What's New in Contact Lenses
and Solutions
Twilight Special Effect Contacts for Halloween
VANCOUVER, October 2009 — This Halloween, Twilight fans can dress up as their favorite vampire characters with new special effect contact lenses by Coastal Contacts.
"The key costume piece for a vampire is the eyes," said Jennifer Harvey, communications manager. "Contact lenses in special designs and colors help take a costume to the next level."
Whether it's "blood red eyes, vampire dark purple, or Edward's amber colored eyes," Coastal Contacts has more than 130 styles to choose from in the Special Effects (SFX) contact lens line.
The Twilight inspired lens was released at the end of September, along with the company's new fall lineup. All the lenses are FDA-approved, and some are available in prescription powers for vision correction.
Whether you are considering non-prescription or prescription special effect contacts, first see your eye doctor for a contact lens exam and fitting. Please click here for a closeup photo.
Though Many Parents Are Reluctant, Research Shows Children Can Benefit From Contact Lens Wear
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., September 2009 — In a new survey, more than half of parents with children ages 8 to 17 who need vision correction say their child is interested in wearing contact lenses.
However, nearly one-third of those parents have never considered contacts for their child, and another 27 percent haven't considered it seriously.
About 40 percent of the parents also say their child dislikes wearing glasses and sometimes feels self-conscious.
The parents' two main reasons for their reluctance to have their child wear contacts were: concern about their child's ability to care for contact lenses, and belief that eyeglasses are easier to take care of and clean.
Recent studies, however, demonstrate that children are capable of caring for soft contact lenses, and wearing contacts may improve children's self-perception, particularly for girls.
The survey was conducted on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., the manufacturer of Acuvue brand contact lenses.
Biomedics EP for Presbyopia Renamed
to Proclear EP
FAIRPORT, N.Y., August 2009 — Biomedics EP multifocal contact lenses for emerging presbyopes are now called Proclear EP, says manufacturer CooperVision. Pricing remains the same, along with the current rebate value.
The company changed the name to emphasize that the same PC Hydrogel lens material that is used in its other Proclear contact lenses is also used in Proclear EP. This lens material is the only one that is FDA-approved to improve comfort for people who normally experience eye dryness during contact lens wear.
Proclear EP is meant for people who are in the early stages of presbyopia, providing up to +1.25 diopters of near vision correction.
New Kit Makes Contact Lens Replacement
Schedules Easy to Follow
ST. LOUIS, July 2009 — Do you find yourself guessing when you need to replace your contact lenses and lens case? The new LensAlert Contact Lens Care Kit Wheel offers an easy way to track your replacement schedules, which is important to follow, to reduce your risk for eye infections.
The kit contains a LensAlert timer with two separate countdowns for your contacts and case. The display flashes "0" when it's time for a change, and the timer resets when pressed. If you are unsure how long you can wear your contacts, ask your eye doctor about the recommended replacement schedule for your contact lenses, or check what your prescription says.
A rainbow of seven, colorful lens cases are also included in the kit. This is approximately a seven-month supply. Cases should be replaced at least every three months, but many doctors recommend monthly replacement. Overused cases can become hotbeds for bacteria and fungi, which can lead to eye infections.
The LensAlert Contact Lens Care Kit Wheel can be purchased online, or you can find it in optical stores and other retail outlets.
Please click here for a closeup photo of the kit.
Bausch & Lomb Settles Lawsuit Claims
ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 2009 — Widespread news reports indicate that Bausch & Lomb has paid about $250 million to settle an estimated 600 lawsuits associated with claims involving the company's now recalled contact lens solution, ReNu With MoistureLoc.
Beginning in early 2006, contact lens wearers who were using the solution started developing potentially serious cases of fungal keratitis. Some of these types of eye infections led to permanent eye damage and vision loss.
Researchers later found that the contact lens solution not only failed to prevent fungal eye infections, but also provided an environment in which fungi such as Fusarium could thrive. Bausch & Lomb removed ReNu With MoistureLoc from worldwide markets in May 2006.
New Contact Lens Design for People with Keratoconus
CARLSBAD, Calif., June 2009 — ClearKone by SynergEyes is a new contact lens designed especially for the vision challenges of people with keratoconus, a condition where the cornea progressively thins and bulges, becoming more cone-shaped over time.
The new lens was designed to vault over the main irregularities that keratoconus causes, without resting on the central eye surface. The idea is to keep the optics centered over the visual axis of the eye, regardless of the location of the cone, in order to decrease keratoconic aberrations that interfere with good vision.
