-vigilant. Again, I can’t be normal or go somewhere unfamiliar at night. I’m always concerned. My lens fitter recently recommended scleral lenses, but I can’t afford them. I barely could afford the $2,000 for the CXL.

Living with KC isn’t easy. I can’t help but wonder how long I’ll have the vision I have now. Am I going to be blind in a few years? If I have children, will they have this, or will I even be able to see them? Will I find a guy who would want someone with the possibility of losing vision? I have to stop myself from thinking ahead, or the anxiety gets the best of me.

Jennifer Villeneuve
Keratoconus Advocate

15 Things Doctors Might Like Us To Know

10/16/14

The Doctor Patient Relationship

Doctors are human. Professional decorum may not let them speak their minds and for that reason, I have gathered comments heard from eye doctors with whom I have been privileged to associate as a so-called “expert patient”. These may not speak for all, but I do think they represent the majority. Here are 15 of the most important, which we might benefit from hearing.

1. Your eyes are growing older, and I can’t turn back the years in an aging retina. I can, however, help you try to maintain your current vision for as long as possible.

2. Your appreciation means a lot. Don’t hesitate to compliment me if I have earned it.

3. I have quite a few patients who need my help and don’t want to be kept waiting. So I don’t have to keep repeating myself, please take notes, or bring someone with you who can refresh your memory later.

4. It is important that you comply with my instructions and show up for appointments if you want the best results.

5. My specialty is eye care. I will, however, try to provide you with resources for other ailments you may have.

6. Please be concise with your questions and stay on topic, so I’ll have time to treat other deserving patients.

7. Don’t believe everything you see in the media unless the source is reliable. If the information isn’t based on good evidence, my response to you may be disappointingly negative.

8. My services may seem expensive, but I have so many expenses and debts resulting from my profession that my bottom line may not be much different than yours.

9. An ethical physician will not choose a particular drug or treatment by how much of a profit he can make prescribing it.

10. I might not agree with everything you say, but rest assured that I will never let it affect the level of care I will provide.

11. Don’t expect me to keep all eye research in my head. I do know where to look it up, so allow me some time to get back to you on some questions.

12. Conferences I attend are sometimes in exotic places, but most of the time is spent going from one event to another, so it is really not a vacation.

13. Even if there is no current effective treatment for your eye disease, I still need to see you regularly to monitor your condition. Regular check-ups are important to your health and preventative care and treatment options are changing all the time.

14. I may not remember you personally, especially in the beginning or if I see you only see you once or twice a year, but your records contain everything I need to know to care for your vision.

15. I may not agree with your decision to try an alternative treatment, but I respect your right to do so. All I ask is that you seriously consider my opinion, and if you decide to go ahead with the treatment on your own, please keep me in the loop so I can monitor your condition.

We should try to understand that doctors are human beings who truly care about our welfare. Doing so could turn a top-down doctor-patient relationship into one of mutual respect and understanding. We might even get a few extra minutes of precious time in the chair, just because we’re a pleasure to have around.

Dan Roberts
“Expert Patient”

Our Thanks to Guest Bloggers Continues

10/7/14

More Amazing Guest Bloggers

Last week I took the opportunity to thank our very first guest bloggers for helping us launch the Discovery Eye Foundation Blog. We are pleased that so many people appreciate the wide range of eye-related information from eye care professionals, as well as the stories from people that live with eye disease on a daily basis.

Here is a round-up of guest bloggers since June 2014 that shared their time, experience and/or expertise to provide you with the best eye-related information.

