Optometric Physician
 


Vol. 22, #35   •   Monday, September 13, 2021

 

Off the Cuff: A Rememberence


Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye; however, some things, you never forget. On the 20th anniversary of one of the worst days in the history of our country, I thought it appropriate to reprint the words I shared with you back then. They are just as meaningful to me today as when I wrote them 20 years ago. GBA


Life is Always About Change Originally published October 8, 2001

Sometimes, though, it’s not for the better.

Whenever I travel—and I travel a lot—coming home is usually my favorite part of the journey. Approaching LaGuardia Airport from the south, we might pass to the left, sometimes to the right and, rarely, directly over the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The panorama never failed to take my breath away. The blending of a sunset on a brilliant, clear day reaffirmed my faith in man’s ability to create things that could not only mesh with nature but also punctuate its beauty.

 

Yet, the sights of home were more than just a pretty view. I grew up in New York City and I’ve lived here all of my life. When I saw those twin towers, I knew I was home. I loved the area where those two magnificent buildings stood.



Goodbye Radio Row
Before anyone even thought of a World Trade Center there was Cortlandt Street and Radio Row, filled with shops that sold World War II surplus and electronics. A 10-cent subway fare was cheap admission into a world filled with bargains and treasures. I spent many happy afternoons as a teenager exploring those streets with my brother and my friends.

In 1966 the dusty stores and friendly faces of Radio Row gave way to the construction of the new World Trade Center complex. It was perhaps my first real encounter with change and the impermanence of our lives.

I remember my last visit to Cortlandt Street as if it were yesterday. I close my eyes and see the neat rows of old radios. I hear the laughter of my friends. I fixed those images firmly in my memory, knowing that the reality would soon be gone forever.

One Last Look
On the afternoon of September 10 the tall towers glistened in the sun as I flew by them for the last time. Finally approaching home several days later, I witnessed a scene that could have only come straight from the depths of hell. The sky was dark and gloomy and all that remained was a smoking twisted mass of devastation. I was so overwhelmed by the scope of the destruction that tears streamed down my face. I was not alone in my sorrow.  


In recent weeks we have been witnesses to unprecedented tragedy. It has affected us in ways that are as difficult to describe as the events were painful to watch. Images of explosions and death are forever burned into our minds. For many of us this still seems a surreal nightmare. We wake each day hoping that it was only a bad dream. Sadly, we realize that things are forever different.

As people of conscience who have chosen to dedicate our lives to healing, how can we optometrists reconcile a disaster of such enormity? How do we continue to appreciate the relativity of the human experience in the face of absolute evil? What do we do to overcome our personal fears and the despair that has permeated our nation?

These are questions that each of us must answer in the months to come. However, it will likely be many years before we gain any real perspective of the magnitude of this event—if such understanding is even possible. Perhaps the best we can do is to accept that our lives have changed. As for me, now that the ghosts of my childhood mingle with 6,000 innocent souls, flying home will forever be tinged with sadness.





 


Arthur B. Epstein, OD, FAAO
Chief Medical Editor
artepstein@optometricphysician.com


Want to share your perspective?
Write to Dr. Epstein at artepstein@optometricphysician.com. The views expressed in this editorial are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Jobson Medical Information LLC (JMI), or any other entities or individuals.




 
 

 
 
 

Antiviral Effect of Multipurpose Contact Lens Disinfecting Solutions Against Coronavirus


These researchers evaluated the antiviral potential of five multipurpose disinfecting solutions against coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus, a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 human coronavirus). Test solutions (Biotrue, ReNu Advanced [Bausch + Lomb], Acuvue RevitaLens [Johnson & Johnson Vision], cleadew [Ophtecs] or Aosept Plus [Alcon]) were mixed with the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus at 104 plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL as the final concentration and incubated at room temperature for the specified disinfection time. Surviving virus from each sample was then quantified by standard plaque-forming unit assay, and the reduction of PFU for each disinfectant was compared to the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) treated negative control. A regimen test was also conducted using Biotrue.

