ARTicles eNews
Custom Contact Lens News & Views from Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc. 
 eissue 7/Summer 2011
Mark your calendar & join us at an UPCOMING MEETING: 

 

Presbyopic Lens Training/Dinner Meeting 

Aug. 23, 2011

Maggiano's Little Italy Oakbrook, IL 

For more information and registration,

click here!

 

ABO / NCLE National Education Conference

Sep. 8 - 11, 2011

Booth #704 

Cincinnati, OH

www.abo-ncle-conference.com

  

Vision Expo West

Sep. 22 - 24, 2011

Booth #MS9057 

Las Vegas, NV

www.visionexpowest.com

 

MOA Fall Seminar

Oct. 5 - 6, 2011

Lansing, MI
michigan.aoa.org

 

American Academy of Optometry

Oct. 12 - 15, 2011

Booth #1619 

Boston, MA

www.aaopt.org

 

GPLI 2011 Clinical Symposium

Oct. 23, 2011

Oakbrook, IL
www.gpli.info/events/

Did You Know?

Custom lens prescribing keeps patients in your practice and OFF the internet?

Building your specialty contact lens practice is great for business and it's easy to get started! Just contact one of our Certified Lens Fitting Consultants with your patient Rx requirements and let us help! You'll also find a wealth of information on our website. Be sure to explore the "Practice Management" area where you'll find:

Office Resources

Practitioner Resources

Fitting Tools

Fitting Tip Archive

& Professional Links

 

 

Summer Savings on World-Leading Boston Care Systems!

This month, when you buy 10 Boston Advance Comfort Formula or Boston Simplus Care Systems, you'll get 2 Free! Stock up & save today!

Find us on Facebook

"Like" our Facebook Page to stay updated on the latest news from Art Optical. We will be sharing articles, event photos, fitting tips and more. Join in on the conversation happening now!

Dear ,  

It's been a busy spring and early summer here at Art Optical and more exciting projects are underway for fall and winter! Our custom soft lens line, Intelliwave, continues to open the doors of opportunity for practitioners and their patients, and we are appreciative of the vote of confidence you cast each time you place an order. Your repeat business and enthusiastic comments about your Intelliwave experiences are a great source of motivation for us and help confirm that the time was right to add custom soft lens manufacturing to complement our GP offerings. With new designs coming soon, and additional GP and soft product options in the pipeline, we couldn't be more thrilled for the opportunity to positively impact the lives of an even broader range of visually challenged patients. Thank you for partnering with us!

-Thomas E. & Jill M. Anastor

Intelliwave quickly becoming a top replacement choice for discontinued contact lens brands 
Since announcements earlier this year from Ciba Vision regarding the discontinuation of several soft lens brands, including O2 Optix� Custom, Durasoft� , Hydrocurve� , Softmate�  and others, Art Optical's Intelliwave� lenses have become a versatile "go-to" lens of choice for practitioners needing alternative options for their patients. 

More About Precise Prescription Intelliwave� Custom Soft Lenses:
� Custom made-to-order for each patient

� Available in virtually unlimited parameter combinations

� Extreme cylinders and high power needs are easily accommodated

� Offered in both silicone hydrogel and standard hydrogel materials

� Latest material technology insures optimum wearing comfort

� Patented aberration control for exceptional optical performance

� Great for new fits or those with an unusual Rx
� Delivered quickly - made & ready to ship in just 4 business days

� Easy to fit & backed by a risk-free guarantee

 

To consider Intelliwave as a replacement alternative for your patients wearing discontinued lenses from Ciba, or any other manufacturer, call our Consultation team at 800.566.8001. They are happy to guide you through the conversion steps and easy order process. Upgrade your patients, and your practice, to Intelliwave today! 
IW Logo 

Ability to Drive Puts Patient Back to Work

A case history review by Janet Gilman, FCLSA, COT

 

Patient: RG, Male, Age 40

The patient had Lasik 10 years ago in Mexico and has now developed Iatrogenic Keratoconus. Unable to work because of his condition, he was being treated at a free clinic, so Art Optical donated his lenses as well. Our goal was to have the patient resume his job and safely be able to drive again. He initially had passed his drivers test in July, 2010, by squinting to create a pinhole effect and thereby achieving 20/40 visual acuity to pass! However, his true BCVA was actually as follows:

OD: -10.75-6.50x83 20/200 Manual K's of 55.50/62.50

OS:  -6.25-2.50x111 20/80 Manual K's of 46.50/54.75

Simulated K's:  OD: 56.75/63.75    OS:53.00/54.00

 

Topo 

 

Initial trial lenses:

OD: 5.60 Base curve; -14.00 Power; 8.5 Diameter. 

