GlobalCONTACT - 03/2022

ISSN:1386 0194

3

2022 (92)

Fitting Background • Safety in sclerals – Part 3 • The Summit of Specialty Contacts • 20 years “sleeplens” orthokeratology

TRANSFORMING LIVES From lens materials to industry support, we see the importance of working together to deliver products and expertise that truly transform patients’ lives.

Technology • Flat lenses

Business + Marketing

Full Range of Products

Educational Initiatives

• Future meeting spaces • Cyber hygiene practices

History • Braille • Eye impression glasses

01_Titel.indd 1

22.12.22 18:30

!AZ.indd 2

10.11.22 13:08

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Power-blind The big wave of layoffs is currently underway in the USA.

include them as well. This move makes Twitter more accessible

Especially the tech companies, where it seemed that employees

to blind and visually impaired users, who can use alt text to

could feel untouchably safe, are being hit by it. Be it the

hear a description of an image. Twitter Support has a whole

planned job cuts at Amazon and Google, with more than

treatise of further ways to do this. For the future, however,

10,000 people affected each, or at Meta, where it is said to be

these positive developments seem to be over for the time being.

as many as 11,000.

One example. It is very difficult for a blind person to identify And ever since Elon Musk fooled himself with the biggest

that "you are not a robot" on websites. We all know them: the

prank of his career, taking over Twitter, the consequences

little pictures or graphics that are supposed to determine

have been felt. His firing roundhouse went far and has far-

whether a real user is sitting at the keyboard or a bot. These

reaching consequences. For example, according to various

"captchas" show picture puzzles and make us click on cars,

media, he gutted formerly high-ranking projects and wiped

houses or traffic lights or recognize distorted letters.

out a team of artificial intelligence researchers. The team for global human rights was also allowed to take its hat. Other

The picture puzzle is simple and should be easy for humans

cuts resulted in the moderation of the website being handled

to solve, but the bot should fail. However, blind and visually

only by a skeleton staff.

impaired people also fail such a test, which is all about visual perception. It doesn't work without a person to assist. If an

One may smile at his decisions and enjoy watching how, with

attempt is made to overcome the captcha with a program, the

a swollen ego, he almost drolly stumbles into countless faux

security check is reduced to absurdity.

pas before our very eyes. But this is not visible to all. For one group of users, doors are closing again that were only recently

The digital world has many possibilities to offer solutions to

pushed open. Because one victim is accessibility. It wasn't

visually impaired people, but in areas where there is not a

that long ago that, following pressure from visually impaired

great deal of profit, savings are made. ■

people, Twitter had done a lot to make the platform more inclusive – which was also implemented with numerous options. But then Elon Musk fired his accessibility team.

SILKE SAGE Large tech companies do not have a good track record when it

Editor-In-Chief

comes to accessibility, but among the successes this department

silke@global-cl.com

has introduced in recent years is Twitter Spaces, for example, which includes a live discussion feature complete with subtitles so that the deaf and hearing-impaired can follow and participate in conversations. Another step was the introduction of "alt text" badges for all images and the encouragement to users to

GlobalCONTACT 2-22

03_Letter.indd 3

3

22.12.22 13:39

49th

EFCLIN

EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF THE

CONTACT LENS AND IOL INDUSTRIES

CONGRESS EXHIBITION

20TH – 22ND APRIL 2023 THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS

VISIONARY PEOPLE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY

Dutch culture combined with ancient and modern science has found The Hague to be the perfect location for business and leisure time as well.

The 49th EFCLIN Congress & Exhibition takes place there from 20th – 22nd April 2023.

For an engaging lecture program, EFCLIN forum and the best trade exhibition in the business, it can’t be beaten. It’s where the Contact Lens & IOL Industry from Europe, the Far East, North America and beyond come together… will you be there?

SAVE THE DATE

www.efclin.com/congress or e-mail us on info@efclin.com

EFCLIN_Inserat_2023_A4.indd 1 !AZ.indd 3

MORE INFORMATION WEB www.efclin.com MAIL info@efclin.com PHONE +41 41 372 10 10 FACEBOOK search: EFCLIN TWITTER @EFCLIN#efclincongress ADDRESS EFCLIN | Winkelbüel 2 | CH-6043 Adligenswil | Switzerland

17.10.22 12:03 09.11.22 10:38

CONTENT

ISSN:1386 0194

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 3

Silke Sage

3

2022 (92)

Fitting Background • Safety in sclerals – Part 3 • XXXXX

Report • 20 years “sleeplens” orthokeratology

Business + Marketing • Future meeting spaces • Cyber hygiene practices

Power-blind

TRANSFORMING LIVES

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 6

From lens materials to industry support, we see the importance of working together to deliver products and expertise that truly transform patients’ lives.

Full Range of Products

All about you & event dates

10 All about markets 11 All about products

Educational Initiatives

12 All about research

History • Braille

FITTING BACKGROUND 16 The Summit of Specialty Contacts Silke Sage

We kindly ask you to take note of the 2023 wall calendar enclosed with this issue.

18 Safety in soft contact lenses – part 3 Eef van der Worp

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Title: Contamac, www.contamac.com Inside front cover: Bausch + Lomb Inc., www.bausch.com

22 Imaging techniques – case study Leah Nickel, Floriana Marku

24 20 years “sleeplens” orthokeratology Wolfgang Laubenbacher

Page 4: Efclin, www.efclin.com Page 7: LAMBDA-X S.A.,

COLUMN

www.lambda-x.com

26 A gut feeling

Page 9: K & Y Diamond Ltd,

Eef van der Worp

www.kydiamond.ca Page 15: Schneider GmbH & Co. KG, www.schneider-om.com Page 17, 23: OPTOCRAFT GmbH, www.optocraft.com Page 21: AMETEK Precitech, Inc.,

TECHNOLOGY 28 Advancement of flat lens technology Rebekka Nurkanovic

www.sterlingint.com Page 25: Optimec Systems Ltd., www.optimecsystems.com Page 29: Rotlex, www.rotlex.com Page 33: Larsen Equipment Design Inc., www.larsenequipment.com

HISTORY 30 Braille Hans-Walter Roth

32 Eye impression glasses Hans-Walter Roth

Inside back cover: Acuity Polymers, Inc, www.acuitypolymers.com Outside back cover: DAC International, Inc., www.dac-intl.com

NAMES TO NOTE Laubenbacher, Wolfgang

24

Marku, Floriana

22

Roth, Hans-Walter

30

Nickel, Leah

22

Schultze, Matthias

34

van der Worp, Eef 18, 26 GlobalCONTACT 3-22

05_Content.indd 5

BUSINESS + MARKETING 34 Future meeting spaces Matthias Schultze

38 Cyber hygiene practices DriveLock

NEWS 40 Yellow Pages 5

22.12.22 18:29

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

All about you

6

06_about_you.indd 6

Johnson & Johnson Vision and Lions Clubs International Foundation celebrate 20 years Sight For Kids

counties, with the goal of providing 20,000 screenings over the

Johnson & Johnson Vision and Lions Clubs International Foundation

and provides teachers with training to deliver eye health

(LCIF) announced the 20-year anniversary of Sight For Kids, a

education, perform visual acuity tests, and screen for common

co-founded program to close the gap in access to eye care by

eye conditions.

providing comprehensive eye care services for children in low-income

Students identified with potential vision impairment or eye

and underserved communities. To mark the occasion, Johnson &

ailments are referred to healthcare providers for further

Johnson Vision and LCIF will be showcasing the power and impact

evaluation, at no cost to the family. To date, 200,000 teachers

of delivering healthy sight over the past 20 years through 20 stories

have been trained and more than 500,000 pairs of free eyeglasses

of people who have experienced that impact.

have been provided to underserved children.

Founded in 2002 to address inequity in eye care among children,

“It is incredible to think back on the past 20 years and all the

Sight For Kids is now the largest-known, school-based eye health

people who have come together, both in the communities Lions

program in the world, having already served more than 42 million

serve and across our organizations, to give more than 42 million

children in Asia, Africa and, most recently, the U.S., since the

children the gift of healthy sight and the societal inclusion that

program’s inception.

comes along with it,” said Dr. Jung-Yul Choi, Chairperson, Lions

In 2021, the program expanded to the U.S., collaborating with

Clubs International Foundation. “Hearing the stories from

the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, a division of

around the world about how Sight For Kids is changing lives is

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, to serve

inspirational, and I cannot wait to see the impact the program

students across Miami-Dade, Broward, St. Lucie and Palm Beach

can have over the next 20 years, and beyond.”

Bausch + Lomb reports on successes of ONE By ONE and Biotrue Eye Care Recycling Programs

President, Global Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability,

Bausch + Lomb announced its ONE by ONE and Biotrue Eye

recycling programs are providing a solution to this concern

Ca re Rec ycl i ng prog ra ms have col lec ted a tota l of

and together are making significant strides in ensuring more

58,677,480 million units, or 356,723 pounds, of used contact

and more of these non-biodegradable materials do not end up

lens, eye care and lens care materials, which is equivalent to

in our environment and instead become a variety of post-

the weight of 108 midsize vehicles. The programs are made

consumer products."

possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle, a world leader

The ONE by ONE Recycling program has collected more than

in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-

58 million used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since

consumer waste.

the program's launch in November 2016. The Biotrue Eye Care

"Prior to the launch of Bausch + Lomb's recycling programs,

Recycling program, which launched in April 2021, has collected

contact lens wearers, eye doctors and consumers did not have

more than 320,000 eye drop single dose units, lens cases, lens

a dedicated way to properly recycle contact lens, eye care and

solution caps and Biotrue Hydration Boost Lubricant Eye drops

lens care materials in the United States," said Amy Butler, Vice

multi-dose bottles.

Alcon third quarter 2022 results

Chief Executive Officer. "Demand for our products was robust,

Alcon has reported its financial results for the three and nine

and we saw particularly strong growth in our international

months ended September 30, 2022. For the third quarter of 2022,

markets.” Mr. Endicott continued, “We have built a solid foundation

sales were $2.1 billion, an increase of 2% on a reported basis and

and our business fundamentals are strong. Our positive results

9% on a constant currency basis, as compared to the same quarter

demonstrate that our investments in transformation, infrastructure

of the previous year. Alcon reported diluted earnings per share

and innovation continue to pay off. We are pleased with our margin

of $0.23 and core diluted earnings per share of $0.50.

expansion and operating leverage, despite the headwinds of a

“Our third quarter results reflect the continued strong operational

strong US dollar. Looking forward, we will continue to focus on

performance of the business in an extremely challenging

advancing our innovation engine, driving commercial execution

macroeconomic environment," said David J. Endicott, Alcon's

and creating long-term shareholder value."

first year.

Sight For Kids is one of the longest running programs of its kind

Bausch + Lomb. "The ONE by ONE and Biotrue Eye Care

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 18:28

!AZ.ind

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Mojo Vision demonstrates Alexa Shopping List use case on smart contact lens

In the test integration, a user can ask Alexa to add items to an Alexa

Mojo Vision has announced that it has developed a potential

List feature would appear as one of the applications on Mojo Lens,

consumer implementation of Alexa Shopping List on its Mojo

and the user could access their list in their frame of view, while

Lens prototype. It is the first major third-party consumer

walking down store aisles. Using just their eyes, the shopper could

application on a smart contact lens. The Alexa Shopping List

read and scroll through the list, checking off items as they add them

test integration shows how Mojo Vision’s eyes-up, hands-free

to their shopping cart. If another household member adds items

technology could work with Amazon’s Alexa voice AI and

to Alexa Shopping List, the list immediately updates on Mojo Lens.

Alexa Shopping List feature. The use case envisions an

Mojo Vision received implementation and development support

experience in which someone can access their shopping list at

from Amazon to make this test demonstration of Alexa Shopping

the grocery or other retail store.

List for Mojo Lens possible.

Specialty contact lens innovator Daddi Fadel joins CORE

M a n a ge me nt ” a nd

Specialty contact lens innovator Daddi Fadel, DOptom, FSLS,

Scleral Lens Success,”

FBCLA, FAAO, FIACLE, has joined the Centre for Ocular

co-written with Dr.

