All Day Long with O2 Optix

The news is out. Contact lens wearers with busy, daylong activities can now enjoy finding new freedom and confidence with O2 Optix.

In the past, insufficient oxygen flow to the eyes--related to materials in the manufacture of many contact lenses--caused redness, irritation, and dryness before the day was done. Any enjoyment of lengthy activities was marred by having to switch out of contacts and/or wear glasses.

Recently, all that has changed thanks to the introduction of silicone hydrogels. These innovative materials have allowed contact lenses to be made with an amazing improvement in the rate of oxygen flow to the eyes. Among these lenses is Ciba Vision’s O2 Optix, rapidly becoming popular among soft contact wearers who have been looking for that safe ‘all-day’ lens.

Prescribed for the correction of myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), O2 Optix is designed to provide the highest levels of moisture and oxygen permeability possible with a soft contact lens. Also, the surface of the O2 Optix is specially treated to resist protein and other deposits naturally produced by the eye or come from handling the lens. All this technology helps to minimize common symptoms associated with Corneal Oxygen Deficiency, e.g., irritation, blurred vision, dryness and redness. Since these complaints can shorten contact wear-time, the revolutionary features of O2 Optix are a welcome contribution to ongoing eye health for those wearing their lenses for longer periods during the day.

All-day activities become easier and can be enjoyed fully without having to remove contacts because of ‘tired’ eyes and dryness. So go ahead with that hike or excursion, the healthy and fresh feeling you have with O2 Optix will continue for hours.

Other features of the O2 Optix are the blue tint and tiny ‘Ciba Vision’ lettering applied to the lenses, as an assist in seeing the contacts better within solution (or if they’re dropped or lost and you need to retrieve them) and in orientation before insertion.

Satisfied wearers describe O2 Optix as “desirable”, “(of) high quality”, and “an easy choice”. They also suffer less from ‘eye fatigue’ and see their eyes maintain a ‘healthy whiteness’. As the popularity of these lenses grows, many patients are asking eye care professionals about them.

O2 Optix, a 1-2 week disposable lens, is FDA approved for daily and extended wear up to six nights.

As always, consult your eye doctor in determining what the best lens and care regimen is for you.

Contact Lens Cases

Contact lens wearers have always focused on the selection and fitting of their contact lenses. However, with the exception of perhaps selecting a ‘nifty’ color, less attention is paid by many to the lens case in which their contacts will be stored. This is an oversight that could lead to serious eye-health problems.

Currently, a large portion of research in the contact lens field centers on preventing and treating infections that result from contaminated lenses. The condition of contact lens cases must also be considered a factor; especially when a recent study* discovered that nearly one quarter of cases in use are never replaced. This is extremely alarming because when not properly cared for or discarded, these cases become reservoirs for dangerous bacteria that threaten the health of the wearer’s eyes. The implications are more serious when realizing that an increasing number of children are being fitted for contacts. If parents are lax in lens care, it is logical to assume that this behavior will be passed onto their kids.

One very serious condition that can stem from unclean contact lens cases is acanthamoeba keratitis. This is a microbial infection that in its advanced stages leads to ulceration of the cornea and the need for a corneal transplant. Symptoms include irritation, sensitivity to light, tearing, and the feeling that something is in the eye. At times diagnosis is not immediate, as these symptoms mirror other types of eye infections.

Whether it is due to neglect or lack of awareness, the negative trend in lens case care must be reversed. Nearly 80% of complications related to contact use are due to patients not applying proper care techniques. The important thing to remember is that contacts are not just fashionable accessories, but regulated medical devices that require the utmost diligence (and that includes cases) to safeguard your eyes.

Recommended contact lens case replacement is once a month, and during the time a case is kept the following steps should be taken:
· Always wash hands before handling contact lens or the lens case.
· Never use tap water (which may contain bacteria) to clean lens cases. Use a solution and air-dry with the lids open.
· Never ‘top-off’ old solution with new. Use fresh solution each time you store the lenses.
· Do not allow solution bottle tips to touch any surface, including your body, as this leads to contamination.
· Do not use solutions past their expiration date.

Also available are case-holders that keep track of replacement times for both lenses and cases. These are handy for those who do not want to rely on their memory alone.

Consult your eye care professional about contact lens and lens case care, types of solutions that are best suited for your needs, and any changes in care regimen that you plan to make. Be sure to follow all your doctor’s instructions.

* Conducted by WatchDog Group LC, St. Louis, MO.

Air Optix Night and Day Aqua

Are you a contact lens wearer with a busy schedule? Then you surely must have experienced the occasional need to take a time out from your hectic day for a refreshing catnap. The only thing is, you probably didn’t think of removing your contacts—and you awoke still wearing them. Forgetting your contacts in your eyes while sleeping may be acceptable from time to time, however potential eye-health problems could occur if occasional forgetfulness becomes neglect. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a contact lens with a wearing regimen that could accommodate your style of living?

Now there is.

More on-the-go people are looking for a contact lens that is compatible with their lifestyle: full and active with little time or patience for life’s inconveniences (such as time out for frequent lens care). Many find the answer with Air Optix Night & Day Aqua, a monthly disposable that has been approved by the FDA for up to 30 nights of continuous wear. *

If this contact sounds familiar, it is because recently Ciba Vision changed the brand name of its Focus Night & Day to Air Optix Night & Day Aqua. Many active contact wearers quickly realize the benefits of this new brand, a soft lens with an emphasis on comfort. Air Optix Night & Day Aqua offers the same fit as Focus Night & Day, with the addition of Ciba’s ‘Aqua Moisture System’. This silicone hydrogel innovation delivers six times more oxygen through the lens than the prior brand, achieving a continual ‘breathability’ that contributes to healthy eyes. They are also moister, with a surface that reduces build-up of deposits—a combination dramatically lowering the rate of dehydration and discomfort that may occur at the end of the day. The result is a contact that can be worn while sleeping; which, aside from convenience, gives one the advantage of waking up to crisp, clear vision.

Those satisfied with Air Optix Night & Day Aqua enthuse about the natural feeling they get with their use, which increases due to not having to ‘bother’ with them for an extended period. Also, reduction in ‘red-eye’ or irritation, as well as the fresh sensation stemming from the oxygen flow through the lens adds to their comfort. Impromptu naps can take place without concern for failing to remove them.

If you are a busy mom, frequent business traveler, involved student, or just want a few less hassles in your life, then Air Optix Night & Day Aqua may be the contact lens for you.


* To minimize risks that may come with continuous wear contacts, be sure to strictly follow your eye-care professional’s instructions.

PureVision Multi-Focals

If you are one of the increasing number of individuals being diagnosed with presbyopia and are overly concerned about it, don’t be.

You are not alone. Onset presbyopia (difficulty focusing up close) is occurring to more people as the segment of the population 35 years of age and older grows. Within the next decade, that segment will increase by an additional 16 million. Changes in lifestyles, both at work and home, have made more demands on our near vision. Computer screens, I-phones, and PDAs, etc., keep our eyes busy many hours a day and is contributing to the population experiencing presbyopia earlier than previous generations.

Despite what one may think, contact lens users do not have to give in to the wearing of half eyes, bifocals, or reading glasses. The good news is that they can continue enjoying the benefits of contacts by switching to multi-focals. Even though multi-focal lenses exist, eye care professionals state only 2 out of 5 presbyopic patients realize they are available—or that these lenses can correct their condition. Multi-focals work similarly to progressive eyeglasses, as they have a range of powers in each lens. One’s visual system learns to choose the proper power depending on how close or distant the focus. As it turns out in most cases, this adaptation occurs without difficulty—making multi-focals a viable alternative to monovision (a contact lens application where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near vision).

Eye care professionals, seeing increasing satisfaction with fittings, are being encouraged to make patients aware of PureVision Multi-Focals, lenses which are among the leaders in correcting presbyopia. They allow wearers to focus at all distances, providing clear intermediate vision with easy transition to far and near. Active individuals hindered by glasses can now go from reading a book to using the computer or taking a drive with a renewed sense of freedom.