Sumit “Sam“ Garg, MD – what you should know about cataracts

Randall V. Wong, MD – floaters, causes and treatments

Roy Kennedy – his personal experiences with the miniature telescope implant

Sandra Young, OD – the importance of getting vitamins and minerals from your food and not just supplements

Jeanette Hasseman – living with keratoconus

Greg Shane – theater for the blind

Caitlin Hernandez – blind actress and playwright

Jullia A. Rosdahl, MD, PhD – lasers for glaucoma and genetics and glaucoma

Maureen A. Duffy, CVRT – ways to reduce harmful effects of sun glare

Kooshay Malek – what is it like to lose your vision and being a blind therapist

Jeffrey J. Walline, OD PhD – children and contact lenses

Robert Mahoney – choosing a home care agency

Robert W. Lingua, MD – nystagmus in children

Buddy Russell, FCLSA, COMT – common pediatric eye diseases, treatment options for children and pediatric contact lenses

NIH (National Institute of Health) – telemedicine for ROP diagnosis

Harriet A. Hall, MD – evaluating online treatment claims

Patty Gadjewski – the life-changing effects of a telescopic implant

Michael A. Ward, MMSc, FAAO – proper contact lens care and wearing contacts and using cosmetics

Susan DeRemer, CFRE
Vice President of Development
Discovery Eye Foundation

Our First Three Months Of Eye Care

9/30/14

Discovery Eye Foundation Blog’s First Three Months

It is hard to believe, but this blog has been providing information and insights into eye disease, treatment options, personal experiences of living with vision loss, and other eye-related information for seven months.

All of this would not have been possible without the expertise of remarkable eye care professionals who took time out of their busy schedules to share information to help you cope with vision loss through a better understanding of your eye condition and practical tips. Since so much information was shared in the seven months, here is a look at the first three months, with the additional four months to be reviewed next Tuesday.

I am very thankful to these caring eye professionals and those with vision loss who were willing to share their stories:

Marjan Farid, MD – corneal transplants and new hope for corneal scarring

Bill Takeshita, OD, FAAO, FCOVD – proper lighting to get the most out of your vision and reduce eyestrain

Maureen A. Duffy, CVRT – low vision resources

M. Cristina Kenney, MD, PhD – the differences in the immune system of a person with age-related macular degeneration

Bezalel Schendowich, OD – blinking and dealing with eyestrain

Jason Marsack, PhD – using wavefront technology with custom contact lenses

S. Barry Eiden, OD, FAAO – contact lens fitting for keratoconus

Arthur B. Epstein, OD, FAAO – dry eye and tear dysfunction

Jeffrey Sonsino, OD, FAAO – using OCT to evaluate contact lenses

Lylas G. Mogk, MD – Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Dean Lloyd, Esq – living with the Argus II

Gil Johnson – employment for seniors with aging eyes

We would like to extend our thanks to these eye care professionals, and to you, the reader, for helping to make this blog a success. Please subscribe to the blog and share it with your family, friends and doctors.

Susan DeRemer, CFRE
Vice President of Development
Discovery Eye Foundation

Lens Care If You Wear Contact Lenses and Use Cosmetics

9/23/14

In a continuation from his article on Proper Contact Lens Care, Mr. Ward, Director of the Emory Contact Lens Service, also offers tips if you wear contact lenses and use cosmetics. Several of these pointers apply even if you don’t wear contact lenses, but want to protect your eyes.

The Bullet List of Contact Lens Care For Users Of Eye Area Cosmetics

If possible look for eye makeup specifically labeled for use by contact lens wearers; use premium products.

Apply eye area cosmetics after inserting contact lenses (this will help prevent cosmetic contamination of lens surfaces from handling of cosmetics).

Remove lenses before removing makeup.

Remove makeup daily with mild soap and water; do not use oil or petroleum based make up removers; specifically, avoid moisturizing bar soap and an eye makeup remover that contains mineral oil and cocoa butter.

Choose water based makeup; avoid any oil based, or ‘waterproof’ eye area products (oils will travel across the skin and contaminate the tear film).

Avoid ‘lash-extending’ mascaras with artificial fibers, and apply mascara only to the end of lashes; do not apply mascara to the base of the eyelash or on the eyelid margin.

Do not apply oil-based moisturizers on the eyelids (oils can spread on the skin).

Do not apply any makeup to the eyelid margin (shelf), between the eyelashes and the eyeball.

Apply face powders sparingly; use pressed powder instead of loose powder; try to stay away from the eye area as much as possible; avoid frosted.

Choose liquid or gel eye shadows rather than powders.

