Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss eye care specialist Alcon has unveiled its latest innovation – a contact lens for age-related long-sightedness (presbyopia) with high comfort.
Alcon has developed a multifocal contact lens aimed at people with age-related long-sightedness who often suffer from dry eyes (Symbolic Picture by © Pixabay).
Age-related eye problem
Presbyopia, also known as age-related farsightedness, is the gradual decline in the eye’s ability to focus on near objects, causing them to appear blurry and out of focus. This eye condition is a natural part of aging. Patients are also on their digital devices more than ever, leading to digital device dryness.
Until now, there have been few contact lenses on the market for patients with this condition, according to Alcon. That’s because many contact lens wearers stop wearing contact lenses after the age of 40 due to lens dryness, discomfort and vision problems, and often begin wearing reading glasses.
Roll-out starts
The contact lens “Multifocal” launched under the “Total30” brand addresses these problems. The 30 refers to the number of days one lens can be used. The lenses have begun to roll out in the United States and in select international markets. According to the Swiss maker, it is the only multifocal water gradient lens that feels like new after 30 days.
The Total30 Multifocal lens helps outsmart digital device dryness by utilizing a proprietary Water Gradient Technology at the surface of the lens. The contact lenses are available with a full power range of +6.00 D to -10.00 D (in 0.25D steps) and three ADD powers (Low, Med, High), the company said in a press release.
A water gradient contact lens is able to achieve high breathability and low water content at the core without compromising a wettable and highly lubricious surface. At the contact lens core is a silicone hydrogel material that maintains low water content, which delivers superior oxygen transmissibility.
Data released
At the American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Alcon said that the lens material approaches 100% water at the surface “so all that touches the eye is a gentle cushion of moisture, for a lens so comfortable it feels like nothing”.
Data presented during the conference showed that the new multifocal lens provides excellent visual acuity at all distances, with optimal movement and centration, over 30 days of daily wear. (The lens has to be taken out for sleeping, though.) The fit success rate was also found to be high, and lenses were rated as easy to fit by eye care personnel.
Alcon describes itself as the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years. Its products are used by more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors.
Text: SCCIJ based on material of Alcon
