Archives: Core News

CORE-Conducted Clinical Study Published in Optometry & Vision Science; Promising Findings Offer Potential for Eye Care Community & Patients

WATERLOO, ONTARIO, February 9, 2022—A newly-published study conducted by the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) indicates that a novel combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids ingested as a dietary supplement significantly improves symptoms in people who suffer from severe dry eye disease. Essential fatty acids are an established therapy, yet this is the first clinical trial to demonstrate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and γ-linoleic acid in such a population.

Effect of a Novel Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid Supplement on Dry Eye Disease: A 3-month Randomized Controlled Trial (Ng A, et al) appears in the January 2022 edition (Volume 99, Issue 1) of Optometry and Vision Science, the peer review journal of the American Academy of Optometry.

The prospective, randomized, double-masked parallel group study assessed daily use of a supplement containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (1200 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, 300 mg docosahexaenoic acid, 150 mg γ-linoleic acid) or the placebo (coconut and olive oil) for three months. Participants with baseline Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores >52 demonstrated a substantial improvement in symptoms with the treatment at the study’s conclusion, averaging a 20.8 point reduction. That compared to a 7.8 point reduction in the similarly-symptomatic placebo group.

“These study participants were far more symptomatic than other published trials involving omega-3 supplementation, allowing for additional analysis,” said Alison Ng, PhD, MCOptom, FAAO, CORE clinical scientist and the paper’s first author. “The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II (TFOS DEWS II) report recommended dietary supplementation with omega-3 as the first stage of management for dry eye disease. Our findings suggest that even the most severe sufferers can benefit from a meaningful improvement in symptoms with omega-3 and -6 supplementation.”

Approximately one in eleven people experience dry eye disease. Its prevalence is on the rise, owing to lifestyle changes including increased use of digital screens. Besides the impact on their daily activities, patients with dry eye disease may further experience changes to their vision and quality of life.

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 advise that further research among highly symptomatic participants is warranted.

The study was supported by Nature’s Way of Canada.

# # #About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

 

 

 

Clinical and Experimental Optometry Paper Offers Evidence to Dispel Misconceptions Held by Eye Care Practitioners

WATERLOO, ONTARIO, January 25, 2021— A new peer-review paper from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) seeks to shift persistent views about contact lenses that are no longer accurate based on current evidence. Addressing common myths and misconceptions in soft contact lens practice (Walsh K, Jones L, Moody K) is published from Clinical and Experimental Optometry, the official journal of Optometry Australia, the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, and the Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists.

The work offers contemporary evidence that challenges ten legacy perspectives held by eye care practitioners, which can prevent optimal patient care and business success. Members of the eye care community can download the complete publication at no cost via Open Access.

“In 1992, Nathan Efron explored a variety of common myths and mistruths around the fitting and wearing of contact lenses. Remarkably, three decades later, more than half of the current misconceptions we’ve identified were also acknowledged in those original papers. While there has been extraordinary technological and clinical progress over that same time, it has proven more difficult to shake off some long-held incorrect views and established clinical practices,” said Lyndon Jones, CORE’s director.

The authors grouped the top ten present-day myths into three broad categories—contact lenses and care systems, patient-related concerns, and business focused barriers—then reviewed each with clear evidence-based data and practical guidance. The misconceptions include:

1. Increasing oxygen transmissibility improves lens comfort,
2. Hydrogels should no longer be fitted,
3. Patients will be more successful wearing contact lens materials that demonstrate low levels of deposition,
4. When a patient reports discomfort, the first—and most appropriate—option is to change the lens,
5. Young children are less successful with contact lenses,
6. Multifocal fitting is not successful,
7. Wearer non-compliance can make contact lens wear just too risky,
8. Patients with low astigmatism do fine with spherical lenses,
9. Focusing on growing my contact lens business is too time-consuming,
10. And my contact lens business will not grow because as many patients as I fit end up dropping out.

Evidence was available to debunk nine of the ten beliefs. This opens the door for eye care practitioners to recommend and successfully fit contact lenses to a wide range of patients, from children through to seniors, using all soft lens material types and replacement frequency options. The literature review also demonstrates the business benefits of contact lens practice through proactive recommendation and paying attention to factors that drive successful wear and reduce drop out.