Use caution with hair styling sprays. If possible, spray aerosols with eyes closed and step back out of the mist before opening the eyes. These gel/wax/lacquer type sprays can significantly coat your contact lenses.

Replace eye makeup at least every three months; do not share cosmetics.

And, please note that an automobile’s rear view mirror is not intended for makeup application while driving.

Michael A. Ward, MMSc, FAAO
Director, Emory Contact Lens Service
Emory University School of Medicine

Proper Contact Lens Care Provides Best Vision, Comfort and Ocular Health

9/18/14

Proper contact lens care is essential for the best contact lens wearing experience. Mr. Ward, Director of the Emory Contact Lens Service has shared some valuable information about taking care of your contact lens in the article below. On Tuesday join us for additional tips for people who wear contact lenses and wear cosmetics.

Contact lenses provide alternatives to spectacles, and contact lens wearers report better peripheral vision, depth perception and overall vision quality. Contact lenses can correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness, astigmatism and even correct the need for reading glasses. They are also used to manage some ocular surface diseases.

Contact lenses fall into two basic material types: soft contact lenses (SCL) and rigid gas-permeable (GP) lenses. Soft lenses account for the great majority of the contact lens market. GP lenses require more precise fitting and are often used as specialty devices to correct high prescriptions and/or to manage various ocular disorders and may require longer lens-adaptation time. Regardless of lens type, careful attention to lens care instructions can provide good vision and life-long lens wearing comfort.
Proper lens care depends on the lens type, wearing schedule and other factors. Single-use or daily-disposable soft lenses are prescribed to be worn once and discarded. This is theoretically the safest lens wearing modality in that no lens cleaning, lens care or storage case is required for this modality. Other daily wear soft lenses may be replaced every 2 weeks, monthly or by other schedule. Any and all lenses that are removed each day must be cleaned and disinfected prior to their reuse. Your eye care practitioner should provide specific instructions relative to your lens wear and care needs. General lens care instructions and Dos and Don’ts are bullet-listed below.

A word of caution –
Contact lens wear is quite safe as long as proper lens and storage case care are followed. However, improper lens wear and care can put the lens wearer at risk for serious consequences. Sight-threatening microbial keratitis (corneal ulcer) is the most significant adverse event associated with contact lens wear and is largely preventable. The contact lens storage case is the most likely potential reservoir for contact lens related ocular infections. Therefore, lens storage case care should be high on the list of important lens wearing instructions. Contact lens cases are not meant to be family heirlooms; cases should be replaced regularly, at least every 1-3 months.

The Bullet List of Contact Lens Care Recommendations

Hand washing: Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses. Use mild, basic soap and avoid antibacterial, deodorant, fragranced or moisturizing liquid soaps (many liquid soaps have moisturizers that can contaminate your contacts from handling).
Cleaning, rinsing, and disinfecting: Digital cleaning (rubbing the lens with your finger in your palm) removes dirt and debris and prepares the lens surfaces for disinfection. Rub & rinse thoroughly, even if the product is labeled “No Rub”. Lens storage solutions contain chemicals that inhibit or kill potentially dangerous microorganisms while the lenses are soaked overnight.
- Contact lenses should be cleaned when removed from the eye.
- Do not re-use old solution or “top-off” the liquid in the lens storage case. Empty the storage case daily and always use fresh solution.
- Do not use lens care products beyond their expiration dates. Discard opened bottles after 28 days.
- Do not allow the tip of the solution bottle to come in contact with any surface, and keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
- Do not transfer contact lens solution into smaller travel-size containers.
Keep your contact lens storage case clean (inside and out).
- All lens storage cases should be emptied, rinsed, wiped, and air-dried between uses.
- Keep the contact lens case clean and replace it regularly, every one to three months.
- Do not use cracked or damaged lens storage cases.
- Take care to remove residual solution from surfaces of lens case and solution bottles.

