Marketplace
Focus on Dry Eye Products

Advanced Vision Research (AVR) offers three versions of TheraTears.

AVR recommends Preservative-free TheraTears for "saturation dosing," which involves opening the vial and splitting the contents between both eyes in 5 minutes. A patient with severe symptoms of dry eye can follow Preservative-free TheraTears with a drop or two of TheraTears Liquid Gel. As a patient's dry eye improves, he can move to TheraTears in a bottle.

Phone: (800) 979-8327
Web: www.theratears.com

Systane Lubricant Eye Drops are the first artificial tears clinically proven to reduce signs and symptoms of dry eye, according to Alcon.

Systane contains a gelling-and-lubricating polymer system formulated to adjust to each patient's individual tear film pH. The polymerizing protection of Systane is achieved through the interaction of HP Guar, demulcents and the patient's natural tears.

Visit www.systane.com.

Phone: (817) 293-0450
Web: www.alconlabs.com

The Refresh line includes: Re-fresh Tears for mild to moderate dry eye; Refresh Plus, a preservative-free formula for mild to moderate dry eye; Refresh Celluvisc for moderate to severe dry eye; Refresh Liquigel for moderate to severe dry eye, especially if LASIK-related; Refresh Endura for moderate to severe dry eye -- it treats all three layers of the tear film; and Refresh P.M. for overnight relief of severe dry eye.

Phone: (800) 347-4500
Web: www.allergan.com

The Moisture Eyes line features three products: Moisture Eyes Lubricant Eye Drops/Artificial Tears provide temporary relief from burning and irritation; Moisture Eyes Protect lubricant eye drops are for sufferers of moderate to severe dry eye; Moisture Eyes PM Lubricant Eye Ointment is for overnight protection from dry eye and for more serious cases.

Phone: (800) 531-2020
Web: www.bausch.com

The Tear Saver product line includes the Tear Saver Punctal Gauging System, which you use to fit patients with Tear Saver Punctum Plugs and Tear Saver Collagen Plugs.

The Punctum Plugs feature a tapered-shaft design that anchors in the puncta with the intent of more comfort and less risk of rubout. And the Collagen Plugs retain ocular medications after surgery or foreign body removal.

Phone: (800) 845-6585
Web: www.cibavision.com

Tears Again Gels are thicker than most artificial tears, but disperse rapidly and immediately, providing extended relief, says the company.

Tears Again Night & Day Gel comes in a 3.5-gram tube and is for moderate to severe dry eye. Tears Again Liquid Gel Drops come in a 15-ml dropper bottle and are for mild to moderate dry eye.

Phone: (800) 233-5469
Web: www.ocusoft.com

The Eagle FlexPlug is available in ten sizes, ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.2 mm. The FlexPlug features a patented thin rim with "the lowest profile of any plug for the ultimate in patient comfort." Plus, the plug's contouring traction ribs along the tapered shaft allow for a custom fit with minimal extrusion.

Also available from EagleVision are the standard tapered-shaft EaglePlug and the Flow Controller.

Phone: (800) 222-7584
Web: www.eaglevis.com

FCI Ophthalmics offers two styles of plugs: The original plugs with slanted collarettes and the slim plugs.

The original plugs with slanted collarettes have slightly larger bulbs than other plugs, which help to keep the plugs in place.

The slim plugs, meanwhile, are smaller, slimmer and more pointed. You can use them on your patients with tight puncta.

FCI also sells PVP Perforated Plugs, which allow tear flow through a stenosed punctum. These plugs are coated to keep the channel from blocking up.

Phone: (800) 932-4202
Web: www.fci-ophthalmics.com

Herrick Plugs aren't a surface-style punctum plug but an intracanalicular lacrimal plug. "Our patented intracanalicular design provides unparalleled ease of insertion and patient comfort," says Lacrimedics.

New from Lacrimedics are synthetic dissolvable plugs, which dissolve in about 6 months, and Blue Herrick Plugs, which are as low as $25 per plug.