And while the remaining belief that non-compliance leads to an increased risk of complications holds true, the evidence-base highlights many factors that are modifiable and within the scope of the eye care practitioner to help mitigate such risk. These include appropriate lens recommendations (e.g., daily disposables) and educating wearers to encourage good wear and care practice adherence.

In closing, the authors write that “practitioners have an ever-increasing range of contact lens designs and materials across different replacement frequencies to offer patients interested in becoming contact lens wearers and to then maintain them successfully in contact lenses over many years. Ensuring clinical practice follows the evidence base, which will change over time, is the most appropriate way to help many more patients access the benefits of contact lenses.”

The paper was supported through an educational grant from Johnson & Johnson Vision.

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About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

 

 

 

WATERLOO, ONTARIO, January 5, 2022—The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has appointed Alex Hui, OD, PhD, FAAO, as head of Biosciences. Dr. Hui is currently a senior lecturer at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW Sydney. He will soon relocate to CORE’s facility in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

“Dr. Hui is a very well respected educator, optometrist, and researcher with the exact skill-set and background to serve as our Biosciences head. His outstanding knowledge of the ocular surface, combined with his extensive lecturing on ocular therapeutic drugs and a PhD in ocular drug delivery, aligns with our ongoing initiatives and mission. We are absolutely delighted to bring Alex back to Waterloo and are excited to have him lead the CORE Biosciences platform,” said Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, CORE’s director.

Before joining UNSW in 2015, Dr. Hui completed his optometry training and PhD at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science and CORE. He is an author on more than 30 peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed publications and has been an invited speaker at conferences worldwide. In addition to drug delivery systems, his research has been focused on ocular therapeutics, myopia control, and contact lenses. Dr. Hui is also an associate editor for Clinical and Experimental Optometry.

“CORE has continued to build an international reputation for high quality research, which I’ve admired during my seven years in Australia,” said Dr. Hui. “It’s been a privilege to spend time with everyone at UNSW, and I’m excited about this new opportunity to work with a fantastic group of researchers and personnel back in Canada.”

CORE’s current Head of Biosciences Dr. William Ngo has been appointed as an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science, reflecting his ever-growing contributions to the field. He will continue to collaborate with CORE and its research team in his chosen area of ocular surface disease.

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About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

Despite Widespread Global Slowdowns in Clinical Research, CORE Perseveres to Reach New Publishing Milestone

WATERLOO, Ontario, December 17, 2021—In a year like no other, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has published a record 66 scientific and clinical educational papers on topics that advance academic and clinical knowledge in optometry and ophthalmology. The organization today announced its “Top 10 of 2021” list, designating particularly valuable works for the global eye care community.

As the COVID-19 pandemic kept workplaces, schools and businesses shuttered worldwide, clinical research was severely impacted. Early pandemic reports indicated that more than 65% of science and technology-related research was paused or delayed due to COVID-related closures. Yet even in the midst of widespread disruption, CORE continued to publish and present topics essential for both current practice and future ophthalmic progress.

“We found a way to overcome another year of pandemic challenges to further evolve and advance ocular science and education, thanks to my incredible colleagues at CORE and our collaborators around the globe,” says CORE Director Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO. “With our record publication volume, it would be easy to overlook some of the most critical pieces of work. The top 10 selections underscore the highest-potential research for eye care professionals, spanning topics such as dry eye, drug delivery, myopia control, eye simulation models, and future contact lens technologies.”

Papers making the “top 10” for 2021 include:

1. Ocular health of children wearing daily disposable contact lenses over a 6-year period (Woods J, et al.), Contact Lens & Anterior Eye

Fitting pre-teen children with soft contact lenses has become more prevalent worldwide, driven largely by using contact lenses for myopia control. Practitioners are keen to understand how these young eyes adapt to full-time lens wear. This manuscript presents the physiological data from a six-year daily disposable soft lens wearing, global, multi-site trial; CORE was the largest clinical site in this trial. This is the longest prospective contact lens trial reported to date. Children aged 8-12 years were enrolled and with 92 completing the study, the data is representative of 653 lens wearing years. There were no contact lens related serious adverse events. Careful slit-lamp observations were similar after six years to the baseline values.  The results support that children of this age can successfully wear daily disposable soft contact lenses with minimal impact on ocular physiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2020.11.011