Over Refraction: -4.75-1.50x95 20/50-2.

OS: 6.80 Base curve; -8.00 Power; 8.5 Diameter. 

Over Refraction: +3.00 sphere 20/30+2.

 

Trial lens fluorescein evaluation observations:

OD: Central pooling; minimal movement with minimal edge lift; no bubbles

OS: Slight central touch; good movement with minimal edge lift; mid-peripheral bearing and dimple veiling at 2:00.

 

Final lens order:

Material: Optimum Classic by Contamac

OD: 5.67 Base curve; -17.50 Power; 9.0 Diameter; 6.0 Optic Zone; .35 Eccentricity .35 Edge lift 20/30

OS: 6.80 Base curve; -5.25 Power; 9.0 Diameter; 6.9 Optic Zone; .35 Eccentricity .18 Edge lift 20/25

 

The right lens has adequate movement, decent edge lift with slight central pooling of fluorescein along with a feather touch, and no bubbles present. The left lens has good movement with acceptable edge lift, slight fluorescein pooling along with some touch but no bubbles. The patient was ecstatic with his vision and comfort over all. He will be returning to work and be able to "legally" and safely drive once again.  


Calling all Chicago-Area Practitioners! 

Join us for a special Presbyopic Dinner Meeting

& Training Session!

 

Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc. will host an educational dinner presentation titled "Contact Lens Options for Today's Presbyope" on August 23, 2011. Featuring industry experts Craig Norman, FCLSA, and Bruce Morgan, OD, FAAO, the event will be held at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oakbrook, IL. Registration and dinner are complimentary, and registration is open to practitioners and contact lens technicians through August 17.

 

"While most practitioners clearly see the opportunity to prescribe presbyopic contact lenses, choosing the best design for each patient can be a challenge," stated Mike Johnson, FCLSA, and Director of Consultation Services at Art Optical. "This session will illustrate the primary fitting considerations and keys to success with today's advanced designs," he said.

 

Sponsored in partnership with Bausch + Lomb Boston�, among the products discussed will be Biexpert�, a modern bifocal design featuring patented slab-off technology. For more information and to register, contact Art Optical at 800-253-9364, or click here!

                     Biexpert logo B+L Boston Logo


Long-Awaited Kerasoft Lens Coming Soon!

At this year's Global Specialty Lens Symposium in Las Vegas, Bausch+Lomb announced they had acquired the rights to the KeraSoft trademark. Since then, officials at both B+L and UltraVision CLPL in the United Kingdom, have been working through the technology transfers, licensing and regulatory requirements to introduce the lens to the world marketplace, with a U.S. rollout planned for later this year. 

 

As one of the few authorized U.S. laboratories producing lenses in Definitive silicone hydrogel material, Art Optical will be a significant manufacturing and distribution partner in this exciting venture! Among the many steps we are taking to prepare for the introduction of KeraSoft, Mike Johnson, FCLSA, Director of Consultation Services, travelled to the UK with Dr. Josh Lotoczky, and Craig Norman, FCLA, to participate in hands-on training workshops lead by renowned KeraSoft expert, Optometrist Lynn White. 

 

KeraSoft's patented technology creates custom-made contact lenses for irregular corneas and Keratoconus. The lenses have been recognized with the Queen's Award for Enterprise and Innovation, the highest honor obtainable for products in the UK. For more information about KeraSoft and it's United States introduction, watch your in box for news from Art Optical!

Art Optical Celebrates 80 Years in Sight 
 

On Wednesday, July 13, 2011, Art Optical came together as a team80th anniversary logo
to celebrate the company's 80th Year of Service to the Ophthalmic professions. The opening meeting included words of appreciation and congratulations to the Anastor's, and a presentation by David Bland, Director of Global GP Business for the Boston Products Group of Bausch & Lomb. David spoke of Art Optical's excellent reputation in the industry and attributed our success to Tom Anastor's dedication to quality. "Art Optical's quality raised the bar in the industry," said Bland. "In order to compete, the other labs had to get better, so in a sense, Art Optical made everyone better," he continued. "As Tom built Art Optical, he also built the industry, and certainly lead the way to continuous quality improvement for everyone."
  

 

To show appreciation to associates, Vice-President of Operations, Jill Anastor, coordinated a celebration luncheon with delicious food and festive flowers, and commemorative gift bags and stadium blankets were given to all. The Marketing Department also produced a Corporate Anthology that includes notes from industry friends and memories and messages from associates. A celebration with practitioners is being planned for later this year, and will include a facility tour and demonstration of the high tech and intricate manufacturing process for both custom soft & GP lenses.