Research & Education (CORE) in September 2022. Dr. Fadel is

Melissa Barnett. She is

one of the world’s best known designers and fitters of scleral

also the editor-in-chief

lenses for irregular cornea and orthokeratology lenses for myopia

of t he Journa l of

control. Her appointment as a clinical scientist will advance

Contact Lens Research

CORE’s growing specialty contact lens initiatives.

& Science.

“For the past two decades, Daddi has built a stellar reputation

She is the founder and

as a pioneer in modern lens design. Her immense technical

head of the European Daddi Fadel, DOptom, FSLS, FBCLA, FAAO,

Shopping List before or during a trip to the store. The Alexa Shopping

“Clinical Guide for

expertise, deep clinical experience, and enthusiasm for sharing

School of Scleral Lenses, FIACLE. Photo: CORE.

knowledge among her peers make her an ideal match for our

founder and past president of Accademia Italiana Lenti Sclerali,

specialty segment work. We’re excited about what this new

and co-founder and president of the Euro & Austral-Asia Scleral

collaboration will create,” said Dr. Lyndon Jones, CORE’s director.

Lens Academy. Dr. Fadel serves on boards of the International

Dr. Fadel is a frequent lecturer at international symposia, a

Forum for Scleral Lens Research and of the International Congress

NCLE-approved course instructor, and has authored multiple

of Scleral Contact and advisory boards for the GP Lens Institute

peer-reviewed papers. Her books include “Scleral Lens Issues

and the International Keratoconus Academy, and holds multiple

and Complications: Their Recognition, Etiolog y, and

other specialty association leadership roles.

Advertisement

!AZ.indd 1 06_about_you.indd 7

09.11.22 18:28 10:17 22.12.22

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

8

06_about_you.indd 8

ANSI Z80 ASC for ophthalmic optics appoints new sub-committee leaders

than 200 participants, meets twice a year. There are seven

The Vision Council announced the appointment of two new

Serving as the new SC7 (Contact Lenses) Sub-Committee

subcommittee chairs, including Dr. Gregory Williby,

Chair, Dr. Williby brings 18 years of team management in

Sr. Principal Scientist, Presbyopia Research & Development,

contact lens research and product development, optical

Johnson & Johnson Vision, as the SC7 (Contact Lenses)

metrology, optical engineering, and regulated verification

Sub-Committee Chair and Daniel A. Lahousse, Quality

and validation activities. Dr. Williby studied optical sciences

Assurance Director, FGX International, as the SC3 (Frames)

at the University of Arizona and joined Johnson & Johnson

Sub-Committee Chair.

Vision in Jacksonville, Florida in 2004. Dr. Williby has been

The Vision Council and volunteer members have produced

an active member of the Z80 committee since 2015 and

and contributed to multiple standards and communications.

represents ANSI US position at ISO TC172/SC7/WG9.

ANSI Z80 ASC for Ophthalmic Optics develops and

The newly appointed SC3 (Frames) Sub-Committee Chair,

maintains American National Standards within its scope

Daniel A. Lahousse, has been an active member of ASC Z80

and develops U.S. positions at the International Organization

for over five years and is also a technical expert representing

for Standardization (ISO).

ANSI for various ISO TC172/SC7 working groups. He has

The Z80 Committee, established in 1956, is a U.S. national

worked in optical frames, sunglasses, and reader products

standards developer accredited by ANSI. The current chair

for 14 years and oversees the global quality programs at FGX

is Dr. Carl Tubbs of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

international Inc., involving regulatory compliance as well

The committee, made up of 21 voting organizations and more

as product testing and inspection.

Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) 18 - 21 January in Las Vegas

New members of the program committee are Ashley

The world of specialty lens fitters will meet again in Las Vegas at

complete the program committee together with Jason

the end of January in presence. Topics at the 4-day conference

Nichols, OD MPH PhD (GSLS chair), Karen DeLoss, OD

will focus on the successful management of ocular conditions

(vice chair), Pat Caroline, Lynette Johns, OD, and Eef van

and therapeutic approaches with advanced specialty contact

der Worp, BSc, PhD.

lenses through interactive educational platforms, including expert

As an extension to the winter event, the GSLS is also going

panel discussions, breakout sessions and clinical workshops.

virtual again this year. Focusing on the successful treatment

With a packed lecture program, the upcoming edition of the

of eye disease and vision correction with advanced specialty

GSLS will once again take place in Las Vegas at the Horseshoe

contact lenses, this digital event offers the opportunity to

Hotel (formerly Bally's). Several parallel sessions will cover topics

keep up to date on best practices and new techniques through

such as scleral lenses, orthokeratology, myopia management,

interactive online lectures. This free program is a complement

custom soft lenses and much more.

to the live event.

subcommittees that operate under the Z80 committee.

Wa l lace-Tucker, OD and Dr. Wa l lace-Tucker. They

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 18:28

!AZ.ind

WEBINARS, CONFERENCES & TRADE FAIRS 2023 (due to the corona crisis, please check via the websites whether the event takes place)

GSLS 2023 https://na.eventscloud.com/website/35541/home

Jan 18-21

Las Vegas, NV (USA)

EFCLIN 2023 www.efclin.com

Apr 20-22

The Hague (NL)

ARVO 2023 www.arvo.org

Apr 23-27

New Orleans, LA (USA)

EAOO 2023 https://eaoo.online/cms/front-page.php

May 11-14

Poznań (PL)

BCLA 2023 https://www.bcla.org.uk/

June 9-11

Manchester (UK)

IOFT 2023 www.ioft.jp/en-gb.html

Oct 10-12

Tokyo (JPN)

Advertisement

Ultra Precision Diamond Tools

CONTACT LENS AND IOL DAC Optoform Moore Nanotech UPL Precitech Nanoform REM Vision

www.kydiamond.ca

!AZ.indd 5 06_about_you.indd 9

11.06.19 18:28 10:55 22.12.22

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

All about markets Digital quality of life According to VPN provider Surfshark, Denmark has the best digital quality of life in the world. The country achieved

0.83 index points in 2021 on the company’s Digital Quality of Life Index, taking first place among the 110 nations it compared. South Korea and Finland

Store-based retailing still important for eyewear

follow in a joint second place at 0.76 points. With Singapore in rank four, the top eight consists of two Scandinavian and

Eyewear is still reliant on store-based retailing, with store-based retail

two Asian nations as well as the U.S., Israel, France and

accounting for

Switzerland.

87%

Source: Statista

of eyewear sales globally in 2021. Within store-based retail, optical shops is by far the leading channel for eyewear.

Source: Euromonitor International

Vision Expo West in Las Vegas Vision Expo West brought together thousands of members of the industry in Las Vegas for four days of business and education. The show featured more than

380 exhibiting companies across several neighborhoods and offered continuing education as well as engaging programming.

Source: Vision Expo West Source: Vision Expo West

Source: https://www.statista.com/chart/27873/ share-investing-planning-to-invest-in-cryptocurrencies-us-gcs/ 10

06_about_you.indd 10

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 18:28

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

All about products IOL quality inspection with TRIOPTICS As a market-leading solution provider for optical metrology, TRIOPTICS has many years of experience in the inspection of intraocular lenses (IOLs). As their demand increases, so do patient expectations of the implants. This has led to an increasing number of premium lenses being offered, with a focus on accelerated R&D. Efficient testing with high accuracy ensures that the required high quality standards are met.

Optimized IOL development and production can be achieved with an integrated analysis that puts not only individual steps but entire workflows to the test. TRIOPTICS offers a complete package for this, from a free workflow analysis to consulting for the best possible metrology and process for new and innovative IOL samples. www.trioptics.com / sales@trioptics.com

Custom applications through API The API (Application Programming Interface) is available as an option for all MENTOR® software from Lambda-X. It turns any instrument into an extremely versatile and fully customizable tool. Remote instrument configuration, template management, product automation or data collection are some of the many possibilities the API opens up with our new-comer, TEMPO-MENTOR®.

The API allows production and QA management to set, edit and control system parameters of all the instruments in just a few clicks. To build an integral shop floor control system, management can create, edit and lock measurement templates for the entire network of Lambda-X instruments used on-site as well as in distant locations.

The API opens the doors to the automation of measurements by controlling the sequence of operations, such as:

• • • •

taking an optical reference, ordering the robotic arm to place the lens into the instrument, measuring the IOL, signaling measurement completion.

The API allows the retrieval of all measurement data from the database of the instrument in real time, as well as the transmission and processing of the data in the customer’s applications (lens registration, QA conformity, trend analysis, ERP, etc.).

Know more about the possibilities for your installation: Ophthalmics.lambda-x.com / sales-ophthalmics@lambda-x.com - +32 67 79 40 80

Fast and robust inspection of contact lenses and IOLs The need to measure the properties of ophthalmic lenses arises not only from the international standard or out of simple curiosity, but also from the desire to improve the lens quality and to enable better vision for the patient.

Optocraft offers dedicated turn-key solutions for measurement of refractive data and image quality, in less than a second. Advanced systems are available, adapted to the constraints and needs in daily lens production, offering a temperature controlled, clean open-top cuvette. Surface shape measurement of semi-finished lenses is possible within less than 20 sec. Additional information on tool offset and tool wear can be obtained and used for predictive maintenance. Furthermore, inline measurement modules with flexible hard- and software interfaces can be integrated directly into production lines for a fast identification of faulty lenses.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you! sales@optocraft.de / www.optocraft.de/en/shsophthalmic GlobalCONTACT 3-22

06_about_you.indd 11

11

22.12.22 18:28

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

All about research

Infection risks with reusable contact lenses, digital eye strain, fatty acids for DED, exosomes capturing contact lens, DED diagnostics, AMD risk.

One study showed that wearing reusable contact lenses increases the risk to develop Acanthamoeba keratitis. Researches at Aston University have confirmed the effectiveness of the 20-20-20 screen rule for helping with digital eye strain. A CORE study indicates that a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids significantly improves symptoms in people who suffer from severe dry eye disease. Scientists from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation have developed a contact lens that can capture and detect exosomes. A smartphone app measures users’ blink characteristics and determines maximum blink interval to help diagnose DED. A large pool data analysis indicates that cholesterol and diabetes drugs may lessen risk of AMD. By Rebekka Nurkanovic

Reusable contact lenses increase risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis

Lead author, Professor John Dart (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology

Researchers from University College London (UCL) and

while AK is still rare, an increase has been seen in the UK and

Moorfields conducted a study that showed that people who

Europe in recent years. Therefore it is important to know how

wear reusable contact lenses are nearly four times as likely as

to minimize the risk.

those wearing daily disposables to develop a rare sight-

For the study, the researchers recruited over 200 patients of

threatening eye infection.

Moorfields Eye Hospital who completed a survey, including 83

The case control study, published in the journal Ophthalmology,

people with AK, and compared them with a control group of 122

identifies multiple factors that increase the risk of Acanthamoeba

participants who came to eyecare clinics with other conditions.

keratitis (AK), a corneal infection, including reusing lenses or

People who wore reusable soft contact lenses had 3.8 times the

wearing them overnight or in the shower.

odds of developing AK, compared to people who wore daily

12

12_about_research.indd 12

and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) said that

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 13:40

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

disposable lenses. Showering while wearing lenses increased

could be prevented if people switched from reusable to daily

the odds of AK by 3.3 times, while wearing lenses overnight

disposable lenses.

increased the odds by 3.9 times. Among daily disposable

The research team states that public pools and coastal authorities

wearers, reusing their lenses increased their infection risk.

could help reduce this risk by advising against swimming in

Having had a recent contact lens check with a health professional

contact lenses and that information on lens safety and risk

reduced the risk.

avoidance should be included in contact lens packaging.

With further analysis, the researchers estimated that 30-62%

DOI 10.1016/j.ophtha.2022.08.002

of cases in the UK, and potentially in many other countries,

Source: University College London

Smartphone app to assess dry eye disease

The study revealed that the J-OSDI collected with DryEyeRhythm

A research group, led by Professor Akira Murakami and

showed good internal consistency. Moreover, the app-based

Associate Professor Takenori Inomata of the Juntendo University

questionnaire and MBI yielded significantly higher discriminant

Graduate School of Medicine, has developed a smartphone

validity. The app also showed good positive and negative predictive

application called DryEyeRhythm. According to Inomata the

values, with 91.3% and 69.1%, respectively. The area under the

app leverages the cameras in smartphones to measure users’

Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, a measure of

blink characteristics and determine maximum blink interval

clinical sensitivity and specificity, for the concurrent use of the

(MBI), a substitute for tear film breakup time, an important

app-based J-OSDI and MBI was also high, with a value of 0.910.

diagnostic criterion of DED. The app also administers Ocular

These results demonstrate that the app is a reliable, valid, and

Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaires.

moreover non-invasive, instrument for assessing DED.