2. Lysozyme Deposition on Contact Lenses in an In Vitro Blink-Simulation Eye Model Versus a Static Vial Deposition Model (Chan V, et al.), Eye & Contact Lens

CORE has considerable expertise in quantifying protein deposition on contact lenses. This paper compares lysozyme deposition on contact lenses using two in vitro models; a static vial versus a sophisticated in vitro eye model with a blinking mechanism. This study showed that the in vitro blink model can be tuned to mimic quantitative lysozyme deposition data from ex vivo studies, which may provide new opportunities for developing and optimizing other ocular models. https://doi.org/10.1097/ICL.0000000000000784

3. All soft contact lenses are not created equal (Efron N, et al.), Contact Lens & Anterior Eye

Soft contact lenses that have been carefully prescribed by eye care practitioners are sometimes arbitrarily substituted for alternative lenses in the mistaken belief that there is essentially no difference between various lens types. CORE Director Lyndon Jones is a contributor to this broad-ranging, evidence-based review that considers potential complications induced by inappropriate substitution without practitioner oversight. Substitution of 15 of the 16 lens properties considered was found to be related to potential sources of patient dissatisfaction and adverse ocular events. The conclusions presented confirm that a substituted lens may have properties that result in undesirable consequences in respect of vision, ocular health and comfort and that unqualified, unsupervised lens substitution should be avoided.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2021.101515

4. Contact lens technologies of the future (Jones L, et al.), Contact Lens & Anterior Eye

Contact lenses in the future will likely have functions other than correction of refractive error. In this extensive review, CORE’s Lyndon Jones and Chau-Minh Phan and colleagues from around the globe report on the use, or potential use, of contact lenses for a wide-range of novel functions. The potential for contacts to be used to detect systemic and ocular surface diseases, treat and manage various ocular conditions and as devices that can correct presbyopia, control the development of myopia or be used for augmented vision are described in detail in the most far-reaching report of its kind to-date. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2021.02.007

5. Development of an In Vitro Blink Model for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery (Phan C, et al.), Pharmaceutics

Successful drug therapy via topical ophthalmic administration requires overcoming multiple physical challenges. However, advancements in biomaterials and their application has led to innovative approaches in surmounting these challenges. This paper from the OcuBlink team at CORE describes the development of an eye model for testing drug release from a contact lens on the eye, which allows us to better predict the on-eye performance of ophthalmic formulations and devices. This, in turn, could lead to informing the direction for industry R&D and the development of improved products. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13030300

6. Bulbar redness and dry eye disease: comparison of a validated subjective grading scale and an objective automated method (Schulze M, et al.), Optometry & Vision Science

The number of patients reporting symptoms of dry eye has been increasing steadily, particularly during digital device use. While the majority of diagnostic tests for dry eye focus on tear film assessments, increased levels of ocular redness have also been associated with dry eye. In their study, Marc Schulze and colleagues from CORE used the Oculus K5M and the validated bulbar redness (VBR) scale to evaluate whether objectively and subjectively graded ocular redness levels can be used to discriminate between dry eye and non-dry eye patients. Their findings showed that assessing ocular redness by zone, after asking patients to change their gaze to expose larger conjunctival areas compared to en-face assessments, is of high relevance for redness assessments related to dry eye. This is an assessment that can easily be included into the routine biomicroscopy exam in clinical practice and may be helpful to assess dry eye treatment efficacy. https://doi.org/10.1097/opx.0000000000001638

7. The Impact of Incubation Conditions on in Vitro Phosphatidylcholine Deposition on Contact Lens Materials (Walther H, et al.), Optometry & Vision Science

Previous work has suggested that more hydrophobic materials (such as silicone hydrogels) may be prone to adsorbing lipids to a greater extent than conventional hydrogel materials. However, deposition of all lipids may not necessarily be detrimental, as lipids such as phosphatidylcholine are important stabilizing components of the tear film. This research by CORE researcher Hendrik Walther and colleagues explores various aspects of lipid uptake that may impact contact lens performance. The results provide important information regarding how to evaluate lipid uptake when undertaking in vitro studies, with length of incubation, lipid concentration in the doping solution and the frequency of replenishment of the lipids all impacting the data obtained. https://doi.org/10.1097/opx.0000000000001680

8. Clinical practice patterns in the management of dry eye disease: A TFOS international survey (Wolffsohn J, et al.), Ocular Surface

Dry eye disease is one of the most common conditions encountered in eye care. In this paper, CORE was part of an international survey effort to examine the clinical practice patterns of optometrists and ophthalmologists from 51 countries. This paper found that management strategies depended highly on severity and subtype, and on the country. This information allows practitioners from local regions to compare their practice with their peers and identifies potential areas to optimize patient treatment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2021.04.011

9. Optimization of goblet cell density quantification methods (Yang M, et al.), Experimental Eye Research

Goblet cells play a vital role in maintaining ocular surface homeostasis, however, there is no standard method for their quantification. This paper investigated the nuances and various methods for quantifying goblet cell density and was achievable only through a collaboration between the clinical and basic science expertise at CORE. This type of translational research is necessary to advance the clinical diagnosis of dry eye disease at a fundamental level. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exer.2021.108607

10. Uptake and release of a multipurpose solution biocide (MAP-D) from hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a radiolabel methodology (Yee A, et al.), Eye & Contact Lens

Multipurpose contact lens solutions contain a variety of biocides that ensure safe disinfection of the lenses overnight. However, their uptake into soft lenses during the overnight soak time and the subsequent release onto the ocular surface during wear have been linked to several complications. Determination of this uptake and release is complicated, as the amounts are small and studying this issue has been dogged by the complexity of the analytical methods required. Alan Yee, a CORE PhD student, reports on a methodology evaluating the uptake and release of a common biocide (myristamidopropyl dimethylamine; MAP-D) using a novel radiolabelled method. The data showed that silicone hydrogel materials absorbed greater amounts of MAP-D compared to hydrogels, but the hydrogel materials released the greatest amount of the biocide. Radioactive labelling of biocides offers a highly sensitive method of assessing the uptake and release profiles of biocides to CL materials. https://doi.org/10.1097/icl.0000000000000724

CORE offers a searchable database of its nearly 2,500 peer-reviewed papers, professional articles, continuing education presentations, and scientific presentations dating back to the early 1980s. That resource is available at https://core.uwaterloo.ca/publications/.

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About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) – formerly known as the Centre for Contact Lens Research – was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA
McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.434.2150

WATERLOO, Ontario, December 13, 2021—The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has published Issue 63 of Contact Lens Update, which explores the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on five clinically relevant ocular conditions. The latest edition and all past issues are available for free at ContactLensUpdate.com.

Highly pertinent for eye care practitioners worldwide, the issue examines and summarizes how mask wear, home schooling, and remote working may impact patients presenting to clinical practice—and potential prevention and mitigation approaches.

CORE Director Lyndon Jones’ opening editorial provides a thorough review of five possible pandemic-related ocular complications. These cover a potential increase in myopia and dry eye complaints linked to increased digital device use, along with a discussion around whether mask wearing has increased rates of hordeolum and chalazion, dry eye, and dissatisfaction with spectacle wear. The article includes several clinical pearls to help practitioners investigate and manage these conditions.

In the feature article, CORE’s Rosa Yang discusses key findings from a paper investigating the progression of myopia in a large sample of school-aged children after COVID-19 home confinement in China. As remote education continues, the findings should interest any practitioners who examine young children and are employing or considering myopia management.

The final two contributed pieces discuss the impact of mask wear on the ocular surface and on spectacles fogging. Carole Maldonado-Codina, associate director of Eurolens Research at the University of Manchester, is the author of a recent poster that investigates patient preference between spectacles and contact lenses while wearing a mask.

Keyur Patel, clinical director at Tompkins Knight & Son Optometrists in the U.K., presents a compelling case study looking at the impact of inappropriate mask-wear on the break-up time of tears over the ocular surface. He then provides highly relevant and timely advice on how this can result in increased symptoms of dry eye that patients may not even vaguely link to their mask use.

“Almost exactly two years after the first reports of a deadly respiratory illness started to emerge out of China, the pandemic continues to dominate our daily lives,” said Dr. Jones. “These changes include children being educated at home, adults working remotely, an increase in digital device use, and mask wearing and social distancing become widespread globally.

“How do these factors impact our eyes? Modifications to our daily lives appear to have a much greater impact than we could have imagined. Contact Lens Update has consolidated and examined the most pronounced changes in detail using an evidence-based approach to provide practitioners with sound, timely clinical advice on how to look for and manage related complications.”

Published six times per year, Contact Lens Update provides a global platform for unbiased clinical insights based in current research. Since 2011, each issue has provided dependable and up-to-date ocular health information for more than 60,000 leading eye care professionals.

In addition to a complete archive of back issues, ContactLensUpdate.com offers a resource library that provides no-cost professional tools, patient resources, images and video. It also houses complimentary technical training videos produced by International Association of Contact Lens Educators, plus an industry glossary. Industry professionals can access the latest issue directly from ContactLensUpdate.com or quickly sign up for email receipt of future issues.

The publication receives support from the educational arms of Alcon, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

# # #

About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

WATERLOO, Ontario, November 12, 2021—Issue 62 of Contact Lens Update, now available for free from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), explores the impact of digital device use on the eye. Each story provides a unique perspective on whether increasing use of screens by adults and children affects ocular comfort and if such behaviors can ultimately lead to dry eye disease.

Highly relevant for an increasingly screen-dependent society, the issue reviews and summarizes current research to provide practical, evidence-based advice for eye care practitioners to use with patients.

James Wolffsohn’s opening editorial provides a thorough review of the possible links between dry eye disease and digital device use. He discusses the prevalence of dry eye disease in general and in digital device users specifically, and reviews the role of blinking. He then highlights the evidence for changes to the meibomian glands that have been associated with screen use.

In the feature article, Bridgitte Shen Lee, co-founder of Vision Optique, explains key findings from the paper she co-authored that examines the dry eye-screen relationship. This includes peer-to-peer advice to help manage patients who present with the issue.

Two other articles focus on children, illustrating how increased screen use is impacting ocular findings and comfort at an early age. Ngozi Chidi-Egboka, a PhD candidate at UNSW Sydney, shares the results of a recent poster that investigates ocular comfort and blinking in children while using a smartphone. She describes how blink rate and reports of ocular symptoms occurred within just ten minutes of use.

Long hours of screen use associated with early and significant meibomian gland changes are highlighted in the case study from Leslie O’Dell, medical director of Medical Optometry America.  She shares clinical insights from her experience of managing a nine-year-old who experienced these alterations, which serves as an important reminder for proactive and early investigation across all ages.

Over the past decade, the percentage of U.S. adults who report owning a smartphone has skyrocketed from 35% to 85%, according to the Pew Research Center. Among children and teens, the percentage who spent more than four hours per day with electronic devices approximately doubled last year compared to before the pandemic, according to research from the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition and Ipsos.

“Digital screen use has markedly increased over time, further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lyndon Jones, CORE’s director. “We are only just beginning to understand the full impact that such intensity may have on the ocular surface of adults and children. This issue consolidates some of the latest knowledge and practical guidance, helping eye care practitioners immediately translate research into better care and outcomes.”

Published six times per year, Contact Lens Update provides a global platform for unbiased clinical insights based in current research. Since 2011, each issue has provided dependable and up-to-date ocular health information for more than 60,000 leading eye care professionals.

In addition to a complete archive of back issues, ContactLensUpdate.com offers a resource library that provides no-cost professional tools, patient resources, images and video. It also houses complementary technical training videos produced by International Association of Contact Lens Educators, plus an industry glossary. Industry professionals can access the latest issue directly from ContactLensUpdate.com or quickly sign up for email receipt of future issues.

The publication receives support from the educational arms of Alcon, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

# # #

About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo is looking to hire for 2 clinical research positions – an optometry background is essential. We are looking for a Clinical Researcher and a Clinical Researcher/Education Team Leader to also head up our Clinical Education program.

WATERLOO, ONTARIO, October 4, 2021—A newly published review paper addresses the dangers and consequences of inappropriate soft contact lens substitution by consumers and resellers, offering objective, evidence-based perspective on a globally proliferating issue. All soft contact lenses are not created equal (Efron N, et al.; doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2021.101515) is now in press from Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, the peer reviewed journal of the British Contact Lens Association.

