Welcome to the first edition of 'Contacts in Practice' Welcome to the first edition of the CIBA VISION® newsletter, 'Contacts In Practice'. The newsletter has been developed to help busy practitioners keep abreast of the many challenges that running a modern optical business presents. Our aim is to provide you with the latest clinical and commercial information to help you develop the full potential of your practice. At CIBA VISION we monitor market trends and consumer insights as well as clinical and product news. Our intention is to disseminate relevant information to help keep you updated and in touch, leaving you free to focus on providing excellent eye care to your patients. Simply click on the links to read the full articles. Your feedback is very welcome and should you have a particular topic you wish to know more about we will endeavour to help. Have a look at these ways to contact us.

Pat Caroline shares wisdom on presbyopic correction At the ninth meeting of the CIBA sponsored Specialist Club® world renown presenter Pat Caroline gave valuable tips on maximising success in presbyopic correction. Delegates enjoyed a full days program which attracted 4 CET points at the Thorpe Park Hotel near Leeds on October 17th. Fitting trends show strength of daily disposable and silicone hydrogels The latest GfK NOP practitioner survey shows over 800,000 contact lens fits took place in the second quarter of 2006. The survey monitors contact lens fittings from across all sectors of the industry in the UK. Independent practitioners made up 35% of all contact lens fitting but the average number of fittings per optician at independent practices is still less than half that of some of the national outlets. Contact Lens Patients - Dispelling the Profitability Myth A recent consumer study* explored the issue of profitability of contact lens patients. The survey showed some surprising results about how much patients spend on glasses and contact lenses Extra cyl power means even more astigmats can now wear Focus® DAILIES® TORIC with AquaComfort™ On October 16th CIBA VISION launched the -1.50D cylinder power in Focus® DAILIES® TORIC with AquaComfort™ to complement the -0.75D cyl power. This can effectively be used to fit patients with cylinders of up to -2.25D which represents 94% of astigmatic patients. With two axes at 180 and 90, the same as the -0.75 cylinder, the Focus® DAILIES® TORIC with AquaComfort™  covers about 80% of astigmatic patients who have cylinder axes at or near 90 and 180, +/- 20 degrees. The spherical powers are from +4.00 to -8.00.