The three multipurpose disinfecting solutions Biotrue (containing PHMB and polyquaternium-1), ReNu Advanced (PHMB, polyquaternium-1 and alexidine) and Acuvue RevitaLens (polyquaternium-1 and alexidine) did not kill the coronavirus at the manufacturers recommended disinfection time in the stand alone test. After treatment, the virus's titer (3.8 ± 0.2 log10 for Biotrue, 3.7 ± 0.1 log10 for ReNu and 3.7 ± 0.2 log10 for RevitaLens) was similar to the negative control (3.7 ± 0.1 log10; p≥0.996). Aosept Plus (hydrogen peroxide) and cleadew (povidone iodine) significantly (p<0.001) reduced the numbers of coronaviruses to below the detection limit (i.e., killed 3.7 ± 0.1 log10 viruses compared to control). However, there was a significant reduction (p=0.028) in numbers of coronaviruses attached to lenses when using the regimen test with Biotrue.

This study shows that oxidative contact lens disinfecting solutions (i.e., those containing povidone-iodine or hydrogen peroxide) provide superior antiviral activity against a coronavirus surrogate of SARS-CoV-2, unless the full regimen test (rub, rinse, disinfect) is used.

SOURCE: Yasir M, Kumar Vijay A, Willcox M. Antiviral effect of multipurpose contact lens disinfecting solutions against coronavirus. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2021 Aug 27:101513.


 
 

 

 
 

Evaluation of the Efficacy, Safety and Stability of Posterior Chamber Phakic Intraocular Lenses for Correcting Intractable Myopic Anisometropic Amblyopia in a Pediatric Cohort


Myopic anisometropic amblyopia in pediatrics is one of the most challenging clinical situations that can face an eye care professional. Conventional correction modalities for myopic anisometropia using spectacles, contact lenses and/or occlusion therapy may not be suitable for some pediatric patients or for some ocular conditions. This may lead to the development of anisometropic amblyopia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the visual and the refractive efficacy, safety and stability of Posterior Chamber Phakic Intraocular Lenses (PC-pIOLs) for correcting myopic anisometropic amblyopia in a pediatric cohort. This case series, a prospective, interventional study, was conducted at Watany Eye Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. It included children and teenagers with myopic anisometropic amblyopia and unsuccessful conventional therapy. After implantation of Intraocular Collamer Lenses (ICLs) (Visian ICL, Model V4c, STAAR Surgical), postoperative follow-up visits were scheduled, with automated refraction and Pentacam imaging performed.

The study enrolled 42 eyes of 42 patients. The age range was 3 to 18 years (mean ± SD = 10.74 years ±4.16). The mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was -12.85D ± 2.74. The results declared a significant improvement in the postoperative Corrected Distance Visual Acuity (CDVA) (p<0.01) and SE (p<0.01). The efficacy index had a value of 1.18 ± 0.3, and the safety index was 1.09 ± 0.24. The follow-up visits had a mean ± SD of 14.67 months ±16.56 (range, one to 54 months). The results showed a refractive stability, with statistically insignificant improvements in the patients' visual acuity and refractive status at follow-up visits compared to the first postoperative visits. No postoperative complications were encountered. A significant (80%) non-compliance with the prescribed postoperative occlusion therapy was reported.

Researchers reported the study, with the longest reported follow-up range, revealed the long-term efficacy, safety and stability of Visian ICLs for correcting myopic anisometropic amblyopia in pediatrics. They added that reported non-compliance with occlusion therapy suggests the potential use of the early implantation of Visian ICLs in cases with failed conventional therapy to guard against anisometropic amblyopia.

SOURCE: Morkos FF, Fawzy NF, El Bahrawy M, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and stability of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses for correcting intractable myopic anisometropic amblyopia in a pediatric cohort. BMC Ophthalmol. 2021; Aug 28;21(1):311.

