• Small Standard Large
• Print

What's New in Contact Lenses
and Solutions

Contamination of Daily Disposable
Contacts When Re-Used

February 2013 — Do you ever store your daily disposable contacts in their packaging and then use them again the next day? If so, you're risking an eye infection.

In a study, 20 people wore their daily disposables for one day, then stored them overnight in the original blister pack solution, covered with the original packaging foil.

The next morning they used new plastic forceps to transfer the lenses and solution to a new contact lens case, which was submitted to a lab. The participants did this on five occasions within a month.

The lab compared the 200 samples with a control group of new daily disposable contacts and packaging solution.

The lab found that 45.5 percent of the samples had growths in the solution, and 21.5 percent of these had Staphylococci, while 28 percent had gram negative rods. For 95 percent of the participants, at least one pair of contact lenses was contaminated, and for 35 percent, all samples were contaminated.

The study appeared in Optometry and Vision Science, volume 88, issue 12.

FDA Warns Against Improper Use of Special-Effect Contact Lenses

October 2012 — Special-effect contact lenses can put the finishing touch to your Halloween or other costume-party attire, but it's definitely not worth losing your sight over.

The FDA has released a consumer update video on the dangers of wearing special effects contact lenses when not properly prescribed by an authorized eye care practitioner, not properly worn and cared for, and purchased from an illegal source.

Improper use of contact lenses can result in serious eye infections, eye abrasions, vision problems and even blindness. To help minimize the risk, visit your eye doctor for a contact lens exam, fitting and prescription before purchasing any contact lenses — even if they are non-prescription lenses.

Always follow your ECP's instructions for wearing and caring for your decorative contact lenses. And remember to never share your contacts; doing so could result in serious damage to your eyes, including loss of vision.

To learn more, watch the FDA video here.watch the FDA video here.

Bausch + Lomb To Launch Biotrue OneDay Disposable Contact Lenses

July 2012 — If you have blurred vision at the end of your workday, it may be because your contact lenses are losing moisture, which changes their shape and reduces clarity of vision. Biotrue OneDay lenses are a new option to combat this problem.

Manufacturer Bausch + Lomb says the product is a premium daily disposable lens made from a bio-inspired material called HyperGel that helps retain moisture and the proper optical shape of the lens, even after hours of wear.

The company maintains that the material has the best features of both conventional hydrogels and silicone hydrogels, as it contains 78 percent water (the same water content as the cornea) and delivers the oxygen needed by the open eye to maintain healthy, white eyes. And the outer surface of the lens is similar to the lipid layer in the eye's tear film, to prevent moisture loss.

Biotrue OneDay just received FDA approval and will be available in the United States this month. The company also makes Biotrue multi-purpose contact lens solution, which debuted in 2010.

Donating Your Contact Lens Rebate Could Provide Eye Exams and Glasses to Several Needy People

May 2012 — Want an easy way to help people in developing countries get an eye exam and glasses?

If you wear contact lenses made by CooperVision, during 2012 you can specify that all or part of your rebate be donated to the global eye charity Optometry Giving Sight.

This organization sponsors programs that can provide an eye exam and eyewear to a poor person for just $5. For many people, correcting their vision is life-changing, since it enables them to go to school and work to support their families.

All you have to do is submit your rebate, and you will have an opportunity to designate a donation.

CooperVision makes Avaira, Biofinity, ClearSight and Proclear products, as well as other brands. Just check your contact lens box to see if the company makes your lenses.

Proclear 1 Day Multifocal Now Available

May 2012 — Most eye care professionals agree that daily disposable contacts provide the healthiest way to wear contact lenses. Now people with presbyopia have a new daily disposable lens option in Proclear 1 Day Multifocal.

The lenses have a center-near aspheric design and come in a broad power range (+6.00 to -10.00 diopters of sphere). They can help people who need up to +2.50 diopters of reading power.

And they are made of the only lens material that has received FDA approval to claim it "may provide improved comfort for those who experience dryness or mild discomfort during lens wear." This is important for older wearers, who often experience eye dryness.

Ocusoft Debuts Hydrogen Peroxide Contact Lens Cleaner

May 2012 — The new Ocusoft Lens Care System is a preservative-free cleaning system for soft contact lenses.

It uses hydrogen peroxide for deep cleaning, removing protein and deposits from lenses. The manufacturer says it also increases comfort with an added lubricant.

In a recent independent study, it was more effective than two-step peroxide, multi-purpose and saline solutions.

Ocusoft Lens Care System is sold through eye care professionals only. Please click here for a closeup image and results from the study.

1-Day Acuvue Moist Contact Lenses for Astigmatism Debut

April 2012 — Now 1-Day Acuvue Moist contact lenses come in a toric design for people with astigmatism.

The daily disposable lenses have what Acuvue calls a proprietary Blink Stabilized design, which takes advantage of the natural pressures of blinking eyes to keep the lenses in place and realign them quickly if they rotate. This is important, to keep vision consistently in focus all day.

Made with Lacreon Technology, the lenses have an embedded ingredient designed to maintain moisture all day, to combat dryness and discomfort. They are available in 12 axes and four cylinders, at distance powers of +4.00D to -9.00D. And they block about 82 percent of UV-A and 97 percent of UV-B radiation (though they should be used in conjunction with UV-blocking sunglasses when outdoors).

What's New in Contact lenses continued...

[Page updated February 19, 2013]