Toric soft contact lens design affects lens stability and visual acuity, particularly during abnormal gaze movements, according to a new study. The research, which compared the effect of gaze direction and posture on toric lens orientation and visual acuity of contact lenses using either an Accelerated Stabilization Design or Prism Ballast Design, is published in the current issue of Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, the official journal of the British Contact Lens Association.

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Bausch & Lomb announced that it is launching the Crystalens(R) AO, the first aberration-free accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) with aspheric optics, to cataract surgeons worldwide. The announcement follows the recent FDA approval of this newest Bausch & Lomb surgical product. The Crystalens AO, combined with the successful Crystalens HD and the Crystalens Five-0, will further establish Crystalens as the market leader in the premium IOL market.

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Diabetics may soon be able to wear contact lenses that continuously alert them to variations in their glucose levels by changing colours – replacing the need to routinely draw blood throughout the day. The non-invasive technology, developed by The University of Western Ontario, uses extremely small nanoparticles embedded into the hydrogel lenses. These engineered nanoparticles react with glucose molecules found in tears, causing a chemical reaction that changes their colour.

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One-month-old babies with serious eye conditions are being prescribed contact lenses. Infants are given contact lenses if they have cataract surgery, need extremely high-strength prescription glasses, or have very different prescriptions for the two eyes. The Kenya Union of the Blind is working in conjunction with Computer Aid International, to supply visually-impaired Kenyan schoolchildren with technological aid in the classroom.

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Johnson and Johnson has highlighted the results of a recent study into the use of contact lenses. The report found that using contact lenses for longer than prescribed can lead to extreme wear. This stretching of the lens could result in undesirable clinical effects. Overall, 36 per cent of lens wearers prescribed for monthly replacement said that they replaced their lenses as advised, but 55 per cent replaced them at five weeks.

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The new Bausch and Lomb Akreos MICS lens, already on the market in other countries, is now available for U.S. cataract patients. The lens can be inserted through a tiny, 1.8mm incision, for better wound sealability, reduction in below-the-surface cell loss and reduction in surgery-caused astigmatism, according to the company. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services granted the New Technology Intraocular Lens designation to the lens for its design that reduces spherical aberration.

Ocutec Ltd, the has announced at the American Academy of Optometry Meeting in Orlando CE Mark approval for its first poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) hydrogel-based contact lens product. In initial patient acceptance trials, this next generation of lenses has demonstrated superior oxygen permeability compared to existing hydrogel based lenses. It is anticipated that the lenses will provide similar health benefits to silicone hydrogels without the drawbacks of incorporating hydrophobic silicone into the lens polymer.

SynergEyes Inc, the manufacturer of high Dk hybrid contact lens, has received the 22nd annual Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Award by CONNECT(R), a non-profit organization. SynergEyes was announced as a finalist for ClearKone(TM), its patent-pending advanced hybrid contact lens design for keratoconus patients. ClearKone(TM) is the first hybrid contact lens with FDA-clearance specifically designed for patients with emerging, moderate to advanced stages of keratoconus. This “hybrid” design incorporates the benefits of two types of contact lenses into one.

Revision Optics is close to entering an FDA study on a new lens design, the Presbylens, which is a small plastic lens that is implanted into the cornea to improve near vision. This could prove beneficial for millions of people suffering from aging of the eyes, or presbyopia. In a study conducted in Mexico, most patients were able to see 20/20 at distance and do near tasks including reading without the need for reading glasses. The FDA is yet to give approval for the start of this study.

Staar Surgical Co expects a delay in approval from Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) for its Visian Toric ICL, its implantable lens to treat myopia and astigmatism. The PMDA has, however, not sought any more clinical trials for Visian Toric ICL. The company’s Visian ICL products are, however, on a “very quick path” to approval in the country. Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is used to treat myopia or nearsightedness.