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Johnson & Johnson introduces monthly silicone hydrogel
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BOSTON – Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. launched Acuvue Vita, a silicone hydrogel contact lens made of a new material, senofilcon C, and designed for daily wear with replacement every 30 days.
Kristy Canavan, OD, principal researcher at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. (JJVCI), said during a company-sponsored press conference here at Optometry’s Meeting that JJVCI surveyed 237 contact lens wearers about comfort throughout the month of wear with other products.
They found that comfort decreases, especially about the third and fourth week of wear. Satisfaction is rated as 50% in the final week.
“The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society hypothesized that low hydration might be part of that reason,” Canavan said. “We identified this as a need.”
JJVCI found that 82% of patients report frustration, annoyance and inconvenience, and 84% report compensating behaviors. Seventy-three percent say they do not plan to tell their practitioner.
“They think it’s normal,” Canavan said. “They think maybe they’re not caring for their lenses properly.”
JJVCI developed the HydraMax technology, “a noncoated silicone hydrogel material that maximizes and maintains hydration all month long,” she said. “We maximize the amount of PVP [polyvinylpyrrolidone] in the lens and make sure it’s properly balanced for wettability and Dk.
“We increased the amount of hydrated silicones and decreased the amount of lipophilic silicone and, as a result, it increased the PVP by 30% and resulted in a new material, senofilcon C,” she added.
She explained that lipids are integrated, not deposited, throughout the lens in their natural state.
The company conducted a clinical study, comparing the Acuvue Vita to three other lenses in 533 subjects. Acuvue Vita was rated better at every week’s visit, including comfort at week 1, Canavan said.
Vita also outperformed the other lenses in quality of vision, she said.
The lens will be available nationwide July 5 in the following parameters: –0.50 D to –6.00 D in 0.25-D steps, –6.50 D to –12.00 D in 0.50-D steps, +0.50 D to +6.00 D in 0.25-D steps and +6.50 D to +8.00 D in 0.50-D steps. – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Disclosure: Canavan is employed by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc.