ACUVUE® Brand Celebrates 25th Anniversary of First Disposable Contact Lens With Launch of New 1-Day ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM Lenses

ATLANTA, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A quarter of a century after revolutionizing the contact lens industry with the introduction of the first disposable soft contact lens, VISTAKON® Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., today, announced the U.S. launch of 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM, a new daily disposable soft toric contact lens for individuals with astigmatism, a common vision problem which effects how the eye focuses light.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/FL59753 )

"Research confirms that nearly half of all patients requiring vision correction have levels of astigmatism that could affect visual performance in at least one eye (1)," says W. Lee Ball, OD, FAAO, Associate Director, Medical Affairs, VISTAKON®.  "Additional studies show that toric soft contact lenses such as 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM provide significantly better visual acuity compared to spherical lenses for astigmatic patients, and provide comparable visual acuity to wearing glasses (2)," he adds.

Along with the health and convenience benefits of wearing a fresh contact lens every day, 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM features a proprietary BLINK STABILIZED™ Design, which harnesses the natural pressures of a blinking eye to help keep the lens in place and quickly realign the lens if it rotates out of position, providing wearers with consistent, all-day vision.

"Fluctuating vision during everyday activities such as reading a newspaper, text messaging or using a computer, changing lanes while driving, playing sports, or watching TV when lying down is one of the main reasons for dissatisfaction among many astigmatic contact lens wearers," explains Dr. Ball. "Studies have demonstrated that contact lenses such as 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM and ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM, which both utilize BLINK STABILIZED™ Design, have a number of advantages over other traditional soft toric contact lens designs in reducing variable vision and blur that often occur during these types of activities (3)."

1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM is made using LACREON® Technology, a unique process that permanently embeds a water holding ingredient, similar to that found in natural tears, into the proven etafilcon A material of the 1-DAY ACUVUE® Brand.  This technological advancement locks in moisture that lasts throughout the day, addressing the most frequently reported complaints of contact lens discomfort - dryness and end of day comfort.

1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM blocks approximately 82% of UV-A radiation and 97% of UV-B radiation+ *. Although UV-blocking contact lenses provide important added protection, they should not be viewed as a stand-alone solution. "For more complete protection, UV-blocking contact lenses should always be worn in conjunction with high-quality UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat," says Dr. Ball.

To receive free trial pair lenses of 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® for ASTIGMATISM, visit www.acuvue.com (Professional exam and fitting fees not included).

Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020 or visit www.acuvue.com.

+ Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.
* WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-Blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-Blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

ACUVUE®, 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST®, ACUVUE® OASYS®, LACREONTM, BLINK STABILIZED® and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

(1) Source: Young, G, Sulley, A, Hunt, C, "Prevalence of Astigmatism in Relation to Soft Contact Lens Fitting," Eye & Contact Lens: Science and Clinical Practice, Vol. 37, January 2011.

(2) Source: Sulley, A, Young, G, Osborn, K, Hunt, C, "How Easy Is It to Fit Soft Toric Contact Lenses to Current Non-users?" – presented at American Academy of Optometry meeting (Boston, MA, October 2011)

(3) Source: Young G, McIlraith R, Hunt C. Clinical Evaluation of Factors Affecting Soft Toric Lens Orientation.  Optometry and Vision Science 86(11):E1259-E1266, November 2009.

SOURCE VISTAKON, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.