Aphakic hydrogel contact lens fitting on a monocular canine: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Though plano bandage contact lenses used for therapeutic purposes are not uncommon for dogs, no literature regarding contact lenses to correct aphakic canines currently exists. CASE REPORT: Oliver, a 7-year-old terrier mix, was aphakic in his left eye and essentially blind in his right eye as the result of a large retinal detachment. Surgical complications and endothelium damage contraindicated an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. While co-managed with his veterinary ophthalmologist, Oliver was prescribed an aphakic hydrogel contact lens to improve his monocular vision. CONCLUSION: Oliver was successful (by clinical criteria) with his contact lens. Although it is difficult to quantify his vision without a visual evoked potential, Oliver appeared more attentive and confident with the contact lens. This case report demonstrates a successful canine aphakic contact lens fit through the efforts of his owners, co-managing veterinary ophthalmologist, and optometrist.

Canadian biotechnology start-ups, 1991-1997: the role of incumbents' patents and strategic alliances in controlling competition.

Fligstein (1996) contends that organizations act to exploit the institutional context in which they are embedded so as to stabilize the competition they face. Drawing on Fligstein's theoretical analysis, we conceptualize incumbent biotechnology firms' patent-ing and alliance-building activities as attempts to stabilize and control potential competition and analyze how these activities shape rates of founding in the Canadian biotechnology industry. We find that increases in the level and concentration of incumbents' patenting discourage founding, particularly in human application sectors of the industry where development and approval processes are more costly and time consuming. Incumbents' horizontal alliances depress start-ups; vertical alliances stimulate start-ups. Our findings highlight how technology appropriation and strategic alliances structure the competitive dynamics and evolution of high-technology, knowledge-intensive industries.