To validate the usefulness of the app, the research team

The researchers think that non-contact and non-invasive DED

conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, observational, single-

diagnostic assistance, like the kind provided by DryEyeRhythm,

center study. The results have been published in the journal

could help facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of patients.

The Ocular Surface.

The research team plans to further validate its results by

For their study, the team recruited 82 patients, aged 20 years

conducting a multi-institutional collaborative study in the

or older, who visited the ophthalmology outpatient clinic at

future. They are also planning to obtain medical device approval

the Juntendo University Hospital between July 2020 and May

and insurance reimbursement for the smartphone application.

2021. The participants completed the Japanese version of the

DOI 10.1016/j.jtos.2022.04.005

OSDI questionnaire (J-OSDI) and underwent examinations

Source: Juntendo University Research Promotion Center

for MBI, both via the app and via other analysis techniques.

Cholesterol and diabetes drugs may lessen risk of AMD

from 12% to 64.5% across the included studies while the

Previously published research suggests that drugs to lower

prevalence of advanced (late) AMD ranged from 0.5% to

cholesterol, control diabetes, and dampen down inflammation

35.5%. The pooled data analysis showed that drugs to lower

may help to lessen the risk of developing age related macular

cholesterol or control diabetes were associated with,

degeneration (AMD), but these findings were partly contradictory

respectively, 15% and 22% lower prevalence of any type of

and based on small numbers of participants. In a bid to get

AMD, after accounting for potentially inf luential factors.

round these issues, researchers pooled the results of 14

No such associations were found for any of the other types

population-based and hospital-based studies, involving 38,694

of drug or for advanced AMD, in particular, although there

people from France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway,

were only a relatively small number of such cases, note the

Portugal, Russia and the UK. The studies were part of the

researchers. They caution that further longitudinal data

European Eye Epidemiology (E3) consortium, a collaborative

are needed to confirm their findings, which are inherently

pan European network, the principal aim of which is to develop

limited by using cross-sectional data only and cannot infer

and analyze large pooled datasets to further the understanding

causality. But the findings point to a likely key role for

of eye disease and sight loss.

metabolic processes in the development of AMD, which

The participants were all over the age of 50 and taking at

may offer potential new avenues for treatment and have

least one of the following types of drug to: lower cholesterol,

implications for public health messaging, they suggest. The

including statins; control diabetes, including insulin; to

data analysis was published online in the British Journal

dampen down inf lammation, excluding steroids; and

of Ophthalmology.

Levodopa, used to treat movement disorders caused by

Source: BMJ

neurodegenerative disease. The prevalence of AMD ranged

DOI 10.1136/bjo-2022-321985

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

12_about_research.indd 13

13

22.12.22 13:40

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

20-20-20 screen rule confirmed as helping with eye strain

such as out of the window or across a room. The message

The 20-20-20 rule recommends taking a break of at least 20

as measured by the app.

seconds, every 20 minutes, to look at least 20 feet away to help

Participants’ digital eye strain symptoms were measured before

ease some of the symptoms of prolonged computer use. Recently,

and after two weeks of using the reminders, and one week after

its effectiveness has been confirmed by scientists at Aston

completing the study. Results showed a marked decrease in

University’s College of Health and Life Sciences.

symptoms including dryness, sensitivity and discomfort.

It’s estimated that at least half of people using computers in

Professor James Wolffsohn, Professor of Optometry at Aston

their regular work have some form of digital eye strain, resulting

University, who led the research in collaboration with the

in eye surface problems including irritation and dryness, or

University of Valencia, Spain, said the access control on the

vision issues such as headaches or blurred vision. Humans

software meant that the scientists could be sure that participants

normally blink around 15 times each minute. When staring

really had looked away every 20 minutes and reports a consequent

at screens, this number decreases generally to half that rate or

improvement in the symptoms of the group as a whole.

less. That can lead to dry, irritated, and tired eyes, but twenty

Researchers noted that after the study, the participants’ eye

seconds focusing elsewhere is long enough for the eyes to relax

symptoms returned to what they had been before the intervention.

enough to reduce the strain.

Longer term studies to see whether it is possible to teach eyelid

The researchers set up their study with the help of 29 participants

muscle memory impulses to blink more often during digital

who suffer from symptoms of eye strain. Special software

viewing are planned. The article ‘The effects of breaks on digital

downloaded onto the participants’ own laptop computers used

eye strain, dry eye and binocular vision: Testing the 20-20-20 rule’

the built-in laptop camera both to check if a user was sitting

was published in the journal Contact Lens and Anterior Eye.

couldn’t be removed until the task was performed correctly,

at the screen and to monitor their gaze direction every few seconds. After 20 minutes of continuous screen viewing, the

DOI 10.1016/j.clae.2022.101744

program flashed up a message, asking users to rest for 20

Source: Aston University

seconds while looking at any distant target around 20 feet away,

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for dry eye disease

The prospective, randomized, double-masked parallel group

A study conducted by the Centre for Ocular Research &

study assessed daily use of a supplement containing omega-3

Education (CORE) indicates that a combination of omega-3

and omega-6 fatty acids (1200 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, 300 mg

and omega-6 fatty acids ingested as a dietary supplement

docosahexaenoic acid, 150 mg γ-linoleic acid) or the placebo

significantly improves symptoms in people who suffer from

(coconut and olive oil) for three months. Participants with

severe dry eye disease. This was the first clinical trial to

baseline Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores >52

demonstrate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic

demonstrated a substantial improvement in symptoms with

acid, and γ-linoleic acid in such a population. The study

the treatment at the study’s conclusion, averaging a 20.8 point

appeared in Optometry and Vision Science, the peer review

reduction. That compared to a 7.8 point reduction in the

journal of the American Academy of Optometry.

similarly-symptomatic placebo group.

Alison Ng, PhD, MCOptom, FAAO, CORE clinical scientist and the paper’s first author reported that the study participants were far more symptomatic than in other published trials involving omega-3 supplementation, allowing for additional analysis. The group’s findings suggest that even the most severe sufferers can benefit from a meaningful improvement in symptoms with omega-3 and -6 supplementation.

The paper’s authors recommend that future studies examine the effects of early dietary supplementation with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids in patients presenting with mild-to-moderate dry eye disease to understand potential benefits. They also recommend further research among highly symptomatic participants.

DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001826 Quelle: CORE, University of Waterloo

14

12_about_research.indd 14

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 13:40

RZ_AZ !AZ.ind

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Smart contact lenses for cancer diagnostics and screening

The ACSM-CL was tested against exosomes secreted into

Scientists from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical

ability to capture and detect exosomes was validated by the

Innovation (TIBI) have developed a contact lens that can

spectroscopic shifts observed in all the test samples, in comparison

capture and detect exosomes, nanometer-sized vesicles found

with the negative controls. Similar results were obtained when

in bodily secretions which have the potential for being

the ACSM-CL was tested against ten different tear samples collected

diagnostic cancer biomarkers. The lens was designed with

from volunteers. In final experiments, exosomes in supernatants

microchambers bound to antibodies that can capture exosomes

collected from three different cell lines with different surface

found in tears. Exosomes are formed within most cells and

marker expressions were tested against the ACSM-CL, along with

secreted into many bodily fluids, such as plasma, saliva, urine,

different combinations of marker-specific detection antibodies.

and tears. Some surface proteins on exosomes are increased

The resultant patterns of detection and non-detection of exosomes

in response to cancer. The antibody- conjugated signaling

from the three different cell lines were as expected, thus validating

microchamber contact lens (ACSM-CL) that was developed

the ACSM-CL’s ability to accurately capture and detect exosomes

by TIBI can be stained for detection with nanoparticle-tagged

with different surface markers. The results were published in

specific antibodies for selective visualization. According to

Advanced Functional Materials.

supernatants from ten different tissue and cancer cell lines. The

the researchers, this offers a potential platform for cancer pre-screening and a supportive diagnostic tool that is easy,

DOI 10.1002/adfm.202206620

rapid, sensitive, cost-effective, and non-invasive.

Source: Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation

Advertisement

ULTRA-PRECISE AND ECONOMICAL MANUFACTURING OF CONTACT LENSES AND IOL www.schneider-om.com

UPC 100 Vision // UPC nano Where the highest surface accuracy and quality meets unrivaled productivity.

The compact and fully featured UPC 100 Vision is optimized for highly dynamic diamond turning of specialty contact lenses, IOLs and mold inserts.

Complex freeform Silicone Hydrogel and GP surfaces for OrthoK, Scleral and Keratoconus designs with control for myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, can be easily produced ‘polish-free’.

The UPC nano is the most economic and compact machine, with on-board freeform capabilities and an optional laser engraver, for manufacturing high-quality specialty contact lenses ready for polishing with minimal lens production costs.

Both machines can be easily automated with the SCHNEIDER automation options.

RZ_AZ_UPC100 V_UPCnano_Global-Contact_06_2022_210x149mm_4c_engl.indd 1 !AZ.indd 3 12_about_research.indd 15

02.06.2022 14:27:55 07.06.22 13:40 18:09 22.12.22

FITTING BACKGROUND

The Summit of Specialty Contacts After a two-year break, "The Summit of Specialty Contacts" took place in Sorrento/Italy from 14 to 16 October. The program covered various topics related to speciality lenses such as scleral lenses and corneal contact lenses. But also hybrid lenses and custom soft contact lenses were discussed as well as diseases of the anterior segment of the eye, which is relevant for the fitting of contact lenses. This also includes the symptomatology of dry eye. By Silke Sage An entire conference day was dedicated to myopia control and

who has several peer-reviewed publications in the area of specialty

ortho-k. Here, attention was also drawn to the secondary

contact lenses and is a speaker in national and international

diseases associated with high myopia. In addition to expert

symposia. Also in charge is Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS,

lectures, there were also some presentations by sponsors. This

FBCLA USA, who as vice chair is also responsible for the lecture

conference is the only one in Europe to exclusively focus on

program. Dr. Barnett is a principal optometrist at the University

topics related to the fitting of specialty lenses and to bring

of California, Davis Eye Center in Sacramento and Davis, California.

together internationally renowned opinion leaders in this field.

She is an internationally recognized key opinion leader, specializing

This conference is organized and managed by Daddi Fadel,

in dry eye disease and specialty contact lenses. She lectures and

DOptom, FSLS, FBCLA. She is a contact lens designer, a pioneer

publishes extensively on topics including dry eye, anterior segment

of modern lens designs, and a specialist in contact lenses. She has

disease, contact lenses and creating a healthy balance between

20 years experience in optometry and specialty contact lenses.

work and home life for women in optometry.

Dr. Fadel is internationally recognized as a key opinion leader,

The three days of the conference were characterised by top-class lectures, lively discussions and the exchange and networking among colleagues. We would like to present one lecture, it shows the particularities of handling visual acuity in road

K a

SH

traffic when using ortho-k in the European setting.

Sebastian Marx's (Managing Director, Clinical Researcher and Head of the Jenvis Research Test Laboratory) lecture was entitled: Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity of ortho-k vs.

LASIK patients with regard to the legal requirements for driving licence in Germany.

When ortho-k lenses are fitted in children and adolescents for myopia management, the question arises at the latest when they reach their 18th birthday: Exactly what prescription is used as Organizer and chair of the lecture program is: Daddi Fadel, DOPTOM, FSLS, FBCLA, FAAO, FIACLE Italy 16

16_Summit.indd 16

the basis for the measurement in the driver's licence vision test?

Se Sp

Ro N Ac

Kn M

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 18:22

!AZ.ind

FITTING BACKGROUND

Program and vice-chair: Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA USA

Paneldiscussion with Eef van der Worp, Jaume Pauné Fabré, Chandra Mickles, Langis Michaud (from left) If the test is taken shortly after removing the ortho-k lenses, the

patients and a control group. The surprising result: the visual

visual acuity is perfect. In the evening, this might no longer be

acuity values for ortho-k and LASIK were almost identical.

the case. This poses a dilemma that not only affects optometrists in Germany, but optometrists all over Europe. Third parties are

Although the programme included an extraordinary range of

already asking the question: And what if the ortho-k user has

high-level speakers and the location was considered more than

not worn his lenses for a few days and the visual acuity drops?

attractive, the number of visitors was certainly smaller than the

Are glasses then necessary? And if so, in what prescription? This

organisers would have hoped. A parallel event in Italy may have

leads to discussions with ophthalmologists. Marx presented

drawn away some potential participants. Some experts also see the

various studies that basically deal with the topic. Another study

possibility of consuming training courses, seminars and lectures

examined which visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were

online as possible reasons. But for those who were there, not only

measured during night-time driving – and thus enlarged pupils

was a unique programme offered, there were also many opportunities

– in ortho-k users (8 hours after taking off the lenses), in LASIK

for exchange among experts in the field of specialty lenses. n

Advertisement

Keep an eye on lens shape and process quality!

SHSOphthalmic autoROC

Semi-finished lenses, tools, molds Spheric, toric, aspheric surfaces RoC, Q, surface shape, tool offset NEW: self guided sample measurement Accuracy: RoC: 2µm | Surface shape: 0.1µm Know your quality!

Metrology for contact lenses & intra ocular lenses.

Tel. +49 9131 69 15 00 | email sales@optocraft.de !AZ.indd 3 16_Summit.indd 17

08.06.22 18:23 16:04 22.12.22

FITTING BACKGROUND

Do specialty soft lenses need special care?

A trilogy on specialty contact lens safety – part 3 Much attention in our specialty lens field is on the fitting process, the indication range – but a large part of the success, and failure, of specialty lenses relies on contact lens solutions, hygiene and handling.

Lens care with soft specialty lenses is at least as important, but most likely even more important, than with standard lenses, as specialty lenses are often used to manage compromised corneas – posing extra risks – and some lens modalities may pose more challenges. We have dealt with orthokeratology and scleral lenses in the past two editions. Now: what are the special considerations when dealing with specialty soft lenses versus standard commercial soft lenses, and can we simply copy/paste the rules and regulations of the latter for this category? By Eef van der Worp 18

18_EefSafetyTrilogy.indd 18

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 10:23

FITTING BACKGROUND

REUSABLE DEFAULT So, the potential lower Dk/t of the lathe-cut lenses is basically the first consideration, apart from the reduced ‘disposability’.

The highest-Dk materials should be used to counter this factor as much as possible. Typically, in clinical practice oxygen only really becomes an issue in extremely thick lenses (high prescriptions or artificially thick custom-made lenses such as for keratoconus indications or to mask corneal irregularities).

Especially for lenses with high-plus prescriptions, critical levels could be reached in the center of the cornea.

But the fact that soft specialty lenses by default fall into the reusable category is actually a much more important consideration, which makes lens care and hygiene of much higher importance.

Many of these reusable lenses fall into the ‘monthly replacement’ category, but replacement up to three months is not unlikely either. Daily disposables, as they are naturally replaced every day, do not need the cleaning/disinfection cycle and do not require lens cases, and the potential exposure to tap water and external microbes is lower with this lens modality.

MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS Professor James Wolffsohn, from Aston University in Birmingham (UK) and one of the founding fathers of the BCLA CLEAR papers, looked at how the risk of infection can be reduced in soft lens wear by identifying and differentiating non-modifiable from modifiable risk factors. In the first category, male sex and country (presence of Acanthamoeba due to water storage and legal requirements) were mentioned, while poor handwashing, overnight wear, improper use of solution (such as topping off), expired lens care products, extending lens use beyond the replacement interval, inadequate case cleaning, failure to rub and rinse lenses, use of tap water/water sports and online purchasing were mentioned as factors that are potentially modifiable.

WHAT’S (SO) SPECIAL?

As discussed in the previous episode on lens safety in orthokeratology, overnight wear and extended wear of any

The soft specialty lens group consists of lenses that are custom-

type of contact lens poses a well-documented higher risk of

made because of lens design or lens prescription requirements

corneal infections and should be discouraged and avoided

(lenses with higher or lower sagittal heights, for instance, and/

where possible. See ‘bandage lens’ section below, as that is not

or lenses with high or low prescriptions) or that have an out-

always possible in some eye conditions.

of-standard parameter range. What they have in common is

The problem with Acanthamoeba corneal infection is that it

that these lenses are typically lathe-cut and are by default

is almost solely a contact lens-related condition. It even has

thicker than molded lenses, sometimes 3x times thicker than

been called ‘a preventable disease’. The biggest concern is

disposable lenses, which will have a negative effect on the Dk/t

exposure to tap water, where the microorganism can reside.

values even when they are made of silicone hydrogel materials.

Acanthamoeba is not a virus, not a bacterium, not even a yeast

Apart from thickness, the single biggest disadvantage is that

or a fungus, but a free-living parasite, which may be hard to

they are not as ‘disposable’ as their commercial counterparts

disinfect. Exclusion of all tap water from any contact lens care

are; typically, monthly replacement is the max, 3-month

regimen is warranted. Special ‘no water’ stickers are available

replacement is not uncommon, and daily disposable does not

now from various professional associations around the globe.

exist within this group. In addition, the lathe-cutting process is

The exclusion of tap water from the contact lens care regimen

regarded by some as less optimal, as the smoothness of the surface

includes rigid corneal lens wear (where for a long time it was

may be slightly reduced. But whether this has clinical consequences

customary to rinse with tap water), and it also includes the lens

for the patient cannot be backed up by the literature.

case: no rinsing or cleaning of the lens case should involve tap

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

18_EefSafetyTrilogy.indd 19

19

22.12.22 10:23

FITTING BACKGROUND

water. Even after handwashing, it is important to thoroughly

The use of iodine-based solutions in the contact lens field is

dry the hands with a clean towel before handling the lenses.

relatively new, but seems to have high potential. Future directions

A REPORT ON THE CASE

may include coated antimicrobial contact lenses that can reduce the incidence of corneal infiltrative events during lens wear,

Experts in the field are very clear about one thing: the lens case

silver-impregnated barrel contact lens storage cases and

in general has proven to be a significant source of contamination.

ultraviolet-C devices that have proven to have antimicrobial

Replacing the lens case regularly, ideally every month, is advised,

activity against microorganisms related to contact lens wear-

and contact lens cases should be cleaned regularly. At the very

related adverse events.

least, all solutions should be discarded from cases daily and the cases should be air dried (as should the lens basket in

BANDAGE LENSES

hydrogen peroxide cases).

Bandage soft lenses as a subgroup of specialty lenses are a very

Mark Willcox, lead author of the CLEAR paper on disinfection,

different subcategory. In many cases, commercial disposable

found in his studies that using lens cases that are different from

(molded) lenses are used unless the shape of the eye is excessively

the ones recommended by the solution manufacturer is a risk

different (either flat, such as after a corneal transplant, or steep,

for more microbes growing in cases, with a potential increase

such as in severe keratoconus or after corneal cross-linking).

in the risk of MK or inflammation during lens wear. The use

The standard molded lenses typically have good oxygen delivery,

of novelty lens cases (eg, ‘fun’ lens cases) that can be purchased

especially in the silicone hydrogel category. However, almost

in many countries should be discouraged, as they have not

by default, bandage lenses are used for eyes with compromised

been evaluated for compatibility with disinfecting solutions

corneas. Extra care regarding safety should be exercised. A

and may be used for prolonged times.

complicating factor may be that frequently disposing the lenses

DISINFECTION SOLUTIONS

is not always possible in these patients and daily disposables are not always an option – and sometimes, extended wear of

The choice of disinfecting solution may depend on how frequently

the bandage lens is warranted (to promote epithelial healing,

the lenses are worn. For standard lenses, multipurpose solutions

for instance) despite the known risks.

provide good disinfection against most microbes that are associated with infections or inflammation. The primary criteria

IN CLOSING

for the stand-alone test are a reduction not less than 99.9% (or

In summary, it appears that for starters most rules and regulations

3.0 logs) for bacteria and a reduction not less than 90% for molds

for standard reusable soft lens wear can be copied/pasted into

and yeasts within the soaking period recommended by the

the specialty soft lens arena. But extra emphasis on safety seems

manufacturer. Note that other microorganisms (viruses and

warranted, as more challenging oxygen delivery and the potential

parasites such as Acanthamoeba) are not part of this criteria.

presence of underlying pathology may make the eye more vulnerable. Because soft specialty lenses by default fall into the

Hydrogen peroxide- or iodine-based solutions have shown

reusable category and they are sometimes worn for (much) longer

superior disinfection efficacy over multipurpose solutions,

periods of time before replacement compared to standard

which may be especially applicable for soft specialty lenses. For

commercial lenses, it is of the utmost importance to emphasize

that reason, oxidizing disinfection systems are a common and

good lens hygiene and care, where more rigorous care-systems

popular solution for different types of specialty lenses, as these

may be advised.

lenses pose an extra risk either because of reduced oxygen

Although rare, serious conditions have been reported in general

transmissibility or the underlying condition of the eye, making

contact lens wear for which – oh the irony – specialty lenses are

the eye more vulnerable, and these lenses may be on a longer

needed to heal the condition and to restore vision. Lens care

(eg, 3-month) replacement cycle. Keep in mind, though, that

with those specialty lenses is at least as important, but most

as these solutions are neutralized after use, occasional wearers

likely even more important, than with standard lenses, as the

should be reminded to re-disinfect their lenses before wear.

specialty lenses are often used for compromised corneas – posing

In-office disinfection of both gas permeable (scleral and corneal)

extra risks – and some lens modalities may pose more challenges,

and hybrid and soft lenses should involve 3% peroxide exposure

such as the need to wear the lenses overnight or increased oxygen

in a non-neutralizing case for at least three hours before

barriers. To keep all these specialty lens options as safe as possible,

neutralization (for soft and hybrid lenses) or dry storage (for

ECPs and patients should work together to prevent buildup of

rigid corneal lenses and scleral lenses) per the American

debris, growth of microorganisms and adverse events.

Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric

This was the last ‘episode’ of this trilogy on specialty lens safety.

Association recommendation, in conjunction with the Contact

Safety considerations in scleral lens wear and in orthokeratology

Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA) and the GP Lens

were covered in the previous two editions of GlobalCONTACT

Institute (GPLI) in the US.

this calendar year. n

20

18_EefSafetyTrilogy.indd 20

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 10:23

!AZ.ind

FITTING BACKGROUND

Parts of this publication appeared in a Contact Lens Spectrum article (April

5 Kalaiselvan P, Konda N, Pampi N, Vaddavalli PK, Sharma S, Stapleton F,

2022) that summarized a 2022 Global Specialty Lens Symposium session

Kumar N, Willcox MDP, Dutta D. Effect of Antimicrobial Contact Lenses

devoted to contact lens safety featuring Mark Bullimore, Melissa Barnett,

on Corneal Infiltrative Events: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Transl Vis Sci

Gloria Chiu and Pauline Cho.

Technol. 2021 Jun 1;10(7):32.

6 Datta A, Willcox MDP, Stapleton F. In vivo efficacy of silver-impregnated

References: 1 Willcox M, Keir N, Maseedupally V, Masoudi S, McDermott A, Mobeen

barrel contact lens storage cases. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2021 Aug;44(4):101357.

R, Purslow C, Santodomingo-Rubido J, Tavazzi S, Zeri F, Jones L.

7 Dumpati S, Naroo SA, Shah S, Dutta D. Antimicrobial Efficacy of an

CLE AR - Contact lens wet tabilit y, cleaning, disinfection and

Ultraviolet-C Device against Microorganisms Related to Contact Lens

interac tions with tear s . C ont Lens Anterior Eye. 2021

Adverse Events. Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 May 21;11(5):699. doi: 10.3390/

Apr;4 4 (2):157-191.

antibiotics11050699.

2 Carnt N, Hoffman JJ MBBS, Verma S, Hau S, Radford CF, Minassian DC, Dart JKG. Acanthamoeba keratitis: confirmation of the UK outbreak and a prospective case-control study identifying contributing risk factors.

Br J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec;102(12):1621-1628.