Phone: (800) 367-8327
Web: www.lacrimedics.com

At room temperature, the SmartPlug is a 9-mm rigid rod. However, when the SmartPlug comes in contact with body temperature, it shrinks and expands from 1 mm to 2 mm, conforming to each individual punctum size and shape.

Medennium says that the SmartPlug can't be rubbed out or become dislodged and that the plug's one size reduces inventory and sizing problems. In addition, the SmartPlug requires no dilation or special insertion device.

Phone: (888) 727-6100
Web: www.medennium.com

Mentholatum offers two eye drop products, Rohto Zi (pronounced row-tow-zee) for Eyes and Rohto V. for Eyes.

Rohto Zi contains a formulation to relieve dry eyes from such causes as wind, air conditioning, computer use and some medications. Rohto V., meanwhile, is for eyes reddened by harsh conditions, such as smoke, dry air and airborne irritants.

Both products are packaged in a clear bottle, so the user can see if the drops have changed color or become cloudy.

Phone: (800) 688-7660
Web: www.mentholatum.com

Natural Ophthalmics (NatO) has developed two eye drops for treating dry eye, one for men, the other for women. The two products are similar in that they're homeopathic medications that stimulate the body's ability to produce tear components.

How are the two products different? "Homeopathic medicines act on the totality of the patient's symptoms," explains a NatO spokesperson. "Dry eyes with women, for example, often involve hormonal imbalance. With homeopathic medicines, we can target these unique differences."

Phone: (877) 220-9710
Web: www.natoph.com

Nature's Tears EyeMist uses a mist to relieve dry eye; the product contains a tissue-culture grade water that hydrates the tear film.

Bio-Logic Aqua Technologies states that while traditional eye drops trap, seal and slow moisture loss, Nature's Tears places moisture back into the aqueous layer of the tear film, relieving dry, irritated eyes.

Your patients can use Nature's Tears when wearing contact lenses, working at a computer or driving an automobile.

Phone: (800) 367-6478
Web: www.naturestears.com

The GenTeal line features four products: GenTeal Mild for mild dry eye, GenTeal for moderate dry eye, GenTeal Gel for severe dry eye and GenTeal PF for mild to moderate dry eye.

GenTeal PF is available in single-dose units, while the other three artificial tears are multidose. The multidose tears contain GenAqua, a disappearing preservative that turns into water and oxygen in the eye.

Phone: (866) 393-6336
Web: www.novartisophthalmics.com

The Soft Plug comes in three designs.

The Soft Plug Silicone Punctum Plug is designed to minimize dislocation; diameters available include .4 mm and .8 mm. The Soft Plug Collagen Plug has round tips for easy insertion; diameters available include .2 mm, .3 mm and .4 mm. And the Soft Plug Extended Duration Absorbable Plug is used after surgery, lasting up to 3 months; diameters available include .3 mm, .4 mm and .5 mm.

Phone: (800) 528-9786
Web: www.oasismedical.com

The Parasol Punctal Occluder requires little or no dilation, and it carries Odyssey's 30-day pop-out guarantee, so you don't have to worry about accidental loss.

Odyssey sells the Parasol in the following configurations: Parasol Sterile Pre-loaded, Parasol QuickLoad Sterile Bulk Pack and Parasol Non-Sterile Bulk Pack. You use the bulk packs with reusable insertion instruments, which Odyssey sells separately at $30 a pair.

This August, Odyssey will debut the Extend Plug for 3 months of occlusion.

Phone: (888) 905-7770
Web: www.odysseymed.com

MiniDrops are for relief of mild to moderate dry eye. Optics Labor-atory has formulated its Mini-
Drops for use with or without contact lenses.

MiniDrops are preservative-free, eliminating the chance of irritation, says the company. In addition, MiniDrops are available in two re-tail sizes, a five-dropper purse pack and a 30-dropper household pack.