The company believes that ClearKone will address the needs of more keratoconus patients than ever before, including those whose corneas have oval cones, highly advanced central cones, decentered cones and other types of keratoconus.
ClearKone has a design similar to other SynergEyes hybrid lenses: it is a "hybrid" because it combines a rigid material with a soft material, for the best that both materials have to offer. The center of the lens is rigid and oxygen-permeable, for crisp vision and good eye health. Around the rim is a reverse geometry soft lens skirt, for all-day comfort and stability.
ClearKone is in limited release in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, but SynergEyes plans a wider launch in September.
Hydrogel vs. Silicone Hydrogel Lens Wearing Experiences Studied
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 2009 — A new study reports that hydrogel contact lens wearers are more likely to discontinue use and have higher dry eye incidence if they are older than 24. However, age did not influence silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers to halt use; nor did it increase their incidence of dry eye.
The study analyzed responses from 699 hydrogel contact lens wearers and 183 silicone hydrogel lens wearers between the ages of 18 and 35. Among the hydrogel lens wearers 18 to 24 years old, 4.6 percent considered giving up their lenses, compared with 14.2 percent of wearers 30 to 35 years old.
But the percentage of silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers who considered halting lens wear was the same in both age groups, at 9 percent.
The researchers also found that the incidence of dry eye increased among hydrogel lens wearers in the older age group. A reported 10.6 percent of wearers ages 18 to 24, and 21.1 percent of wearers ages 30 to 35, reported dry eye.
Among the silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers, about 19 percent of both age groups reported dry eye.
Silicone hydrogel lenses let more oxygen pass through to the eye than traditional hydrogel lenses, which have a tendency to dehydrate after long periods of wear. Oxygen is essential for a healthy cornea. The researchers stated that eye care professionals should ask young adult contact lens wearers about their contact lens wearing experience, to determine whether a different type of lens would prevent them from giving up on contact lenses.
The study was conducted by Sheila Hickson-Curran of Vistakon, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.; Chris Hunt and Graeme Young of Visioncare Research Ltd., and Robin L. Chalmers.
Many Contact Lens Wearers Don't Replace Lenses
or Lens Cases as Often as They Should
ATLANTA, April 2009 — A new study found that many contact lens wearers in the United States do not follow the recommended replacement schedules for their lenses, making them vulnerable to a variety of eye infections.
The study examined 1,654 contact lens wearers in groups with different manufacturer-recommended replacement frequency (MRRF). It found that:
- 59 percent of two-week lens replacement silicone hydrogel wearers wore their lenses for a longer period of time.
- 29 percent of one-month replacement silicone hydrogel wearers wore them longer.
- 15 percent of daily disposable wearers wore them longer.
Today's economic environment may be one factor for the level of non-compliance: 26 percent of those who over-wore their lenses said they wanted "to save money" by wearing their contacts for longer periods. Fifty-one percent reported "forgetting which day to replace lenses."
For 18 percent of participants, it was only "somewhat important" or "not important" to clean their lenses every day. And many took a casual view of lens case replacement, with 16 percent replacing it only once a year and 14 percent never replacing it.
Eye health is compromised without proper lens care and compliance with replacement schedules. Contact lens-related infections, ranging from pink eye to more serious conditions, can result from organisms that enter your eye from your fingers and become lodged under your lenses. The study was conducted by the Centre for Contact Lens Research and the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in collaboration with David B. Sarwer, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
New Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia Multifocal Contact Lenses
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 2009 — A new brand of multifocal contact lenses, called Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia, will be offered in some U.S. eye care professionals' offices beginning this month, according to the April 5 edition of Contact Lenses Today.
Like Acuvue Oasys single vision contact lenses for nearsightedness and farsightedness, Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia lenses are made of a proprietary silicone hydrogel material that provides a better supply of oxygen to the cornea than conventional soft contact lens materials.
Acuvue Oasys lenses also contain Hydraclear Plus, a special wetting agent designed to keep the lenses moist and comfortable for all-day wear.
Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia contact lenses also feature Stereo Precision Technology — a multifocal lens design that combines the best features of concentric ring and aspheric surface multifocal designs, reduces ghost images and offers emerging and early presbyopes balanced vision at all viewing distances, according to the company.