3 Willcox M. From Research to Practice: Do Specialty Soft Contact Lenses Need Different Care? Softspecialedition.com Winter 2022.

4 Sindt C, Bennett E, Szczotka-Flynn L, Sclafani L, Barnett M; American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies, and The American Optometric Association (AOA) Contact Lens and Cornea Section. Technical Report: Guidelines for Handling of Multipatient Contact Lenses in the Clinical Setting. Optom Vis Sci. 2020 Aug;97(8):544-548.

Eef van der Worp, BOptom, PhD, FAAO, FIACLE, FBCLA, FSLS is an educator and researcher. He received his optometry degree from the Hogeschool van Utrecht in the Netherlands (NL) and has served as a head of the contact lens department at the school for over eight years. He received his PhD from the University of Maastricht (NL) in 2008.

He is a fellow of the AAO, IACLE, BCLA and the SLS. He is currently adjunct Professor at the University of Montreal University College of Optometry (CA) and adjunct assistant Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry (Oregon, USA). He lectures extensively worldwide and is a guest lecturer at a number of Universities in the US and Europe.

Advertisement

!AZ.indd 5 18_EefSafetyTrilogy.indd 21

20.03.20 10:23 17:54 22.12.22

FITTING BACKGROUND

Imaging techniques Photo presentation: Students present their findings

Photographers:

Slit lamp (Haag-Streit BQ 900, Koeniz, Schweiz)

conclusions to be drawn that this could be a consequence of the healed uveitis. Close examination of the iris blood vessel reveals that it runs parallel to the radial iris structure. Its course suggests a congenital blood vessel visible within the iris structure, which is bright here. With the regredient illumination and a higher magnification, reversing blood vessels of the limbal vascular arcade could be observed. The limbal vascular arcade in the test person can therefore be classified as physiological, i.e. normal. In addition, a dull tissue structure can be seen on the cornea in the limbal vascular arcade. The small, dull area can be identified as a so-called pannus. The pannus may have developed as a result of the infection.

Photo 1: Diffuse illumination, 16 x magnification

Characteristics

Leah Nickel, Floriana Marku (HFAK, Cologne, Germany)

What can be seen here?

A prominent, centrally located blood vessel can be seen within the iris structure (image 1). In addition, a distinctive limbal vascular arcade can be seen (image 2).

Imaging technique

Photo 2: Regredient illumination, 25 x magnification

On the nasal conjunctiva, a microcyst (image 1), which has been present since infancy, can also be seen. Regular checks ensure that this does not change in size, shape and form.

Finding

Further procedure:

The limbal vascular arcade is checked by an ophthalmologist at regular intervals. At the first sign of re-infection, the test person immediately visits an ophthalmologist, as the cornea can react more sensitively. When fitting contact lenses, especially soft contact lenses, it is very important to observe and classify the limbal vascular arcade, as this allows changes to be detected more quickly.

The proband (27 years, female, no contact lens wearer) reports an untreated infection of the anterior segment of the eye (2012), which could possibly correspond to uveitis anterior. On routine slit-lamp examination, the subject has a prominent blood vessel in the nasal iris structure, as well as a nasally prominent limbal vascular arcade. The clearly visible blood vessel in conjunction with the unusually pronounced limbal vascular arcade allows

1

22

22_HFAK.indd 22

2

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 10:24

PR-Advert

If you can’t spot it, you can’t fix it A metrologist’s view on contact lens manufacturing “Know your quality” shows where you stand when it comes to producing lenses at consistent standard. This is not only true when the level of manufacturing quality is already high but significantly more important when not.

Optocraft has been developing and manufacturing metrology solutions for optics spanning a wide variety of markets and applications: From high-precision immersion objective lenses for microscopy, over laser systems for eye surgery to optical instruments that are sent into space on a satellite to improve our global understanding of weather and climate. And of course, for the measurement of the quality of contact and intra ocular lenses to enable a better vision for the patient in all circumstances.

From a metrology perspective, the contact lens market is quite

needed, that also guides the operator and facilitates measurement

diverse. Measurement equipment has to deal with a wide variety

procedures for the different lens types. Additionally, process

of lenses: classic RGPs, sclerals, soft spheric, toric or multifocal

automation plays an increasingly important role, and the need

lenses as well as smart lenses. With the multitude of different

for inline metrology solutions that can be flexibly interfaced and

designs, a considerable number of parameters have to be taken

integrated into the production line.

into consideration: material, refractive power, geometry, etc. And especially when it comes to soft contact lenses, a well-controlled

Traditional metrology like classical lensmetres and shadowgraphs

measurement environment is needed. As a result, special demands

can no longer cope with this ever-expanding list of requirements.

are placed on the capabilities of the metrology solution chosen.

Hence, the need for advanced metrology systems. With more than 20 years of experience in wavefront metrology, Optocraft’s

Depending on the size and the structure of the lens manufacturing

team continues to passionately develop new multifunctional

company, quality control processes are set up and implemented

and simple to operate instruments for the ophthalmic lens market.

quite differently, again imposing different requirements on the metrology hard- and software. Documentation is a big topic on

We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Let’s put our

its own, where a dedicated but still easily adaptable software is

heads together. n

“The relationship and cooperation with Optocraft have driven major developments in our metrology understanding and of its potential. Coupled with high quality metrology systems available from Optocraft, this is helping us realise a new era of contact lens measurement.”

Global Technical Innovation Group, Coopervision GlobalCONTACT 3-22

PR_Optocraft.indd 23

23

21.12.22 16:08

FITTING BACKGROUND

20 years “sleeplens” orthokeratology Success in the niche market Since 2002, orthokeratological contact lenses have been fitted in Central Europe according to modern standards. The procedure dates back to the early 1960s when George Jesson introduced his "Orthofocus", which was intended to flatten the corneal geometry with deliberately flat-fitting PMMA lenses. However, this method did not catch on. It was not until the development of multicurve, reverse contact lens geometries that orthokeratology achieved a breakthrough at the turn of the millennium. B y Wolfgang Laubenbacher T he init ia l spa rk was a cong ress of t he compa nies

procedures gently change the corneal geometry through the

Contopharma AG and Techno-Lens SA in Lausanne in 2000,

hydrostatic forces of the tear film. In order to make the

where Patrick Caroline, professor at the Pacific University of

adjustments as safe as possible, only highly gas-permeable

Optometry in Portland (Oregon), presented orthokeratology

materials were used by the manufacturers and a maximum

with reverse geometries in lectures and seminars. The topic met

wearing time of one year was specified.

with great interest among the audience. Employees of Techno-

It took several years for orthokeratology to become established.

Lens SA took up this enthusiasm and, under the direction of

In Germany, there was great interest in the methodology, but

Bruno Fantony, Philippe Seira and Wolfgang Laubenbacher,

there was also a lot of skepticism. It was often heard after

developed their own designs and fitting strategies. The goal was

training courses that people now knew how it worked, but

to enable orthokeratology, which had been largely unknown

they were not going to use it. In other countries, first and

until then, with familiar procedures for form-stable lens fitting.

foremost The Netherlands, orthokeratology was not seen as

In 2001 the first own ortho-k lens designs were fitted and in

a problem maker but as a problem solver, causing the case

2002 the Techno-Lens "sleep&see" (later renamed "sleeplens")

numbers there to rise sharply.

ortho-k concept, was introduced to the market. The following year brought an immense boom for orthokeratology. The

SAFETY

interest in this methodology was huge and orthokeratology

In order to make the adjustments as safe as possible, only

was the main topic at all optometric events.

highly gas-permeable materials were used by the manufacturers

EUPHORIA WAS FOLLOWED BY CRITICISM

introduced for dimensionally stable lenses, as was already

Many critical voices were raised about "corneal reshaping" and the

customary for soft lenses. The use of so-called subscription

question of long-term tolerability and possible negative influence

systems for the payment of lenses and services was also

on the integrity of the cornea arose. Corresponding long-term

introduced for rigid lenses.

reference to the positive experiences over decades with the wearing

RESERVATIONS ARE FADING

of flat adapted stable lenses was not convincing for everyone.

From 2008, the fitting figures increased significantly again.

PROBLEM MAKER OR PROBLEM SOLVER

24_20YearOK.indd 24

was the first time that a regular replacement interval was

However, the initial euphoria was dampened in the following years.

results could of course not yet be demonstrated. In addition, the

24

and a maximum wearing time of one year was specified. This

Orthokeratology was accepted. This methodology had now found a solid basis and the skeptical voices became quieter.

Orthokeratology was still associated with "flattening" the

New designs, especially toric ortho-k lenses, and a growing

cornea with dimensionally stable lenses. But modern

body of experience expanded the fitting options.

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 15:42

!AZ.ind

FITTING BACKGROUND

MYOPIA MANAGEMENT

Germany emerges. Relative to the population of around

Myopia management has become an important topic in

82 million, this is a vanishingly small share of 0.018%. The

optometry in recent years and the high efficiency of ortho-k is

proportion in Switzerland and Austria is certainly much higher,

one of the reasons why sales figures have risen sharply especially

since the proportion of all contact lens wearers in the population

in these last few years. Above all, the great advantage of ortho-k

is also much higher here than in Germany. The Netherlands

is that, in contrast to all other myopia management measures,

is the world leader. Here the proportion in relation to the

no additional visual aids need to be worn. The myopia is no

population is more than ten times the German level. To be

longer consciously perceived and its increase is also inhibited.

successful, it makes perfect sense to occupy and promote market

Techlens has fitted ortho-k lenses to children in its own contact

niches. In retrospect, this strategy has also been extremely

lens practice from the very beginning. The positive influence

successful for Techlens from an economic point of view.

on the inhibition of myopia development can be confirmed in our own practice.

NICHE MARKET

IS ORTHO-K SUCCESSFUL? With this extremely low market penetration, after 20 years, can we even speak of success? The figures and the level of

Despite all the positive developments, the orthokeratology

awareness say no, but contact lens practitioners who proactively

procedure is still largely unknown to the end customer, even

offer this procedure are very successful. They have established

after 20 years. Satisfied ortho-k lens wearers are looked at

a unique selling point in their regional environment and

incredulously when they report that they only wear contact

distinguish themselves as highly competent specialists. Ortho-k

lenses for sleep and no longer need glasses.

lens wearers, like almost all RGP wearers, are extremely loyal

The industry is being asked to advertise the procedure. For a

customers with whom they maintain regular contact. Sales of

broad advertising campaign there are however still too few

contact lenses have been at a stagnant level for years. Although

fitters who dedicate themselves intensively to orthokeratology.

orthokeratology is a niche product, it has generated annual

The risk that a myopic patient approached by advertising will

double-digit percentage growth rates. n

come to a practitioner who does not recommend ortho-k is too great and thus a prospective customer would be lost. Effective advertising lies mainly in direct communication by the fitter and the use of referral marketing by satisfied customers.

HOW MANY ORTHO-K LENS WEARERS?

Wolfgang Laubenbacher, TECHLENS WL Contactlinsen GmbH

Based on available figures on sales of ophthalmic optical products and a market survey conducted by Techlens in 2019, a figure of approximately 15,000 ortho-k lens wearers in

Advertisement

!AZ.indd 2 24_20YearOK.indd 25

08.06.22 15:42 15:44 22.12.22

COLUMN

A gut feeling Intuition – or gut feeling – does exist, not many would dispute that. But not much research has been done on the topic, and it can hardly be considered an ‘evidence-based’ arena. Gerd Gigerenzer (director emeritus of the Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy, both in Berlin, Germany) has investigated the matter, and he advises: if the material is too overwhelming to digest by the human mind (like buying a house, for instance), or if you have little time to make a decision: then go by your gut feeling. By Eef van der Worp

26

26_EefColumn.indd 26

SHORTCUT

INTUITION VERSUS IMPULSE OR INSTINCT

In his recent book ‘Gut Feelings,’ Gigerenzer, as a psychologist

Intuition is not the same as impulsiveness. Donald Trump

and behavioural expert, reveals the secrets of fast and effective

has often been called an intuitive leader, but according to

decision-making. He explains that, in an uncertain world,

Gigenrenzer in the Dutch national newspaper ‘Volkskrant’,

sometimes we have to learn to ignore too much information

he is not; it’s more impulse in his case. Furthermore, intuition

and rely on our brain’s ‘shortcut’. By explaining how intuition

is not the same as instinct either: instinct is something we

works and analysing the techniques that people use to make

are born with, like a baby has the instinct to find its mother’s

good decisions – whether it’s in personnel selection or heart

breast to feed. Intuition is based on experience. In the case

surgery – Gigerenzer shows in his book why gut thinking can

of the newborn, no previous knowledge is required. Intuition

change your mental behaviour.

is an unconscious feeling that you develop based on the GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 17:01

COLUMN

UNCONSCIOUS INTELLIGENCE A good example in our field may be myopia management, which is a complex matter. I am personally sometimes pushed back and forth on the topic: yes, there is an urgency for sure, but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, and we do need to keep things in perspective (there are other eye diseases too, how much attention do these get?). The latter is more my rational side speaking, the first is more my ‘gut’. And if we broaden this topic a bit, soft specialty lenses, for me, are a modality for which we have hardly explored the potential – perhaps particularly in the myopia arena but not limited to that alone. On the one hand, we can do something about the huge dropout rates we see in the soft lens arena, and on the other hand, we can improve quality of life in many patients who simply ‘surrender’ to the option they have been given – which may not necessarily be the optimal solution.

And tapping into the potential that optical front-surface profiles can provide, if they are applied on an individual basis rather than as a commodity … the outcome regarding more complex cases such as presbyopia and improving individual myopia management may surprise us.

FROM GUT TO CUT If intuition is based on experience, it is an unconscious feeling that you develop based on the experience of years – like a doctor who ‘feels’ that something is wrong, although the tests show differently. Call it indeed unconscious intelligence.

Well, I have done my homework in the last 10 years or so on the mentioned topics myopia and soft specialty lenses. I am experience of years. You know what you need to do but

convinced that there is something there. ‘Let’s get comfortable

cannot necessarily explain why. Some artists and creative

customizing’ is the adage for our industry, if you ask me.

people know that feeling all too well. It’s a form of unconscious

Let’s trust our gut feeling on this. A shortcut from gut to

intelligence, Gigenrenzer teaches. The biggest question, and

lathe-cut (and beyond). n

part of his research, is when to use, trust and apply intuition – and when not to.

- Gerd Gigerenzer - Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious ISBN: 0143113763 - Wieteke van Zeil – Uit de Onderbuik - Volkskrant July 19th 2022

“INTUITION IS AN UNCONSCIOUS FEELING THAT YOU DEVELOP BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS”

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

26_EefColumn.indd 27

Eef van der Worp, BOptom, PhD, FAAO, FIACLE, FBCLA, FSLS is an educator and researcher. He received his optometry degree from the Hogeschool van Utrecht in the Netherlands (NL) and has served as a head of the contact lens department at the school for over eight years. He received his PhD from the University of Maastricht (NL) in 2008.

He is a fellow of the AAO, IACLE, BCLA and the SLS. He is currently adjunct Professor at the University of Montreal University College of Optometry (CA) and adjunct assistant Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry (Oregon, USA). He lectures extensively worldwide and is a guest lecturer at a number of Universities in the US and Europe.

27

22.12.22 17:01

TECHNOLOGY

Advancement of flat lens technology Research publications on flat lenses have increased in recent years. To further the maturation process in the field, Professor Uriel Levy, Director of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)'s Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Co-Founder/CTO of HU’s portfolio company TriEye, together with postdoc student Dr. Jacob Engelberg, has established a standard method to compare flat-lens technologies and designs. The Israeli researchers published their findings in Nature Photonics.[1] Levy took the time to explain features of flat lenses and his standardization method in a conversation with GobalCONTACT. By Rebekka Nurkanovic

Old Cordouan lighthouse Fresnel lens, France.

On the cusp of maturity –

Flat lenses have no curvature. Features like tiny holes, lines or

Over the last few years, a new type of flat lens, the metalens,

circles break the beams of light, which is called diffraction.

has emerged, alongside diffractive lenses. The two types of flat

The earliest version of that technology can be found in the

lenses are very similar but differ in their specific phase profiles.

Fresnel lens, developed in the 19 century for lighthouses.

The metalens has nano-features with features like posts that

These early flat lenses were not nearly as perfectly flat as today,

can be 100 or 200 nanometers in diameter. “These nano-features

but they were very thin compared to classical lenses and while

spread all over the aperture of the lens and based on the specific

the manufacturing was primitive, some of the physical concepts

design, can acquire the phase that is needed to focus. It is an

still used today were already in place.

efficient binary structure, either existing or non-existing”, says

In the 1980’s, the development of modern diffractive lenses

Levy. “A diffractive lens is typically not binary and its features

took up steam. Typically, the f lat lenses of that era were

are microscale. It is a little bit more difficult to make than a

wavelength scale features with a height of maybe one two

metalens, because you need several fabrication steps and have

microns, which were able to focus a relatively large beam of

to align between each step. From a manufacturing point of

light into a spot. Since then, the field has evolved considerably.

view, the binary structure of the metalens is an advantage

th

compared to the diffractive lens.”

CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES OF FLAT LENSES A main issue with flat lenses that still needs solving is chromatic aberration, where the designed wavelength is focused exactly as desired but other wavelengths are focused at a different focal plane, causing a blurred vision, which can pose a severe problem, depending on the illumination source. With the sun or a broadband light source in a room, it would be highly problematic, whereas with a laser light for illumination, the wavelengths and the color are predefined and the chromatic aberration is less of an issue. For some applications, like contact lenses or spectacle lenses, this is very important, which is why a lot of 3D rendering of a metalens.

28

28_FlatLens.indd 28

the effort in academia and industry is focused towards GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 15:43

!AZ.ind

TECHNOLOGY

being explored resembles imprint lithography. There, some kind of template is used to replicate many metalenses.

PROBABLE FIELDS OF APPLICATION There are still no flat spectacle lenses on the market yet with the biggest obstacle being the unresolved issue of chromatic aberration. For a fully flat refractive lens, not only the problems of aberration but also of cheap mass manufacturing would have to be solved. R&D activities regarding ophthalmic flat lenses are especially aimed at providing glasses to people with high diopters, for whom even semi flat lenses would be a great improvement.

Professor Uriel Levy

For Uriel Levy, the ophthalmic field is only one area of interest.

He and his team are aiming for a more general use of metalenses,

developing lenses with reduced chromatic aberration. And

e.g. in virtual reality, augmented reality, or cell phones.

there are additional challenging aberrations like spherical

The weight reducing aspect might make them attractive for

aberration and coma.

imaging systems in aerospace and drones as well. Levy’s current

One main advantage of flat lenses is that they are very thin.

research in the area of metalenses is focused on improving

According to Levy, the revolution is that they can be manufactured

them, adding more features and trying to understand how

in a clean room with seamless compatible tools similar to those

different design methods would affect the performance. n

used for the production of electronic chips. He notes that since the feature sizes in a flat lens are typically larger than that of a

[1]

modern chip, the tools do not have to be of the same high-end

P h o t o n . 1 6 , 17 1 –17 3 ( 2 0 2 2 ) . h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 .1 0 3 8 /

quality and cost as for chips, though. Another technique that is

s41566-022-00963-7.

Engelberg, J., Levy, U. Standardizing flat lens characterization. Nat.

Advertisement

!AZ.indd 4 28_FlatLens.indd 29

07.12.22 15:43 11:52 22.12.22

HISTORY

Braille Writing and reading system for the blind Blindness is a hard fate. The difficulty of orienting oneself in space makes the affected person dependent on other people. Only in a society with a social commitment is it at all possible for the visually impaired person to survive. The difficult participation in the events of his environment, but especially in education or culture, makes the blind person descend socially. Also, only specially equipped jobs are suitable for him, if they are missing, a life in poverty looms. Only charity and the acceptance of others towards his suffering make a certain quality of life possible. By Hans-Walter Roth

30

30_Roth.indd 30

The causes of blindness are manifold. The decisive factor

orientation. In addition, the sense of smell, but especially

for the affected person is when, that is, at what point in life,

the sense of touch are disproportionately well developed in

the blindness occurs. A person who is already blind at birth

those born blind, learning for example Braille is therefore

usually shows a pronounced development of the other sensory

usually much more difficult for a person becoming blind

faculties, such as hearing; he skillfully uses sound for his

later in life.

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 18:34

HISTORY

A great help was brought by writing systems for the blind, they

marks. Even musical notes could be made palpable with one

now allowed the blind to participate in the world of literature. The

finger using his method. This rather simple illustration from

best known is the writing system of Louis Braille, which has since

the 19th century shows blind people, one of them playing the

become accepted worldwide. Braille lived from 1806 to 1852.

piano. The notes are scanned with the right hand and the keys are struck with the left.

After a one-sided perforating eye injury in the workshop of his

The system was revolutionary. On the one hand, Braille managed

father, a saddler, he developed sympathetic ophthalmia

with only six dots, and on the other hand, he was able to arrange

­(a granulomatous uveitis), which was uncontrollable at the

them on an area of only a few millimeters. If you take a closer

time, and led to the loss of the remaining second eye. Now

look at Braille, you will be reminded of today's digital system.

completely without eyesight, the intelligent young man worked

Here, too, letters, numbers and characters are broken down

on a writing system for the blind.

into impulses, which, just like Braille's writing system, are based on only a single dot.

Although it was not the first of its time, it became generally ­accepted due to its simple structure and the fact that it was

This illustration appeared in a magazine from the middle of

easier to learn; today it is the standard worldwide. He took a

the century before last, the so-called Hellerblatt. Today one

sheet of paper, pierced it according to a certain pattern with a

would call it a magazine for the distribution of charitable

needle and then felt the elevations on the back. He arranged

knowledge, already at that time it reported in detail about the

2 x 3 such points in a vertical rectangle. In his system, for

fate of blind people and their writing. In 1840, an issue of the

example, the letter “A” is assigned to the upper left corner, the

Hellermagazin cost ten pennies when purchased at a newsstand;

letter “B” is marked by two elevations below each other on the

if you wanted to receive it by mail, you had to pay two pennies

left. A total of 64 different characters could be represented in

more. Unfortunately, today there is hardly any interest in its

this way.

still highly topical reports, in an antiquarian bookshop in

With this six-dot system, Braille succeeded not only in depicting

Salzburg it was recently offered at a price of just three euros

all the letters of the alphabet, but also numbers and punctuation

for collectors. n

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

30_Roth.indd 31

31

22.12.22 18:34

HISTORY

Eye impression glasses Compensation for irregular corneas Towards the end of the 17th century, it was already known that optical errors of the eye, caused for example by irregularities of the cornea, could be compensated for by holding the head in a water-filled glass sphere. Technically, this could be done, but in practice it could hardly be sustained for any length of time.

Nevertheless, the principle of the contact lens is ultimately based on this basic idea, which originated with Leonardo da Vinci. By Hans-Walter Roth

It was not until it became possible to wear small glass bowls

Now it was enough to heat the mold and press a PMMA

on a f luid cushion directly on the eye that it was feasible to

disk over it. After cooling, this could then be easily reworked

create a homogeneous retinal image, for example in the case

on the lathe. For decades, this method was a leader in the

of corneal scars. For compensation with small glass bowls,

treatment of irregular corneal anterior surfaces, and

however, it was necessary to largely adapt the inner surface

countless keratoconus patients or accident victims were

of the glass sheet to the anterior surface of the cornea. Air

saved from blindness. Today, computer-controlled corneal

bubbles in the tear film caused mechanical as well as optical

topography allows corneal astigmatism to be detected with

irritation, at the same time they acted like foreign bodies

high precision and the optimal base curve of the contact

and lead to stray light. In order to achieve the most accurate

lens to be calculated from this.

possible template for the manufacture of such contact lenses, a special sensitive casting technique was required. The

This small box with different sized molds comes from the

conjunctiva, cornea and sclera had to be precisely molded.

company Müller-Welt in Stuttgart, Germany. Not all of them

Initially, plaster was used for this purpose, but it caused

are still preserved; one or the other may have broken during

massive irritation to the eye. Only the use of plastic-based

the procedure. The box belonged to the workplace of a leading

impression materials, developed for dentists, led to a useful

Stuttgart ophthalmologist from the pre-war period, his

result, although not all plastics proved to be compatible with

descendants now donated it to the collection on the history of

the eye.

the eye and vision. n

In the laboratory, the cast was carefully covered with plaster so that a copy of the anterior eye contour was created. This was now used as a mold for the inner surface or base of the contact lens. For this purpose, the molds were covered with a glass melt, after cooling the edges were reduced to the desired lens diameter and the refraction, if necessary, was ground into the front surface of the lens.

