New toric lens provides consistently crisp, clear vision throughout the day

BOSTON, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, launched PureVision®2 for Astigmatism with High Definition™ Optics contact lenses, today at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). The company's latest eye health innovation, PureVision2 HD For Astigmatism lenses feature HD Optics, which provide clarity and meet the special vision correction needs of patients with astigmatism.

PureVision2 HD For Astigmatism also incorporates Auto Align Design™, a unique stabilization system optimized to deliver consistently crisp, clear vision all day, every day with excellent stability and comfort.  Furthermore, the optimized thickness profile has a combination of prism and peri ballasting for enhanced stability.  The large lens diameter of 14.5 mm provides more area for effective ballasting and improves centration for excellent visual quality, giving patients stable vision throughout the day.

"A significant challenge for astigmatic contact lens wearers is keeping the lens stable to ensure that their vision stays crisp and clear. Our unique design has been shown to provide excellent stability to ensure crisp, clear vision. The thin lens design, edge profile and moisture-rich packaging solution helps provide exceptional comfort," said Ian Cox Ph.D., Director, Lens Design Group.

PureVision2 HD For Astigmatism lenses reduce spherical aberration across both the cylinder and sphere meridians, as well as across the entire power range, thus helping to reduce halos and glare in low-light conditions.  The lenses provide high levels of oxygen transmissibility during wear and are packaged in a moisture rich packaging solution that delivers outstanding comfort on insertion.

Feedback from both eye care professionals and patients for the PureVision2 HD For Astigmatism has been extremely positive. Eye care practitioners agree ninety-seven percent of the time that PureVision2 HD For Astigmatism delivers excellent stability(1) and agree 89 percent of the time the lenses deliver consistently clear vision.(1) Eighty-three percent of patients rate overall comfort positively when wearing the lenses.(1)

"Many astigmatic contact lens wearers report blurry, hazy and fluctuating vision. For people experiencing these symptoms, PureVision2 HD For Astigmatism contact lenses with High Definition Optics and Auto-Align Design™ may be an option that will help reduce these symptoms," said Chris Snyder, OD, MS, FAAO, Director, Professional Relations – North America.

About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb is one of the best-known and most respected healthcare companies in the world. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.bausch.com.

®/TM denote trademarks of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.

For more information:

Jane Mazur
Bausch + Lomb Vision Care
585-355-5978
jane.mazur@bausch.com

Jennifer Harrington
Zeno Group on behalf of Bausch + Lomb
212-299-8957
jennifer.harrington@zenogroup.com  

(1) Results from a 20-investigator, multi-site cross-over study of PureVision®2 For Astigmatism and PureVision Toric lenses.  A total of 292 subjects completed the study.  After 7 days of wear for each lens, subjects completed an online survey regarding lens performance.  Consumers rated performance attributes using a 6-point scale (1 = strongly disagree and 6=strongly agree) and using a 5-point scale (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor). At the final visit, investigators rated the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with performance attributes also using a 6-point scale.

SOURCE Bausch + Lomb