Comfort has been enhanced in the PureVision Multi-Focals by the lens’ silicone hydrogel construction, in this case the trademarked AerGel material, which minimizes the buildup of dust, debris and proteins that can collect on the lens. They also stay moist and allow proper oxygen permeability, promoting healthy eyes. An innovative rounded-edge design contributes to the feeling of not wearing any contact lens at all.

Over 80% of multi-focal contact users state these lenses do not cause any interference or disruption in their lives. PureVision Multi-Focals also do much to preserve youthful appearance and confidence.

PureVision Multi-Focals have been approved for daily wear, or continuous wear up to thirty days. As always, consult your eye care professional in determining what is best suited for you.

Don’t Panic Over Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the condition of having blurry near vision when trying to read or perform other close work, such as using the computer. Characterized by the wearing of half eyes, it has been stereotyped as something that happens to ‘old people’ and is lumped into the same imagery as canes, shawls, rocking chairs and sensible shoes. So, it is not surprising that many who are first diagnosed with presbyopia go into a mini-panic, thinking that social security checks and nursing homes are just around the corner.

Well, that is not necessarily the case.

The onset of presbyopia takes place around the age of 35-40 and despite what some might say, that is not old. In a world where we see more people reaching their 90s and remaining spirited and active for many of those later years, the onset of presbyopia seems to be coming on at a relatively young age. In this light, typing the condition as an ‘old people’s affliction’ doesn’t seem to fit.

No one escapes presbyopia because it occurs naturally as eyes age. The natural lenses of the eyes thicken, as we grow older, become more opaque as the protein that forms their building blocks becomes older and less transparent from the center outward. All of this causes less flexibility, less clarity and the decreasing ability to focus on close objects.

Common corrections for presbyopes include the aforementioned half eyes, bifocals and progressive addition eyeglasses. The latter have no ‘dividing lines’ in the lenses, allowing for a smoother focusing transition from distance to near sight. Some patients are satisfied to have a pair of glasses for near vision and another for distance—switching them as needs demand. Also prescribed at times are half eyes in combination with contact lenses powered for distance.

Emerging Presbyopes, who were contact-wearers before being diagnosed, ask if this means they are stuck with having to wear glasses. Fortunately for the 92% who wish to remain in contacts, technology in the past few years has allowed the manufacture of bifocal and multi-focal lenses that treat presbyopia. Another application is monovision, the technique of fitting one’s dominant eye for distance vision and the other for near vision. However, this is viable only for those who can adapt to the dissimilar prescriptions and wouldn’t be bothered by a lack of depth perception that results.

Overall, the contact lens option is certainly desirable for those who want to continue the youthful freedom and natural feel that contacts give without being reminded of ‘advancing age’ by the use of eyeglasses.

Hopefully, armed with the above information, having to deal with presbyopia should be less panic inducing. Taking everything into consideration, it becomes just another treatable eye condition that happens as we go about the business of living our lives.

Contacts vs. LASIK

Have you considered LASIK surgery to correct your vision only to find out you are not a good candidate for the procedure? Does the whole idea of elective surgery on your eyes give you pause? Let’s look at the viable contact lens alternative.

Why consider contacts when one of the reasons for having LASIK performed is to become free of lenses or eyeglasses? Because, in some cases, even successful LASIK recipients later need to be prescribed eyewear for the onset of presbyopia, the loss of near-focusing ability often associated with aging. Also, the time it takes for the corrected vision achieved by the laser procedure to stabilize can be somewhere between three and six months; and that vision is slightly less than perfect 90 % of the time for those with extreme prescriptions, falling within a range of 20/20 to 20/40. In these instances, a further procedure—known as enhancement—is called for. Unfortunately, there are some patients that cannot have this additional treatment if their cornea is too thin or other factors evolve resulting from the initial surgery. Contacts tend to give crisper vision and more immediate satisfaction at less risk.

