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...continued from What's New in Contact Lenses

Bausch + Lomb Launches PureVision2 HD for Astigmatism

October 2011 — New PureVision2 for Astigmatism contact lenses were designed with what Bausch + Lomb calls High Definition Optics, to provide crisp vision for people with astigmatism.

The toric lenses have a stabilization system called Auto Align Design, to help the lenses stay in place without rotating. (Rotation of a lens on the eye is often the reason for blurry vision in astigmatic wearers.)

At 14.5 mm, the lens diameter is large, which is also meant to prevent rotation and keep the lenses centered on the eyes.

For comfort, the lenses are thin with unobtrusive edges, are highly oxygen-transmissible and come in a moisture-rich packaging solution. The company also says that PureVision2 HD for Astigmatism reduces spherical aberration to help reduce glare and halos in dim lighting.

Certain Lots of Avaira Toric Contact Lenses Recalled

October 2011 — Because of silicone oil residue found on lenses in certain lots of Avaira Toric contact lenses, the FDA has issued a Class 1 recall on those lots.

Some wearers of these lenses have experienced hazy, blurry vision and discomfort from eye injury. In August the manufacturer, CooperVision, sent a recall notice to its U.S. and Canadian distributors, as well as to health care practitioners. The company also issued a press release about it. Since the beginning of the recall, CooperVision has received some additional reports of severe eye pain.

The recalled lenses were manufactured from November 1 of last year through August 3 of this year.

The company's website explains the recall and allows consumers to check whether the lenses they have purchased are affected. If you wear Avaira Toric, you will need the lot number that appears on your product package or blister pack in order to check the status of your lenses. If your lenses are included in the recall, you should return them to the seller.

Only a small percentage of Avaira Toric lenses are included in the recall, but the FDA has advised that if you have any symptoms while wearing your lenses, you should stop wearing them and contact your eye care practitioner for advice.

Duette Multifocal Now Widely Available for People With Presbyopia

August 2011 — A nationwide rollout of the Duette Multifocal hybrid contact lens began this month. This is a multifocal lens that has a gas permeable center for crisp optics and a soft, silicone hydrogel skirt for comfort on the eyes.

Made by SynergEyes, the Duette Multifocal has a simultaneous vision design. The idea is to provide true binocular vision at all distances, with progressive vision correction that the company says resembles that of progressive eyeglasses.

Best Way To Clean Contacts Is the "Rub and Rinse"
Method, Says Study

August 2011 — If you use a "no-rub" multipurpose disinfection solution to clean your contact lenses and you're not rubbing the lenses, you may be leaving germs behind.

A study of popular multipurpose disinfection solutions revealed that, regardless of lens type, manually rubbing the lenses under a steady stream of fresh solution for several seconds, then storage in fresh solution, killed the most bacteria, fungi and Acanthamoeba microorganisms. Just rinsing without rubbing didn't work as well. And just removing the lenses and putting them in fresh solution without rinsing was the least effective method in the study.

Microorganisms do adhere to lenses, and the only sure way to remove most or all of them is to rub the lenses, especially when the contacts are made of a silicone hydrogel material.

A report on the study appeared in the August issue of Optometry and Vision Science.

Lenstoss iPhone App Helps Contact Lens Wearers Stick to Their Lens Replacement Schedule

May 2011 — We contact lens wearers have all done it at least once: worn our disposable lenses for longer than our eye doctor prescribed.

Why? Because we just plain forgot what day we were supposed to throw them out.

But we pay a price for our forgetfulness, with red, itchy, dry eyes and blurry vision from all the proteins and other debris our lenses will inevitably collect over time, no matter how well we clean them.

In fact, overwearing lenses can result in a nasty eye infection or even scarring on the eye's surface.

Lenstoss, an app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, gives you all kinds of power to overcome your forgetfulness. Lenstoss was developed by an optometrist, Troy Flax, OD who, during two decades of eye care practice, has seen it all and knows what we contact lens wearers need to keep our eyes healthy.