Its authors represent some of the most prominent researchers in the contact lens field: Nathan Efron, Phillip Morgan, Jason Nichols, Karen Walsh, Mark Willcox, James Wolffsohn, and Lyndon Jones, who is director of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE).

The paper details the multifactorial reasons that qualified eye care professionals choose a particular contact lens, including a patient’s anterior ocular anatomy and physiology, lens handling, appearance, lifestyle, and affordability. However, those critical considerations may be ignored when purchasing from unregulated suppliers or even regulated suppliers who fail to understand that all soft contact lenses are not the same.

The research considers 16 independent material, design, optical and other properties of soft contact lenses, evaluating the reasons why these properties might be appropriate for a given lens wearer. These include surface treatment, internal wetting agents, oxygen permeability, water content, modulus, total diameter, back optic zone radius, thickness, edge profile, back surface design, optical design, power, color (tint), ultraviolet protection, wearing modality and replacement frequency.

The paper subsequently highlights problems likely experienced when using contact lenses other than those which have been specifically prescribed. Substitution of all but one of the properties considered (back surface design) was found to be related to at least one—and as many as six—potential sources of patient dissatisfaction and adverse ocular events.

The authors write that “Given the wide range of parameters and properties available, few soft contact lenses are identical in their clinical performance. The consequences of inappropriate substitution of soft contact lenses can vary from physical or visual discomfort to significant physiological complications.”

“While highly trained eye care professionals appreciate the differences between soft contact lenses, that is not well understood by some regulatory bodies, various retailers, and the public at large. My co-authors and I believe there are substantial opportunities to better illustrate those variations and the very real consequences of inappropriate substitution. We hope this paper will serve as a benchmark for advancing that discussion,” said Dr. Jones.

# # #

About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

WATERLOO, Ontario, September 7, 2021—Issue 61 of Contact Lens Update, now available for free from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), addresses the importance of physiological growth and axial length in myopia management. Sharing new insights from recent research publications and conference presentations, the latest edition is packed with clear information to help increase understanding about one of the most discussed topics in eye care.

Jeff Walline, associate dean for Research at The Ohio State University College of Optometry and study chair of the Bifocal Lenses In Nearsighted Kids (BLINK) Study, contributes both the editorial and feature article review. He discusses the merits of including axial length measures in myopia management practice and shares important information on how to interpret them. This can help practitioners understand expected versus myopic eye growth, and therefore the impact of myopia management interventions that have been prescribed.

A related study by Alex Nixon and his colleagues is shared in the conference highlight. Their poster examines the presence of physiologic eye growth in myopic children, concluding that clinicians must be aware of its presence when judging the efficacy of myopia management interventions. While complex, a better appreciation of these growth factors will help enhance eye care professionals’ overall care of young myopes.

Rounding out the issue are Shalu Pal’s clinical case studies that provide real-world insights. She shares three cases, demonstrating in each how axial length measures are used to help inform the efficacy of the chosen myopia management intervention, and how that ultimately informs the patients’ ongoing treatment plan.

“Myopia management has dominated discussions across the profession for the past couple of years, and momentum is only growing,” said Lyndon Jones, CORE’s director. “A glance at agendas for upcoming meetings such as the Global Myopia Symposium and American Academy of Optometry shows intense interest in axial length and physiological growth. This issue of Contact Lens Update is a perfect primer for members of the eye care community before logging on or flying into a conference.”

Published six times per year, Contact Lens Update provides a global platform for unbiased clinical insights based in current research. Since 2011, each issue has provided dependable and up-to-date ocular health information for more than 60,000 leading eye care professionals.

In addition to a complete archive of back issues, ContactLensUpdate.com offers a resource library that provides no-cost professional tools, patient resources, images and video. It also houses complimentary technical training videos produced by International Association of Contact Lens Educators, plus an industry glossary. Industry professionals can access the latest issue directly from ContactLensUpdate.com or quickly sign up for email receipt of future issues.

The publication receives support from the educational arms of Alcon, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

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About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE
aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838  |  mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815