For instance, OcuMedic is looking to commercialise a therapeutic lens platform technology that could deliver different drugs directly to the eye. While research is in its early stages, recent studies have found this could be a promising strategy.ĭrug-eluting contact lenses could also hold promise for a number of eye diseases. Another approach might be a drug-eluting contact lens, which slowly releases nanoparticles that kill microorganisms. One possibility might be to coat the lens in antimicrobial compounds however, attempts so far have been stymied by negative side effects. As a result, many research teams today are focused on preventing contact lens contamination, particularly with regard to the pathogens that cause microbial keratitis. While most users don’t face any problems, a significant minority do experience eye infections (often due to poor compliance). As of 2014, more than 40 million Americans wore contact lenses, and the global market is expected to grow 7.4% year on year between 20. Overall, the market for contact lenses is large: in the US alone, more than 42% of people aged 12-54 have myopia (short-sightedness) while 5%-10% have hyperopia (long-sightedness). Often, they are coated with anti-refractive and scratch-resistant materials to improve the wearer experience. Today, there are many different types of lens on the market, ranging from standard corrective lenses, to cosmetic lenses to therapeutic lenses for treating eye conditions. The latter combines the comfort of hydrogels with the oxygen-permeability of silicone, enabling the user to wear the lenses for longer stretches of time. The first ‘soft’ (hydrogel) lenses were produced in the 1960s, followed by the first silicone hydrogel lenses in 1998. Since then, lens technology has become progressively more sophisticated, with a number of advances in materials science. The next major innovation came in 1949, when lenses were scaled down to cover just the cornea (prior to that, they’d covered the whole eye). The first successful lenses were designed in 1888, followed by the first plastic lenses in 1939. It wasn’t until a few centuries later that contact lenses became a viable proposition. His proposed contact lenses (which were never made) involved a water-filled glass hemisphere worn over the eye. The history of contact lensesĬontact lenses have certainly come a long way since Leonardo Da Vinci first suggested the idea. “The contact lens was shown to reduce bright light by up to 32%, reduce squinting by 38%, help vision recover from bright light faster and improve colour contrast up to 38% to provide more vivid, more vibrant and more true vision experience,” says Fadli. “It brought together a unique group of dedicated individuals from both Johnson & Johnson Vision and Transitions Optical Limited, who have spent the last decade creating and testing many different prototypes to come up with the most balanced visual outcomes for patients.”įollowing numerous clinical trials, involving more than 1,000 patients, the lenses acquired 510(k) clearance from the FDA in April 2018, and were named one of TIME magazine’s best inventions of 2018. “Developing this specific contact lens was a labour of love for many within our organisations,” says Fadli. The third was how they could consistently manufacture the product to ensure commercial scale-up. In other words, the molecules needed to be strong enough to block out light, but without turning as dark as sunglasses and effectively changing the wearer’s eye-colour. The second was how to achieve the optimum concentration of molecules to deliver the visual benefit, while still looking good on the eye. “This contact lens provides a dynamic photochromic filter that helps to continuously balance the amount of light entering the eye, helping the eye manage different types of light and varying intensities of brightness throughout the day.” “In the US, about two thirds of consumers indicate being bothered by bright or harsh lighting conditions daily,” says Dr Zohra Fadli, director of Sphere & Light Management at Johnson & Johnson Vision, who oversaw research and development. While not intended as a replacement for sunglasses, they do lead to faster photostress recovery (vision recovery after exposure to bright light), less squinting and improved colour contrast. The lenses, which also provide vision correction, help the eyes adjust to darkness or brightness better than they would do on their own. The lenses feature a light intelligent technology, dispersed across the material in the form of trillions of photochromic molecules. In April, Johnson & Johnson Vision announced the launch of its first-of-a-kind new contact lenses, ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions.
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