Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
BLINK STABILIZEDTM Design provides improved fit, visual performance, orientation
and comfort to astigmatic patients
BOSTON, MA (October 12, 2011) – Even though toric soft contact lens use has increased over the past decade, studies show that prescribing of toric lenses falls short of expected levels, given the prevalence of astigmatism in the vision-corrected population. What’s more, astigmats are over-represented among those who drop out of contact lens wear.
According to new research, a significantly high proportion of astigmats can be successfully fit with contact lenses featuring BLINK STABILIZEDTM Design such as 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM* (etafilcon A) and ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM (senofilcon A). The data also reveal that toric contact lenses provide significantly better visual acuity compared to spherical lenses for astigmatic patients, and provide comparable visual acuity to spectacle wear. The findings were presented today at The American Academy of Optometry meeting.
“This study demonstrates the relative ease with which astigmats can be successfully introduced to toric contact lenses,” says study co-author Anna Sulley, BSc, MCOptom, Clinical Affairs Manager, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Advances in lens design and materials, such as those found in 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® Brand for ASTIGMATISM and ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand for ASTIGMATISM, have gone a long way to make toric lenses easier to fit, increase stability, and improve vision and comfort.”
About the Study
One hundred and eighty-two astigmats successfully completed the one-month, multi-center study, and were randomly assigned to be fitted with one of two toric soft contact lenses incorporating BLINK STABILIZEDTM Design: 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM or ACUVUE® OASYS® for ASTIGMATISM. Subjects came from three categories: spherical soft contact lens users, contact lens dropouts, and neophytes, and had three scheduled visits at baseline/dispensing, one week, and at one month. Successful lens wear at one month was calculated in addition to success rates using pre-defined criteria, including acceptable fit, stable orientation, binocular visual acuity within one line of spectacle visual acuity, and ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ comfort and vision quality.
Eighty-eight percent of eyes were successfully fit on the first attempt and an additional 12 percent were successfully fit with two trial lenses, with an overall success rate of 94 percent among previous spherical contact lens wearers and contact lens dropouts, and 86 percent among neophytes.
Based on the pre-defined criteria, the success rates at one month were 80 percent for previous spherical contact lens wearers, 74 percent for contact lens dropouts, and 70 percent for neophytes, with an overall success rate of 75 percent. Success was not predicted by sex, age, refractive state (myopia vs. hyperopia), level of astigmatism (<1.50 vs. >=1.50 DC), limbal hyperemia or corneal staining.
Following three minutes of settling, 85 percent of lenses oriented within +5° of the zero position and the majority of fits (55 percent at one-week) showed no rotation at all. Investigators graded ease of fit as ‘extremely/very easy’ for 89 percent of 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM and 91 percent of ACUVUE® OASYS® for ASTIGMATISM fittings. They also said speed of fit was ‘extremely/very fast’ for 88 percent of 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM and 86 percent of ACUVUE® OASYS® for ASTIGMATISM fittings.
Overall comfort and overall ease of handling were rated ‘excellent/very good’ by 64 percent and 76 percent of the subjects, respectively.
“The ease with which these lenses can be fit results in reduced chair time,” explains Ms. Sulley. “Their ‘quick-to-fit’ feature combined with their clinical performance should encourage practitioners to proactively fit astigmats with
1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM and ACUVUE® OASYS® for ASTIGMATISM, whether they are current spherical wearers, drop-outs or neophytes.”
*1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM is currently marketed in more than 15 European countries, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and Australia, and will soon be available in the United States.
The study was supported by funding from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Source: Sulley, A, Young, G, Osborn, K, Hunt, C, “How Easy Is It to Fit Soft Toric Contact Lenses to Current Non-users?”
ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020 or by visiting www.jnjvisioncare.com
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