Here's what Dr. Flax designed Lenstoss to do:

• Tell you that it's time to replace your contacts one, two, and/or three days ahead, as well as on the replacement day itself.
• Remind you the day after, too.
• Show how long you've been wearing your current pair of lenses.
• Click through to your lens manufacturer's website to see their current coupons and rebate offers.
• Email your eye doctor that it's time for you to re-order.
• Remind you that it's time for an eye exam.
• Show you links to sunglass and contact lens solutions websites.
• Show you links to other money-saving eye-related coupons.

Please click here to learn more about Lenstoss. And click here to learn about MemorEYES, another vision-related app by Dr. Flax that lets you play a training game to increase your reading speed, comprehension and memory.

Tissue-Wiping Your Contact Lens Case May Keep
More Bacteria Off Your Lenses

May 2011 — If you're a contact lens wearer, you probably know there's more you could be doing to clean your contacts to avoid an eye infection. But have you considered wiping the storage case with a tissue after removing the lenses?

Scientists at Brien Holden Vision Institute checked the effectiveness of four different contact lens cleaning regimens against bacteria biofilm formations on unused contact lens cases. The tests used two different multipurpose disinfecting solutions or distilled water.

The four regimens were:

• Rinse and air-dry
• Rub, rinse and air-dry
• Tissue-wipe and air-dry
• Rub, rinse, tissue-wipe and air-dry

The "rub, rinse, tissue-wipe and air-dry" method removed the most bacteria from the cases. Also, more bacteria were removed from cases without ridges inside than from cases with ridges.

A report of the study appeared online in April in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

Acuvue 1-Day Contest Gives Charice Fans a Chance
To Be Featured in "One Day" Music Video

April 2011 — Three lucky people will be featured in the music video for "Glee" star Charice's single "One Day," through a contest sponsored by Acuvue.

The grand prizes also include a trip for two to Los Angeles and $500 spending money.

Fifty first-prize winners will have their contest submission photos included in the video, and 35 daily prize winners will receive packages that include a six-month supply of 1-Day Acuvue Moist Brand Contact Lenses and a $50 iTunes gift card.

To enter, just visit Acuvue's Facebook page, click on the contest tab and submit your picture and a one-sentence caption. The sentence should describe what you hope to do "one day." You have until May 23rd to enter.

You can also view other people's entries, vote for your favorites and download a free copy of Charice's "One Day" single, while supplies last.

Automatic Reminders Really Do Help Contact Lens Wearers
Replace Their Lenses on Time

February 2011 — In a survey, 95 percent of 700 users of the Acuminder service said the reminder tool helped them remember to change their lenses, and 66 percent said it has improved their contact lens replacement.

Acuminder is a free online tool that Vistakon, maker of Acuvue contact lenses, launched in 2007. Any contact lens wearer — even those who don't wear Acuvue lenses — can use it to set up reminders for changing contact lenses, ordering new ones and scheduling regular eye exams. The reminders can be in the form of emails or text messages.

Another interesting survey finding is that before enrolling in Acuminder, only 40 percent of those wearing two-week lenses said they changed their lenses at or less than 14 days. In fact, the average wear time in the two-week group was 19.9 days.

But since using the reminder, 76 percent said they now change their lenses at or less than 14 days. The average wear time dropped to 14.7 days.

Adherence to a proper schedule of lens replacement and eye exams is very important for contact lens wear, to reduce the potential for discomfort, eye infections and other problems.

Duette Hybrid Contact Lenses Now Available Nationwide

January 2011 — Duette toric lenses for astigmatism are now available across the United States, after a limited launch a few months ago by manufacturer SynergEyes.

These lenses contain MaxVu rigid gas permeable material in the central area, for crisp visual acuity; the material also contains a UV light blocker. A soft Flex2O silicone hydrogel skirt surrounds the gas permeable material, for comfort and ease of insertion and removal.

Duette is rotationally symmetric and corrects astigmatism without inconsistent axis shifting problems of some other toric lenses.

Duette fits a great variety of people, as it is currently available in powers of +4.00 to -12.00 diopters, in five base curves and three skirt curves. It will also correct up to 6.00 diopters of astigmatism.

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[Page updated May 2013]