"Doctors who have been working with the lens report a 74 percent fit success in one fit and follow-up visit, measured by both doctor approval and patient satisfaction with lens performance," says Sheila Hickson-Curran, director of medical affairs for Acuvue's manufacturer, Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Initially, Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia contact lenses will be available in distance powers of -0.50D to -9.00D for nearsightedness and near "add" powers for the correction of up to +1.75D of presbyopia. Lens powers to correct farsightedness are expected at a later date.
FreshLook ColorBlends Introduces VibrantViews
DULUTH, Ga., April 2009 — Newly released VibrantViews by FreshLook ColorBlends offers a bolder look for color contact wearers. The collection is ideal for those interested in a more dramatic appearance and noticeable look.
Available in brilliant blue, gemstone green and sterling gray, VibrantViews uses the same three-in-one technology as FreshLook ColorBlends. The lenses feature an outer starburst pattern to make eyes appear bigger and brighter, an inner starburst pattern to provide contrast and an opaque color pattern that blends with your natural eye color.
Hesitant to try a bolder look? You can "try on" the new colors at home, with an online tool at the FreshLook website that lets you upload your photo, then choose which lens colors to try.
The new color lenses were developed for people with either light or dark eyes, according to manufacturer CIBA Vision. They are recommended for daily wear and a two-week replacement schedule, and are available in a prescription power range of +6.0 to -8.0. (Remember, you do need a prescription from your eye care practitioner to buy color contact lenses.)
Please click here for a closeup photo of the VibrantViews collection.
Pre-Teens Perceive Multiple Benefits of Contact Lens Wear
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 2009 — Pre-teens perceive several advantages of wearing contact lenses rather than eyeglasses, according to a new study published in the March issue of Optometry and Vision Science.
The study enrolled 484 nearsighted children ages 8 to 11. Roughly half of the kids were randomly assigned to wear eyeglasses, and the other half were assigned to wear disposable contact lenses for the three-year study period.
The children were then surveyed about their self-perception of a number of items, including their physical appearance, athletic competence, scholastic competence, social acceptance and overall self-worth.
Regardless of how they felt about wearing eyeglasses prior to the study, the pre-teens who wore contact lenses during the three-year period had higher self-perception scores for physical appearance, athletic competence and social acceptance, compared with those who wore eyeglasses.
Also, kids who expressed dislike for their glasses before the study and were then assigned to wear contact lenses felt more confident about their academic abilities. There was no difference, however, in the self-perception of overall self-worth between the two groups.
The researchers concluded that eye care practitioners should consider the social and other non-visual benefits of contact lens wear when choosing the most appropriate type of vision correction for children as young as 8 years old.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. and The Vision Care Institute, a Johnson & Johnson company, supported this research and supplied the contact lenses used in the study.
High-Index GP Contact Lens Material Introduced
MESA, Ariz., February 2009 — Paragon Vision Sciences announced that its new Paragon HDS HI 1.54 high-index material for gas permeable contact lenses has received FDA approval and is now available for use in the United States.
While high-index materials have been used for eyeglass lenses for many years, the use of these thinner, lighter materials for gas permeable (GP) contacts is something new. According to the company, the Paragon HDS HI 1.54 lens material has the highest index of refraction of any GP contact lens material currently available worldwide. This makes GP lenses fabricated from the new material thinner than conventional GP lenses, especially for people with strong prescriptions for nearsightedness.
With less lens mass, HDS HI 1.54 gas permeable lenses may be more comfortable and may allow more oxygen to reach the cornea to help keep it healthy, says the company.
Paragon HDS HI 1.54 has an additional benefit when used for GP multifocal contact lenses — it can provide greater magnification power for reading than GP lenses of the same design that are made of conventional gas permeable materials, says the company.
The new lens material is available nationwide to eyecare professionals who fit GP contact lenses, and it is approved for daily wear lenses with single vision prescriptions ranging from +20.00 D to -20.00 D, and multifocal add powers up to +4.00 D.
SofLens Daily Disposable Lenses with High Definition Optics
ROCHESTER, N.Y., December 2008 — Bausch & Lomb recently introduced its new soft contact lens designed for single-use daily wear: SofLens Daily Disposable lenses.
According to the company, SofLens Daily Disposable lenses are the first one-day disposable contact lenses with High Definition (HD) Optics — a technology that reduces blur, halos and glare across a range of conditions, especially in low-light situations such as driving at night. The basis of HD Optics is a special aspheric design that reduces spherical aberration.