The decisive breakthrough in contact optics came when

Dr. Hans-Walter Roth, Ophthalmologist and Director of the Contact Lens Research Institute in Ulm, Germany, is the author of numerous publications and books on the physiology of the contact lens and the history of eyesight. He is a city councilor of the city of Ulm, specializing in education, social affairs, art and culture. He is also the founder of the Ulm Hospital for the Poor..

PMMA became the first transparent plastic on the market.

32

30_Roth.indd 32

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 18:34

PR-Advert

Larsen Equipment In 2004, Keith Parker and I opened Advanced Vision Technologies (AVT). At that time, the economy was going through a very bad recession and as a result, it was impossible for a new business starting up to get a loan. We immediately reached out to Erik and Pam at Larsen Equipment to get refurbished equipment to use in our Laboratory. As AVT’s business grew, we invested in many different pieces of new equipment from Larsen Equipment and this helped us grow into one of the Premiere Labs in the United States. Our success is due in part to Erik and his Team with their state-of-the-art equipment and maintenance of their products. AVT is forever grateful for Larsen Equipment’s support of AVT. It is great to know AVT is working with Industry leaders with the Larsen Equipment and their Team!

Janine Bungo, Vice President

QUALITY MANAGER: RANDY MINGOY

PRESIDENT: KEITH PARKER

I have known Erik Larsen since 1992. Since then I have used

I have had the pleasure of working with Erik since the beginning

just about every piece of equipment his company has built. My

of Larsen Equipment. The first piece of equipment, a 6 spindle

experience with Erik and the Larsen team has been one of great

horizontal arm polisher revolutionized our production of GP

appreciation as they have always helped me in my needs of

contact lenses. Through the years, I watched his business grow

fully understanding equipment used to manufacture quality

as he and his team listened to our Industry needs and developed

contact lenses. Erik has also been able to engineer any part

now numerous products not only simplifying many tasks of

needed for me even it was a custom part.

manufacturing but improving the consistency of quality in

Erik (Larsen Equipment) has been and still is a pioneer in the

our finished products. Innovation has been an ongoing

contact lens and optical industry, and I am thankful to him

experience of our Company only made possible through the

for his support over the years.

innovation of necessary equipment developed and made Randy Mingoy

available by the Larsen team.

Quality Manager

Larsen Equipment is a family owned business hosting a team

Advanced Vision Technologies

of willing Staff all having the attitude of serving their

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: JORDAN GOBEL

Customer’s needs. As a Customer, we are made to feel like we have a friend in the business helping us develop a more

There can be a lot of moving parts when it comes to managing

efficient process allowing our Company to deliver better

operations, so it is key to have reliable precision equipment

products for our Customers.

that assists in overall efficiency. Larsen Equipment delivers just

Our success of AVT simply could not have been possible without

that! I have been utilizing Larsen manufacturing equipment

the help, assistance and dedication of Larsen Equipment. I

for over 15+ years and have yet to run into an issue they could

will be forever grateful for my opportunity to work with Erik

not resolve. I am a satisfied owner of bladder polishers, edge

and his very capable Staff.

roller’s and auto-blockers etc. Each one of these units greatly

Keith Parker

assists in the reduction of rejects and manufacturing waste.

President

Their ability to customize and retrofit specific tools certainly sets them apart from the competition. Larsen stands behind their equipment with a knowledgeable staff that provides exceptional service. Simply put, we are a better laboratory because of our relationship with the folks at Larsen.

Jordan Gobel Director of Operations/Consultant Advanced Vision Technologies GlobalCONTACT 3-22

PR_Larsen.indd 25

969 S. Kipling Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 Phone: 303-384-1111 888-393-5374 Fax: 303-384-1124 www.AVTLENS.com 33

19.11.21 15:45

BUSINESS+MARKETING

Future meeting spaces How the future will impact business events What will the future look like? In a complex world with multi-layered challenges, it is sometimes difficult to see the big picture clearly. In its most recent research, the innovation network Future Meeting Space (FMS) has developed three future scenarios for business events post-COVID that give the future of events a face. By Matthias Schultze 34

34_FutureMeetingSpaces.indd 34

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 13:44

BUSINESS+MARKETING

Keyvisual globe. Pictures: GCB / Future Meeting Space

The study titled “Changing Ecosystems – Future Scenarios for

meetings remaining the be-all and end-all. In this environment,

Business Events in the Age of Borderless Communication”

central, large event venues dominate, designed to accommodate

illustrates how events will change due to different influencing

as many attendees as possible. Spaces feature classic layouts

factors and enables us to see for each of the three scenarios

but also special club-like areas as well as personal work and

how change will impact venues, event formats and technologies.

recreation spaces.

Let’s take a look.

Event formats are similarly conventional with a high degree

BACK TO THE TRIED AND TRUSTED

of structure. This means presenting content in classic presentations and interactive formats or creative workshops

In the "tried and trusted – renaissance of the real" scenario we

only used very selectively for specific target groups and topics.

envisage a world where we return to the familiar with in-person

Importantly, networking opportunities and meeting others

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

34_FutureMeetingSpaces.indd 35

35

22.12.22 13:44

BUSINESS+MARKETING

“Diverse and flexible” scenario.

“Tried and trusted” scenario.

become the focus of events, as personal interaction is the highest

Flexibility regarding time and space rules and events are no

priority for attendees.

longer bound to one place as digital attendance is easily possible.

From a tech perspective, the “tried and trusted” scenario results

Worldwide co-operations between venues emerge and multi-site

in events that require less equipment, simply because they are

events supported by technology become a mass phenomenon.

run purely on-site as opposed to digital or hybrid set-ups.

Smaller venues in city centers, which are not necessarily

Digital tools are only used if they enhance the physical

dedicated event spaces, are favored.

experience and support face-to-face exchange.

When people attend events in person, they make a very

MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEOPLE

deliberate decision to do so. Meeting others face-to-face is their highest priority then as networking and socializing is

The “diverse and flexible – the global community" scenario is

very limited in the digital space. In general, providing purely

the exact opposite of the return to the familiar approach.

informative content at both physical and hybrid events

36

34_FutureMeetingSpaces.indd 36

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 13:44

BUSINESS+MARKETING

“Green and aware – the net zero society” scenario. decreases while attendees are enabled to make their own

demand, including moving events in the open air. The overall

topic-related experiences. New modular workshop formats

guideline for event formats is to reduce things to the essential.

are developed that can be customized by attendees. As people

Improvisation and developing innovative solutions together

thus create their own personal event, the degree of participation

with attendees come to the fore. In fact, event organizers

in the preparation and planning of events is high, which

increasingly only provide the platform, without stipulating a

results in innovative concepts.

fixed program.

To enable v ir tua l and in-person attendance, v ir tua l

Investment in new technologies and digital tools rises, with

communication platforms and digital tools are integral parts

the aim of creating new solutions for sustainable and ecological

of many events. Hybrid events become standard and to

resource management. Green technologies that enable a more

support interaction between physical and virtual attendees,

sustainable economy are key. Also, as people pay increasing

the availability of smart surfaces in venues becomes key.

attention to their mental and physical health, systems for

VR/AR technologies are used to support virtual attendance.

integrated health management play a role when planning and

As attending events is increasingly linked with private trips

running events. Cognitive environments that can be adapted

in order to make the most of travel and justify the effort

to specific user needs become a megatrend, and for the purposes

involved, apps that support getting to know the given

of their health and well-being, attendees also accept the use of

destination are on the rise.

new technologies such as tracking systems. n

SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOUR DRIVES INNOVATION IN EVENTS In the “green and aware – the net zero society” scenario sustainability is the guiding principle of all actions. Existing buildings are chosen as venues and utilizing venues to the maximum is key, with large event venues also serving as educational facilities or temporary workspaces. In general, attendees expect event venues to be authentic and sustainable throughout. To create climate-neutral buildings, both the building technology and other infrastructure elements need to be renewed and designed to meet sustainable standards.

“Green events” is the central marketing strategy for venues.

While conventional speaker presentations largely disappear,

Matthias Schultze, Managing Director, GCB German Convention Bureau. Since 2010, Matthias Schultze has been responsible for Germany's national and international positioning and marketing as a leading meetings and conventions destination at the GCB German Convention Bureau with offices in Frankfurt, New York and Beijing.

Together with partners from business and science, he has initiated various projects that examine the potential of digitization and provide impetus for the future of business events - including the innovation network "Future Meeting Space" and the hybrid, spatially distributed congress "BOCOM".

(Foto: GCB/Michael Pasternack)

new formats which integrate the natural environment are in GlobalCONTACT 3-22

34_FutureMeetingSpaces.indd 37

37

22.12.22 13:44

BUSINESS+MARKETING

Cyber hygiene practices Tips and checklist Cyber hygiene – these are simple security principles that every organization should know and implement to keep all sensitive data under control and protect it from theft or attack. Worldwide, the costs caused by cybercrime are growing. If the business of cybercrime were measured as a gross domestic product, it would be the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China. Cybercrime is a profitable business, with relatively low risks compared to other forms of crime. B y DriveLock

Not only is the number of cyber attacks continuously increasing,

EVER HEARD OF CYBER HYGIENE?

but attackers are also becoming more and more tricky. They

If not, then here is a brief explanation: By cyber hygiene

specifically exploit the human factor, which often becomes a

we mean simple security principles that every IT department

gateway. IT security must adapt to changing hybrid working

must know and implement. The main goal is to keep all

models and the increase in human error. It must keep pace

sensitive data under control and protect it from theft or

with attack methods, distributed workplaces and infrastructures,

attack. Cyber hygiene deliberately includes the association

and at the same time not interfere with daily work.

with personal hygiene, where we take precautions to maintain our health. Thus, if a person neglects hygiene,

38

38_CyberSecurity.indd 38

There are ways for companies to implement security measures

he or she can catch an infection. If a company neglects IT

that do not inconvenience users or make them feel restricted

hygiene, it can lead to data breaches and infection with

in their freedom.

malware.

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

22.12.22 13:47

BUSINESS+MARKETING

CYBER HYGIENE AFFECTS EVERYONE

removable media or, in the case of computers and laptops,

Like personal hygiene, cyber hygiene starts with basic measures

the entire hard drive. The same applies to the encryption of

that contribute to good health. Although people like to attribute

removable media.

cyber hygiene to the IT department, it is a whole-business organizational task. It affects everyone. For example, the IT

5. Strengthen the login with multi-factor authentication

department can set password policies, but users must also set

Implementing two-factor authentication more rigorously

strong passwords and keep them secret.

verifies that the right person is granted access. And the more

CYBER HYGIENE REQUIRES REGULARITY The principles of cyber hygiene are not new, but they are easily

personal you make the authentication, the more secure your network. Thumbprint ID and facial recognition create even more security.

forgotten in everyday life. Simple rules make it easier to follow the hygiene protocols regularly and completely.

AN EXEMPLARY CYBER HYGIENE CHECKLIST We carry out hygiene measures regularly – at the very least

6. Security when working remotely Employees who work from home and use their personal computers (and also those who use a company-owned device) should adopt basic cyber hygiene practices. These include:

when we are exposed to a significant threat. Thus, many of these measures are actually basic cyber security measures.

• Anti-virus protection

We focus here on what needs to be regularly checked and

Employees should have antivirus and anti-malware software

adhered to:

for use on their private computers. While this does not provide fail-safe protection, it does prevent many low-level

1. Patch regularly

attacks. Application control with application whitelisting is

Every time malware develops further or a new vulnerability

a necessary addition, preventing the execution of programs

becomes known, software manufacturers respond with

not detected by the virus scanner.

system and software updates. A regular patch helps to reduce your attack surface.