Phone: (800) 968-6788
Web: www.minidrops.com

Similasan Eye Drops for Dry, Red Eyes have homeopathic ingredients that aim to stimulate the body's self-regulating mechanisms to soothe and moisturize without harsh chemicals or vasoconstrictors.

Similasan says its eye drops are safe for all ages and cause no known side effects or drug interactions. The company offers free samples to interested eyecare professionals, and the drops are available at mass merchandisers, drug stores and select grocery stores.

Phone: (800) 426-1644
Web: www.healthyrelief.com

The UltraPlug Punctal Plug line includes the Dry Eye Management System.

The System contains 10 boxes of silicone punctal plugs, one box of the Collagen Variety Pack, one box of Zone Quick and one UltraPlug Punctal Gauge/Dilator Set.

The System also contains marketing material, including one UltraPlug video, one UltraPlug poster, one acrylic display with 50 pamphlets and one compact disc with Medicare coding and reimbursement information, as well as ad templates.

Phone: (800) 523-3332
Web: www.surgicalspecialties.com

More Products & Services

The 1.4mm 3-D Bi-Manual Phaco Blade is available sterile and ready to use on aluminum handles.

BI-MANUAL BLADE
Rhein Medical is offering its 1.4-mm 3-D Bi-Manual Phaco Blade in stainless steel. The Blade is meant for fashioning a "watertight" 1.4-mm 3-D incision, and it's compatible with Rhein Medical's bi-manual irrigating choppers and manipulators.

Note that when the blade passes through the stroma, the anterior and posterior surface bevels force tissue in different directions, creating a more torturous path for fluid to pass.

Rhein Medical
Phone: (800) 637-4346
Fax: (813) 885-9346
Web: www.rheinmedical.com

FREE TRIP
Boston is giving away five trips to Toronto, Canada, so you can attend the Global Orthokeratology Symposium. Also, 50 winners will receive free meeting registration.

You're entered into the contest every time you buy 20 Boston Advance Comfort Formula and/or Boston Original Formula Care Systems. Buying 20 of these products also entitles you to four more for free.

For more information, visit www.healthcareconferencegroup.com or www.bausch.com/us/resource/visioncare/bostonrgp.

Boston
Phone: (800) 553-5340
Web: www.polymer.com

QUICKBOOKS FOR OPHTHALMOLOGY
Intuit Inc. has introduced new QuickBooks financial products specific to healthcare practices, including ophthalmology.

QuickBooks Premier: Health-care Edition and QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions: Healthcare Edition were developed using feedback from more than 250,000 healthcare practitioners and organizations such as the Medical Group Management Association. They're designed to help healthcare practices more effectively manage their finances and in turn increase profitability.

QuickBooks Premier: Health-care Edition is for practices with up to 20 employees. It's available in select stores, or you can purchase it via www.quickbooks.com or by calling (888) 4-INTUIT. QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions: Healthcare Edition is meant for growing practices with 20 to 250 employees. It's available direct from Intuit at a cost of $3,500. Call (800) 811-8943.

Both packages have specialized product set-up, help, and chart of accounts for healthcare practices; healthcare-specific tools for fast and easy use, including a healthcare Menu and Navigator; more than 10 customizable reports, such as profitability, expenses, summary of charges and summary of receipts; and improved financial tools for employee time-tracking, budgeting, forecasting and password protection.

Intuit Inc.
Web: www.intuit.com

CUSTOM-ABLATION COURSE
VISX is holding a certification course called "Making the Transition to VISX Wavefront Ablations: Program Tracks for Physicians, Administrators and Technicians." Dates and cities include: July 12, New York; July 26, Los Angeles; Aug. 9, Chicago; Aug. 16, San Jose, Calif.; and Aug. 23, Denver.

For more information, contact Gina Barreras at (408) 773-7437 or ginab@visx.com.

VISX
Phone: (800) 248-8479
Web: www.visx.com