SofLens Daily Disposable lenses also feature ComfortMoist Technology for increased wearing comfort. ComfortMoist Technology combines an exceptionally thin lens design with a slow-release packaging solution that creates a long-lasting cushion of moisture around the lens for all-day comfort, says the company.
The lenses are made of hilafilcon B hydrogel (soft lens) material and have a water content of 59 percent. They are available in powers from +6.50D to –9.00D.
SofLens Daily Disposable lenses replace Bausch & Lomb SofLens One Day lenses, which were discontinued in May 2008.
Biofinity Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses
Approved for Extended Wear
FAIRPORT, N.Y., December 2008 — Biofinity silicone hydrogel contact lenses have been approved by the FDA for up to six nights and seven days of extended wear. The approval applies to all Biofinity monthly replacement lenses currently available to U.S. wearers.
Designed with Aquaform technology, Biofinity monthly replacement lenses are made with a unique, naturally wettable lens material that offers high water content, high oxygen transmissibility and exceptional comfort, according to manufacturer CooperVision.
"Aquaform technology creates a naturally wettable lens material without the need for wetting agents or surface treatments," says James Gardner, CooperVision's director of marketing. "With a high Dk/t of 160 and the FDA clearance for extended wear, practitioners can now offer a very high-oxygen silicone hydrogel lens which is almost 50 percent softer than the highest Dk silicone hydrogel lens currently available."
Biofinity lenses also feature an aspheric front surface design to minimize spherical aberrations and improve visual clarity, says the company.
The lenses are manufactured with a third-generation silicone hydrogel material, comfilcon A, and are available in a prescription power range of +8.00D to -12.00D.
Bausch & Lomb Offers Crystal Contact Lens Case
To Benefit Breast Cancer Research
ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 2008 — Participants in a Bausch & Lomb online giveaway contest could win one of 40 limited edition crystal contact lens cases designed to benefit breast cancer research.
The contest involves visiting the company's ReNuCares Web site and downloading a coupon redeemable at a retail outlet for a free bottle of ReNu MultiPlus contact lens solution. No purchase is necessary.
All participants who download the coupon will have a chance to win a $350, pink contact lens case covered with 646 crystal components, all applied by hand. The design also includes a familiar pink ribbon associated with breast cancer research.
Bausch & Lomb officials say they will donate $1 per redeemed coupon to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure efforts to find treatments for breast cancer.
The contest ends Oct. 31, and winners of the drawing will be notified Nov. 15.
Contact Lenses and Dry Eye
COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 2008 — Ohio State University researchers have ruled out contact lens solutions as a possible underlying cause of dry eye that may occur among contact lens wearers.
In an analysis of 360 contact lens wearers involved in a major Contact Lens and Dry Eye Study, researchers identified several factors that appear associated with development of dry eye. Factors contributing to dry eye included high water content in contact lens materials and individual problems such as greater eye discomfort even when contact lenses are not worn.
People wearing contact lenses also were likely to have dry eye when they reported inability to wear contact lenses for desired time periods and complained of dissatisfaction with contact lenses in general.
Study results, reported in the August issue of Optometry & Vision Science, also indicate that common treatments to alleviate dry eye among contact lens wearers do not appear particularly effective.
New Moisturizing Agent Studied for Infusion Into Contact Lenses
HAMILTON, Ontario, July 2008 — Using hyaluronic acid as a natural moisturizing agent in contact lenses may help prevent dry eye and related discomfort, according to Canadian researchers at McMaster University.
Chemical engineering investigators have announced their discovery that hyaluronic acid, a fluid commonly found in the human body, can be contained within contact lens materials without adversely affecting optical properties.
Research recently reported in the journal, Biomaterials, also found that hyaluronic acid helps prevent build-up of proteins that can cause clouding of contact lenses.
While not yet found infused into contact lenses, hyaluronic acid already is used as a lubricating agent in contact lens solutions. It also is used to treat dry eyes and is found in gel-like substances (viscoelastic) to help protect the eye and aid procedures such as cataract surgery.
Air Optix Contact Lenses Contain Moisturizing Agents
DULUTH, Ga., July 2008 — CIBA Vision has introduced two new Air Optix contact lenses containing moisturizing agents: Aqua and Dailies AquaComfort Plus, both made of silicone hydrogel.
New Air Optix Aqua contact lenses, which should be replaced monthly, can be worn daily or for extended wear of up to six nights.
The company says these lenses contain patented materials that help minimize lens dehydration, helping to maintain moisture for better eye comfort.