Just as LASIK has advanced in the past decade, so have contacts. Some optometrists express amazement at how the field has progressed. New types of lenses, manufactured with materials that have improved comfort and convenience are prevalent. The introduction of silicone hydrogels, which allow more oxygen to permeate to the cornea, has extended contact wear time in some instances up to thirty days. For those who are able to tolerate overnight wear, these contacts approximate the same non-hassle ‘freedom’ that LASIK would give. It should be noted that proper care and commitment to a prescribed replacement regimen is still vital to avoid eye problems associated with lens use. As a contrast to extended or continual wear, daily disposables have seen a surge in favor among patients who like the handiness of just using their lenses once and discarding them at the end of the day.

LASIK can correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (fuzzy vision due to an asymmetrical cornea). There is also a procedure for the aforementioned presbyopia. It involves the principle of monovision, where one eye (usually the dominant one) is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. Patients’ adaptability plays a large part in the success of monovision and many must be prepared for a loss in depth perception. Contacts are available to treat presbyopia in addition to all the above-listed conditions. For presbyopia there are lenses manufactured using a bifocal or a multi-focal design or one can also use regular lenses specifically fitted in monovision. As with LASIK recipients, monovision contact-wearers have the same concerns regarding adaptability and depth perception. Multi-focals provide a full depth of field, with a gradual transition between near and far powers in the same lens.

Other considerations in choosing contact lenses include not having to worry about aggravated dry-eyes, which can occur with LASIK, necessitating ongoing medication to facilitate tear production. With the laser procedure there is also the possibility that employment may be affected (some jobs prohibit employees who have undergone refractive surgery). Though uncommon, reports of postoperative symptoms that do not go away (double vision, heightened sensitivity to light, and vision loss due to dramatic corneal reshaping) exist. Night driving vision performance has been diminished in a number of LASIK patients--especially those with myopia--due to glare, ‘starbursts’ and halos seen around lights.

So, the benefits of contact lens wear as an alternative to LASIK are well worth weighing. Of course any final decision can only be determined, as always, after a thorough discussion with your eye care professional.

Kids and Contacts

When it comes to children wearing contact lenses, there are certain questions that arise. Among them: At what age can children begin wearing contacts safely? When do they become responsible enough to accept and handle the regimen necessary for maintaining their lenses?

According to the Contact Lenses In Pediatrics (CLIP)* study, children as young as eight can be successfully introduced to contact lens wear. Colleges of optometry in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Texas jointly conducted the study. Their findings refute the prevailing opinion that children should not be offered the option of wearing contacts until 13 years of age.

One part of the CLIP study was to fit a group of 84 children, beginning at age 8, with contact lenses and provide the proper training for insertion and removal. They were re-examined at points one-week, one-month, and three-months from the initial visit to assess their progress and check for any problems. With only three non-serious incidents reported (and quickly corrected), the children demonstrated their ability to wear and take care of their lenses at the same level as teens and adults.

Of course, proper motivation was important in keeping the kids on a successful track throughout the duration of the study (and, hopefully, beyond). Besides the eye physicians’ instruction and training, other factors were certainly involved. Parental support, reinforcement, and (if they are contact wearers themselves) setting a good example were key. Most importantly, self-motivation among the group was just as strong. After receiving their contact lenses, a majority of those in the survey expressed a greater confidence with and enjoyment of various activities they participated in due to the freedom from eyeglasses. Also, for a child, having to adjust to wearing eyeglasses can be a traumatic experience, since their perception of how their peers will view them oftentimes takes on a negative aspect. Self-esteem was boosted when they equated wearing contacts with enhancing their appearance.

Corroboration for the above findings was offered by another study, the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP)*, conducted over a three-year period at five US clinical facilities. In a random group of 484 youngsters—ranging in age from 8 to 11--PREP measured three factors related to contact lens wear: satisfaction, appearance, and activities. Their results mirrored CLIP, seeing positive data among the children in as little as one month, and added to the building evidence that pre-teens are perfectly capable of embracing the use and maintenance of contacts and reap the benefits for a better quality of life.


*Both CLIP and PREP were administered with sponsorship and support by VISTAKON, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
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