Other Dos and Don’ts

Do not wear your lenses during water activities (swimming, hot tubs, showering, etc).
Soft contact lenses should not be rinsed with or stored in water. Soft lenses will change size and shape if exposed to water.
Do not put your lenses in your mouth.
Do not use saline solution or re-wetting drops in an attempt to disinfect lenses. Neither is capable of disinfecting contact lenses.
Wear and replace contact lenses according to the prescribed schedule.
Follow the specific contact lens cleaning and storage guidelines from your eye care professional.
Do not change lens care products without first checking with your eye care practitioner.
Spare rigid (GP) lenses should be stored dry for long term storage { clean, rinse, dry}. New or dry-stored GP lenses should be re-cleaned and disinfected prior to lens wear.
Do not store soft lenses in the storage case for an extended period of time. “Spare” soft contact lenses should be new and stored in their original and unopened packaging.
Do not sleep in your contact lenses unless specifically approved to do so by your eye care practitioner.

For information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, see:
www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/
www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/cdc-at-work.html

Michael A. Ward, MMSc, FAAO
Director, Emory Contact Lens Service
Emory University School of Medicine

The Way Eyes Work

9/16/14

Eyes are an amazing part of your body and not just because of what they do helping you see. The are also fascinating be because of the way eyes work. Here are 20 facts about how your eyes function.

1. The pupil dilates 45% when looking at something pleasant.

2. An eye’s lens is quicker than a camera’s.

3. Each eye contains 107 million cells that are light sensitive.

4. The light sensitivity of rod cells is about 1,000 times that of cone cells.

5. While it takes some time for most parts of your body to warm up their full potential, your eyes are always active.

6. Each of your eyes has a small blind spot in the back of the retina where the optic nerve attaches. You don’t notice the hole in your vision because your eyes work together to fill in each other’s blind spot.

7. The human eye can only make smooth motions if it’s actually tracking a moving object.

8. People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen compared to paper.

9. The eyes can process about 36,000 bits of information each hour.

10. Your eye will focus on about 50 things per second.

11. Eyes use about 65% or your brainpower – more than any other part of your body.

12. Images that are sent to your brain are actually backwards and upside down.

13. Your brain has to interpret the signals your eyes send in order for you to see. Optical illusions occur when your eyes and brain can’t agree.

14. Your pupils can change in diameter from 1 to 8 millimeters, about the size of a chickpea.

15. You see with your brain, not your eyes. Our eyes function like a camera, capturing light and sending data back to the brain.

16. We have two eyeballs in order to give us depth perception – comparing two images allows us to determine how far away an object is from us.

17. It is reported that men can read fine print better than women can.

18. The muscles in the eye are 100 times stronger than they need to be to perform their function.

19. Everyone has one eye that is slightly stronger than the other.

20. In the right conditions and lighting, humans can see the light of a candle from 14 miles away.

Susan DeRemer. CFRE
Vice President of Development
Discovery Eye Foundation

Contact Lens Fitting For Children

8/26/14

Fitting Techniques

The techniques the contact lens professional utilizes to fit an adult with a GP lens must be altered to fit an infant or small child. The ability to capture a reliable image with a topographer or accurate keratometric readings is often impossible to obtain in small children. Keratometric readings obtained at the time of surgery or an exam under anesthesia should only be considered as a starting point or a guide to the initial diagnostic lens. The application and evaluation of a diagnostic lens is the best method to obtain an appropriate fit in small children. I utilize diagnostic lenses that do not have a UV filter. I find these lenses allow me to better interpret the fluorescein pattern when using a handheld burton lamp or LED cobalt flashlight. Once the appropriate fit has been determined, the lens is remade incorporating a material that provides an ultraviolet filter. I find it easier to determine the approximate corneal shape and curvature initially with a relatively flat fitting lens on the eye. If the diagnostic lens being evaluated vaults the anterior corneal surface, the interpretation and extrapolation of corneal curvature is difficult if not impossible. As in any GP fitting, the goal is to equally distribute lens mass and provide peripheral fulcrums to maintain stability and a central position. This central position of the lens is especially important in higher powers to minimize spherical aberrations. In recent years, I have found myself fitting looser and larger GP diameters. A general rule to follow with small children and GP lenses is that a tight lens will tend to dislodge from the eye and a loose fitting lens will tend to displace off the cornea onto to bulbar conjunctiva.