 
 

Screening Evaporative Dry Eyes Severity Using an Infrared Image


Dry eye disease (DED) is multifactorial and one of the most common problems treated in an ophthalmic outpatient clinic. Due to the variability in presentation, diagnosis of DED consists of a combination of subjective and objective clinical tests. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a handheld smartphone-based infrared thermal (IRT) camera for screening symptomatic evaporative DED. This observational sex-matched control study assessed IRT images of 184 right eyes (46 normal and 138 DED) of 184 participants. Evaporative DED was assessed using noninvasive tear breakup time, fluorescein staining and the Chinese version of the ocular surface disease index (C-OSDI) questionnaire, and investigators categorized the presentations into their respective dry eye symptomology group (none, mild, moderate or severe). The ocular surface temperature (OST) at eight anatomical regions of interest (ROI) (nasal conjunctiva, nasal limbus, nasal cornea, central cornea, inferior cornea, temporal limbus, temporal cornea and temporal conjunctiva) were measured and compared using a handheld smartphone-based IRT camera. The effectiveness of these eight ROIs OST in detecting varying severity of DED was evaluated in terms of correlations with severity of DED and area under the curve (AUC).

OST at the eight anatomical ROI was significantly higher in DED participants than in the non-DED group (p<0.05) except for inferior cornea, temporal limbus and temporal conjunctival regions (>0.05). Analyzing eight anatomical ROIs revealed that the nasal limbus had the highest Pearson correlation with the severity of DED (0.64, p<0.001). Additionally, the nasal limbus ROI achieved the highest AUC of 0.79 (CI, 0.73 to 0.85; p<0.05), and sensitivity and specificity (0.96 and 0.91, respectively) when comparing its ability to discriminate DED vs. non-DED eyes.

Investigators wrote that, rather than a diagnostic tool, handheld smartphone-based IRT images can be considered as a rapid, noninvasive and hygienic screening tool in discriminating DED and non-DED, and potentially alleviating inconvenience experienced during conventional tests.

SOURCE: Zhang Q, Wu Y, Song Y, et al. Screening evaporative dry eyes severity using an infrared image. J Ophthalmol. 2021; Aug 24;2021:8396503.

 

 

 
 
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Industry News


Dr. Lyndon Jones Elected as Royal Society of Canada Fellow


Professor Lyndon Jones, director of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education, and professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo, was named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada Class of 2021. Dr. Jones is among 89 new fellows across Canada elected by their peers for outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievements. He is one of three University of Waterloo researchers to be awarded this elite distinction. Dr. Jones’ research interests primarily focus on the interaction of novel and existing contact lens materials with the ocular environment, dry eye and the development of novel materials for ocular drug delivery. He has authored more than 400 papers and one textbook, and given more than 1,000 invited lectures at conferences worldwide in over 40 countries. He has been awarded over 30 national and international awards. Read more.

Editor’s Note: I’ve known Lyndon for many years, and he’s among the brightest, most dedicated and balanced forces for good in optometry and contact lens science. I am delighted to see him receive this well-deserved honor. Warmest congratulations, my friend!

 

 

 
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Coburn Introduces Novel Lens Surfacing Technology

 


Coburn Technologies officially launched the Reimagine Campaign to announce new technology advancements in lens processing. The company introduced the Agility Autodeblocker, an automatic, waterless lens deblocker that separates lenses from blocks using mechanical power rather than water jets or human energy. The waterless system is designed to improve lab cleanliness and safety. Coburn also introduced the Integrity Alloy Recovery System, which uses induction heating technology to melt a very thin layer of alloy where it engages the block, allowing the alloy puck to separate cleanly and completely intact. The collected alloy pucks can be placed directly into the reservoir of a lens blocker without having to remelt them beforehand. Read more.


AAOF Announces Recipients of J&J Vision Residency, Rhonda S. Robinson Contact Lens Residency Awards


The American Academy of Optometry Foundation announced the following recipients of the 2021 Johnson & Johnson Vision Residency Awards:
Sheldon Wechsler Contact Lens Residency Award:
• Connie Chen, OD, University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry
• Cori Jones, OD, Southern College of Optometry
George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award
• Alyssa Invergo, OD, Pacific University College of Optometry
• Grace Tseng, OD, University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry Read more.
In addition, the Foundation named Elizabeth Cho, OD, as this year’s recipient of the inaugural Rhonda S. Robinson Contact Lens Residency award. Dr. Cho is a cornea and contact lens resident at Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. Read more.


Academy and the AAOF Announce 2021 Student Travel Fellowship Grant Recipients

 


The American Academy of Optometry and its Foundation announced recipients of the 2021 Student Travel Fellowship Grants. These travel fellowships will enable students to attend Academy Boston between November 3 and 6. View the participants



 

 
 

 



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