• Security Awareness Employees should be regularly educated on cyber security

2. Inventory your hardware and software

best practices and procedures. This includes raising awareness

A prerequisite of cyber hygiene is that you as a company

of the need to be vigilant when receiving emails and checking

know what you have in your inventory. Before you can

the authenticity of the sender's address.

adequately protect your attack surface, you need to identify all the assets within it. The basics of patch

• Home network security

management include a complete inventory of all hardware

Employees working in a home office should ensure that their

and software assets across the corporate network. A

home Wi-Fi is protected by a secure password.

vulnerability management solution continuously assesses risks from vulnerabilities and becomes a daily routine through automation.

• Use a VPN Virtual private networks provide another layer of protection for home internet use. While they cannot prevent cyberattacks

3. The least privilege is better than maximum rights

on their own, they can provide a useful barrier against

Say goodbye to the idea of trusting everyone in the company,

cyberattacks. There are some basic cyber security strategies

even if you know them well. "Never trust, always verify" is

that companies can adopt. n

the maxim of zero trust, which applies to data, devices and users. An HR employee needs different access rights to

This article was first published on the DriveLock blog.

contracts, for example, than an IT employee. Give users the minimal access they need and minimize the potential points of attack on your data.

4. Encrypt sensitive data Use data encryption. If all else fails and your firewalls and access protocols are breached, or your laptop is stolen, encryption means that any important data you have stored is useless to the attackers. Basic cyber hygiene means

DriveLock SE is one of the leading international specialists for cloudbased endpoint and data security with offices and representations in Germany, Australia, Singapore, the Middle East, and in the USA. Their mission is to protect companies' data, devices and systems. To achieve this, DriveLock utilizes state-of-the-art technologies, experienced security experts and solutions based on the zero trust model. In today's security architectures, zero trust means a paradigm shift according to the maxim "never trust, always verify". This way, data can even be reliably protected in modern business models. www.drivelock.com

encrypting your files and data before sharing them via GlobalCONTACT 3-22

38_CyberSecurity.indd 39

39

22.12.22 13:47

YELLOW PAGES

DAC International, Inc. Headquarters: 6390 Rose Lane Carpinteria, CA 93013 USA Phone: +1 805 684 8307 Fax: +1 805 566 2196 www.dac-intl.com info@dac-intl.com

Acuity Polymers Inc. 1667 Lake Avenue Building 59, Suite 303 Rochester, New York 14615 USA Phone: +1 585-458-8409 info@acuitypolymers.com www.acuitypolymers.com

Contact Lens Material

“Diamonds for all purposes”

APEX DIAMOND PRODUCTS LIMITED

Unit 10, Bartleet Road, LIMITED APEX DIAMOND PRODUCTS Washford Industrial Estate, Unit 10,Redditch, Bartleet Road, Washford Industrial Worcestershire B98 Estate, 0DQ Redditch,Worcestershire B98 0DQ Tel: +44(0)1527 529011 Kingdom Email: United sales@apexdiamond.co.uk

“Diamonds for all purposes” Phone: +44(0)1527 529011 www.apexdiamond.co.uk

sales@apexdiamond.co.uk www.apexdiamond.co.uk

Diamond Tools

v1_58007_ADVERT_60MM_X_80MM_APEXDIAMOND.indd 1 12/11/2019 10:18

Europe: Phone: +1 805 745 1628 kbrown@dac-intl.com www.dac-intl.com

BostonMaterials Materials Group Boston Group Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb Wintergasse 32 69469 Weinheim Wintergasse 32 Germany

Machinery & Tools

One Module per Year 510€ - 660€ please contact marie@global-cl.com

69469 Weinheim Phone:Germany +49 6201 17869 T +49 6201 17869 tanja.malkus@bausch.com susanne.krostitz@bausch.com F +49 6201 62184 www.fit-boston.eu

tanja.malkus@bausch.com Contact Lens Material www.fit-boston.com

Contamac LTD Carlton House, Shire Hill Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3AU United Kingdom Phone: +44 1799 514800 sales@contamac.co.uk www.contamac.com

Contact Lens Material

®

Contact ProductsFor: For: ContactLens LensHandling Handling Products Firm Lenses, Soft FirmLenses, Lenses Scleral Lenses, Hybrid Lenses, Ortho K Lenses

46th

EFCLIN

Scleral Lenses Hybrid Lenses from: Available in Europe Ortho K Lenses Prolens AG

CONGRESS Available in Europe Josefstrasse 53 from: EXHIBITION Prolens AG CH-8005 Zürich Josefstrasse 53 Switzerland CH-8005 Zürich Switzerland Phone: +41 44 272 78 18 +41 44 272 78 18

EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF THE

CONTACT LENS AND IOL INDUSTRIES

EFCLIN Winkelbüel 2 CH 6043 Adligenswil Switzerland

K & Y Diamond Ltd. 1801 Boul Saint Regis Dollard-des-Ormeaux (Quebec) Canada H9B 2M9

Phone: +41 41 372 10 10 Fax: +41 41 372 06 83

Phone: +1 514 676 0640 Fax: +1 514 676 0645

www.efclin.com info@efclin.com

sales@kydiamond.ca www.kydiamond.ca

Manufactured by DMV Corporation Zanesville, Ohio USA Zanesville, Ohio USA www.dmvcorp.com www.dmvcorp.com

Contact Lens Accessories

BUSINESS IN THE BEATING 40

48_YP.indd 56

Association

Diamond Tools GlobalCONTACT 3-22

23.03.22 17:29

YELLOW PAGES

MISUPCOTM MisupcoTM Inc. MisupcoTM Inc. 1378 Osceola Avenue 1378 Osceola Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55105 Saint Paul, MN 55105 USA

LAMBDA-X S.A. Avenue Robert Schuman 102 B-1400 Nivelles Belgium

Larsen Equipment Design 1117 N.W. 52nd Street Seattle, WA 98107 USA

Phone: +32 67 79 40 80 Fax: +32 67 55 27 91

Phone: +1 206 789 5121 Fax: +1 206 789 7756

Phone: +1 651 353 8632 Fax: +1 651 698 0719 Fax: +1 651 698 0719

info@lambda-x.com www.lambda-x.com

erik@larsenequipment.com www.larsenequipment.com

mikef@misupco.com mikef@misupco.com www.misupco.com

Instruments

Machinery and Tools

S Y S T

E M

USA

Phone: +1 651 353 8632

www.misupco.com

Blocking Wax

S

Optimec Systems Limited Unit B3, The Haysfield Spring Lane North Malvern, WR14 1GF United Kingdom

OPTOCRAFT GmbH Am Weichselgarten 7 D-91058 Erlangen Germany

SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG Biegenstrasse 8 –12 35112 Fronhausen SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG Biegenstrasse Germany 8 –12

Phone: +44 1684 607006

Phone: +49 9131 691500 Fax: +49 9131 691511

Phone: +49Germany (64 26) 96 96-0 Fax:Phone: +49 (64 96 96-100 +4926) (64 26) 96 96-0

www.optimecsystems.com info@optimecsystems.com

sales@optocraft.de www.optocraft.de

info@schneider-om.com info@schneider-om.com www.schneider-om.com www.schneider-om.com

35112 Fronhausen

Fax: +49 (64 26) 96 96-100

Instruments

Instruments

Machinery and Tools RZ_Yellow_Pages_60x80_4C.indd 1

Sterling Ultra Precision Division of AMETEK Precitech Inc. 8600 Somerset Drive, Largo Florida, 33773 USA Phone: +1 727 538 6110 fadi.achkouti@ametek.com

V-Optics SAS 2, rue du travail 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden France

Phone: +49(0)208-306683-00 Fax: +49(0)208-306683-99

info@v-optics.fr www.v-optics.fr

www.global-cl.com info@global-cl.com

www.sterlingint.com

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

48_YP.indd 57

Eyepress Fachmedien GmbH Saarner Str. 151 D-45479 Mülheim an der Ruhr

Phone: +33 (0) 3 67 10 28 60

Europe: +49 98 3797 8238 andreas.kuchler@ametek.com

Machinery & Tools

23.06.2020 12:37:08

Instruments

Media Service 41

23.03.22 17:29

MASTHEAD

app.global-cl.com

READ ONLINE FOR FREE

GLOBAL CONTACT The Website and the Magazine: The complete communication system for the contact lens industry. The magazine, 2,500 copies, is distributed to contact lens laboratories, wholesalers and other organizations active in the contact lens and IOL industry.

The website www.global-cl.com is free for all industry related professionals PUBLISHERS ADDRESS Eyepress Fachmedien GmbH Saarner Str. 151, D-45479 Mülheim a. d. Ruhr Tel.: +49-208-306683-00 Fax: +49-208-306683-99 Website: www.global-cl.com E-mail: info@global-cl.com CEO Petros Sioutis E-mail: p.sioutis@eyepress.de PUBLISHER Silke Sage, Efstathios Efthimiadis, Petros Sioutis EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dipl.-Ing (FH) Silke Sage E-mail: silke@global-cl.com EDITOR Britta Laupichler E-mail: britta@mafo-optics.com TRANSLATIONS John Saniter, Bopfingen, Germany EDITORIAL BOARD Wim Aalbers, Erik Larsen, Eef van der Worp PRODUCTION & LAYOUT Efstathios Efthimiadis, Pascal Bruns DISTRIBUTION PressUp GmbH, Postbox 70 13 11, D-22013 Hamburg Tel.: +49-40-386666-308, Fax: +49-40-386666-299 MEDIA CONSULTANT Constanze Classen Tel.: +49-208-306683-20 Fax: +49-208-306683-99 E-mail: constanze@global-cl.com

FREE ACCESS

ADVERTISING AGENT GREAT CHINA Beijing FOCUS Optics Culture Commnication Co. Ltd. Room 319, Building 2, Nr. 1, Northbank 1292, Nr. 15 Jianguo Eastroad, Beijing 100024 (Chaoyang), P.R. China Mrs. Jian Wang Tel.: +86-10-8537-6529 Email: jennywang_focus@126.com Skype: jennywang611 ADVERTISEMENT RATES Price list No. 11, valid from January 01, 2022 Publication Schedule 3 issues 2022: March, July, November SUBSCRIPTION COSTS PER YEAR European Union 80,00 € (plus VAT for German companies), Overseas Seamail 90,00 €, Overseas Airmail 110,00 €, United States Seamail 95,00 €, United States Airmail 125,00 €, Single issue 20,00 € (plus mailing costs) The Publisher requires three months written notice on cancellation. Subscribers please note that proof of notice may be required.

BANK DETAILS Bank account: Sparkasse Aachen IBAN: DE21 3905 0000 1073 3925 06 SWIFT: AACS DE 33XXX PRODUCTION & PRINT Kollin Mediengesellschaft mbh, Neudrossenfeld The publisher takes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Please note also that photographs submitted for use in GlobalCONTACT cannot be returned. The publisher's written permission is required for any reproduction, translation or recording of material published in GlobalCONTACT, including extracts of such material. Permission will normally be given, subject to the usual acknowledgement. Copies made of published items must be limited in number and for personal use only.

PHOTO CREDITS P.8: f11photo, P.12: apinan, P.14: Girasole75, P.18: Davizro Photography, P.24: REDPIXEL, P.26: VectorMine, P.28: Stéphane Bidouze, vrx123, P.31: paul, P.34: supamotion, P.38: Mrak /stock.adobe.com /unsplash.com /istockphoto.com

Members of

GlobalCONTACT 3-22

42_Masthead.indd 50

22.12.22 14:46

ABOVE

AND

BEYOND

The First Ultra Dk* GP Material Finally.

A new material breakthrough for today's specialty contact lenses.

Scan to view video:

Conceived to provide ocular health protection and daylong wearing comfort.

acuitypolymers.com Dk 200 *ISO/FATT Method ©2022 Acuity Polymers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ™ denotes trademarks of Acuity Polymers, Inc.

!AZ.indd 9

Imagination. Inspiration. Innovation.

14.03.22 15:08

TURNING PRECISION INTO VISION Stable, accurate & repeatable.

Reliable precision blocking that meets the demands of your most challenging designs.

6390 Rose Lane, Carpinteria, CA 93013 USA Phone +1 805 684 8307 Fax +1 805 566 2196 dac-intl.com Chris Pantle +1 805 745 1610 cpantle@dac-intl.com Kurtis Brown +1 805 745 1628 kbrown@dac-intl.com

2022-1 Blocker.indd 1 !AZ.indd 8

2/27/2022 9:10:18 PM 14.03.22 15:18