Dailies AquaComfort Plus lenses have been available in countries such as Great Britain and recently were introduced in the United States. These daily disposable lenses contain three different lubricants for comfort, including a wetting agent activated by blinking. Please click here for closeup photos of the new Air Optix products.
FDA Considers Stricter Safety Guidelines for Contact Lenses
WASHINGTON, June 2008 — After hearing testimony about ways to prevent potentially blinding eye infections associated with contact lens use, FDA officials are considering additional safety requirements such as stricter labeling governing use of contact lens solution products.
Ophthalmic organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) also recommended that FDA approvals of contact lens solutions be based on specific testing for effectiveness against infections related to microbial organisms including Acanthamoeba (one-celled animals) and Fusariam fungus.
Both Acanthamoeba and Fusarium have been associated with high profile outbreaks of eye infections among contact lens wearers who used disinfecting contact lens solutions that proved to be ineffective. Eye infections also can be related to failure of contact lens wearers to follow safety guidelines such as proper hygiene in the handling of contact lenses and cases.
Suggested new guidelines for contact lens solutions would require that all contact lenses be both rubbed and then rinsed for thorough cleaning, despite labeling on some current products that claim rubbing is not required.
Avaira Two-Week Replacement Lenses Designed for
More Comfort and Oxygen Transmission
FAIRPORT, N.Y., May 2008 — CooperVision has introduced new Avaira two-week replacement contact lenses made of a silicone hydrogel material known for its ability to transmit oxygen to the eye's surface (cornea).
According to the company, exclusive Aquaform technology enables more lens softness and comfortable moisturizing without the need for additional wetting agents or additives; and the material used in the Avaira contact lens is 30 percent softer than that of comparable two-week silicone hydrogel lenses.
The lens fit also is enhanced by an optimized back surface design and rounded edges.
Air Optix for Astigmatism Now Available
DULUTH, Ga., April 2008 — A wide optic zone providing a fuller range of vision distinguishes CIBA Vision's new Air Optix for Astigmatism contact lens launched this spring.
Company officials say the new silicone hydrogel lens is noted for stability and performance, with a 95 percent success rate in first-time fittings for people with astigmatism.
Because the thickest points of the contact lens are located away from the lower eyelid, the lens creates minimal friction during blinking, to increase comfort levels.
CIBA Vision also announced plans to market various types of future silicone hydrogel contact lenses under the brand name of Air Optix. A monthly replacement schedule is recommended for Air Optix brand contact lenses. Please click here for a closeup photo of Air Optix for Astigmatism.
Fungal Eye Infections To Be Studied Under NEI Grant
CLEVELAND, March 2008 — A $2.4 million study funded by the National Eye Institute should shed more light on rare fungal eye infections that sometimes affect contact lens wearers.
Researchers from University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine will investigate the body's immune responses to fungi, including the Fusarium type that caused an outbreak of eye infections in 2005-2006.
The fungal eye infection outbreak was related to ineffectiveness of a specific disinfecting contact lens solution — Bausch & Lomb's ReNu With MoistureLoc, which was taken off the marketplace.
"Fusarium solani was already well known as an important cause of eye infections in warm, humid areas of the U.S., and in southern and southeastern Asia, where this fungus can be picked up from the digging of dirt in agricultural work," said study leader Eric Pearlman, PhD.
Special Contact Lenses With Electronic Connections
Allow "Superhuman" Vision
Left: A researcher holds a completed prototype contact lens. Right: Prototype contact lenses offering enhanced vision were found to be biologically compatible in rabbit eyes. Photos: University of Washington.
SEATTLE, January 2008 — Researchers say "superhuman" vision could be achieved through contact lenses equipped with electronic connections, which also eventually might be used in corrective lenses for people with low vision.
Based on results from early experiments, University of Washington investigators say a type of bionic eye could provide enhancements such as telescopic features or virtual displays for various types of uses.
Prototype contact lenses under development by researchers are biologically compatible in rabbit eyes. 
What's New in Contact lenses continued...
[Page updated October 13, 2009]
- SynergEyes hybrid contact lenses offer rigid lens acuity with soft lens comfort
- Proclear 1 Day: Comfortable, convenient & surprisingly affordable
- Similasan eye drops provide relief for dry eyes and allergy eyes
- Lobob offers allergy-free lens care for RGP/hard lenses
- Acuvue Bifocal contact lenses help you see clearly near and far
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