As with GP fitting on small children, soft lens fitting techniques are also a bit different. In order to determine appropriate movement of a soft lens on a small child, the “spring back” test may be helpful. With the soft lens on the eye, digitally displace the lens off center. If the lens immediately “springs back” into place on the cornea, the lens may fit too tightly on the ocular surface. If the lens stays off center while manually closing the lids to mimic a blink, the lens may be fitted too loosely on the ocular surface. In addition, retinoscopy over the soft lens to determine if the reflex maintains clarity during the blink is a finding seen with a well fitting lens. If the reflex is clearer with a blink, the fit may be too steep. If the reflex is worse with a blink, the fit may be too flat. The reflex seen with a well-fitted soft lens will maintain the same clarity before, during and after a blink. The retinoscope is not only used to determine the final lens power with any type of lens but also an important instrument to guide you to the best cornea lens relationship. Pediatric fitters of contact lens should be proficient with a retinoscope.

Little Lenses for Little People?

The pediatric contact lens professional is not limited to “off the rack” products. In addition to custom GP lenses, there are many lens manufacturers of custom made soft and silicone hydrogel contact lenses that allow us the opportunity to provide any child any parameter. In addition, liberal exchange policies implemented by these manufacturers of custom products allow us to provide these products to the patients who require them in a fair and effective manner. However, the delay in time to deliver the product to a pediatric patient in an urgent situation is a potential problem. Any delay in optical correction and visual rehabilitation with a young pediatric patient may result in permanent loss in vision.

Silicone Hydrogel Custom Products

After many years of anticipation, in 2010 Contamac received FDA approval for Definitive, a latheable silicone hydrogel material. The Definitive material can be manufactured by a limited number of laboratories in the U.S. in virtually any group of parameters. This inherently wettable, high water content and low modules material has a DK of 60. While 60 DK is not as high as other “off the rack” silicone hydrogel materials, the effective DK in many of the parameters utilized in pediatric fitting is higher than the same parameters made in HEMA-GMA materials. While this material is a welcome addition to our armamentarium of contact lens options in our practice, my clinical experience specific to pediatric indications and this material has led me to two conclusions. The application of a lens to the eye of a small child manufactured in the Definitive material is more difficult than HEMA-GMA materials and the time delay of up to ten days is often too long in an urgent case common to the pediatric patient. In time, both of these concerns can be overcome with practice and improved efficiency on the part of the patient, the practitioner and the laboratory.

New News About an Old Lens

Silicone Elastomer (Silsoft) has a long and well-documented history of being the lens of choice for the majority of pediatric professionals to manage small children following cataract surgery. The truth is that there would be many “blind” children if not for this particular lens. Silsoft Super Plus contact lenses for pediatric aphakia (>20 diopters) are available with the following parameters: diameter, 11.3mm, base curves: 7.5 mm (45.00D), 7.7mm (43.75D), and 7.9mm (42.75D), optic zone of 7.0mm and powers ranging from +23.00D to +32.00D in 3D steps. The Silsoft material has an oxygen permeability (Dk) value of 340, with oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t) of 58 at 0.61mm. One of the concerns about Silsoft has been the limited availability of parameters. As a result of the tireless efforts of Joe Barr, O.D., B+L may ultimately decide to expand the parameters of their Silsoft Super Plus product. While this announcement is far from official at the time of this article, I would like to applaud Joe and encourage you to do the same. Whether you are a proponent or opponent of Silsoft, any improved technology to provide children with the opportunity to safely develop better vision is worthy of the efforts. On behalf of the industry, the children and their families, thank you Joe.

Conclusion

As contact lens professionals, we have the responsibility, opportunity and privilege to provide products and service to young patients and their families. These products and associated services are necessary to maintain and or develop possibly the most important gift one may ever possess, the gift of sight. Again I ask you, are you a “healer of children”?

Buddy Russell, FCLSA, COMT
Associate, Specialty Contact Lens Service
Emory University Eye Center

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