Johnson & Johnson Vision Introduces ACUVUE® Abiliti™ to Address the Growing Prevalence of Myopia

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Apr 21, 2021, 08:00 ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson Vision*, a global leader in eye health and part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies**, today announced ACUVUE^® Abiliti^™ – a new brand for future products and services to help patients and eye care providers address the growing prevalence of myopia.

Myopia is sometimes called 'nearsightedness' but it is much more. It is a chronic and progressive disease that poses the biggest eye health threat of the 21st Century^1,2,3,4. Young children that are less than 12 years of age and become myopic are the most vulnerable to develop high myopia and are at increased risk of sight-threatening eye diseases later in life⁵. Half of the world's population is projected to be myopic by 2050 with nearly one billion people expected to have high myopia⁶.

The Abiliti^™ portfolio is a growing suite of solutions designed to manage myopia. Our goal is to develop products that give clearer vision today and better eye health in the future. Each annual purchase of an Abiliti^™ product will provide a free comprehensive eye health exam to a child in need through Sight for Kids^® – a joint program from Johnson & Johnson Vision* and the not-for-profit program from the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). Sight for Kids^® is one of the largest-known, school-based eye health programs that mobilizes Lions and eye care professionals to provide comprehensive eye health services in low-income schools around the world.

"There is no greater purpose than addressing the severity and prevalence of myopia," said Peter Menziuso, Worldwide President, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care^***. "For decades, Johnson & Johnson has been leading with science to deepen the clinical understanding of myopia as part of our vision to help the world see better, connect better and live better. Our new Abiliti^™ brand is another important step forward in our efforts to change the trajectory of eye health with a suite of future products and services that can help manage myopia for so many families."

The introduction of Abiliti^™ is the latest from Johnson & Johnson Vision to address the growing myopia epidemic following the company's partnership with Menicon to bring forward a therapeutic contact lens that can help manage myopia.

Patients and eye care providers who want more information can visit www.seeyourabiliti.com.

About Johnson & Johnson Vision*
At Johnson & Johnson Vision, part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, we have a bold ambition: to change the trajectory of eye health around the world. Through our operating companies, we deliver innovation that enables eye care professionals to create better outcomes for patients throughout their lives, with products and technologies that address unmet needs including refractive error, cataracts and dry eye. In communities with greatest need, we work in collaboration to expand access to quality eye care, and we are committed to helping people see better, connect better and live better. Visit us at www.jjvision.com. Follow @JNJVision on Twitter and Johnson & Johnson Vision on LinkedIn.

About Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies**
At Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, we are helping people live their best lives. Building on more than a century of expertise, we tackle pressing healthcare challenges, and take bold steps that lead to new standards of care while improving people's healthcare experiences. In surgery, orthopedics, vision and interventional solutions, we are helping to save lives and paving the way to a healthier future for everyone, everywhere.

Important Safety Information for Contact Lens Wearers
ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management are available by prescription only for the management of myopia. An eye care professional will determine whether these contact lenses are right for you. Although, rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these symptoms, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care disinfection instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear these 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, remove the lens and contact to your eye care professional immediately.

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*}Johnson & Johnson Vision represents the products and services of Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., and the affiliates of both.
^**The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies comprise the surgery, orthopedics, vision, and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices segment.
^***Peter Menziuso is an employee of Johnson & Johnson Vision, Inc. with oversight as the Global President of the Vision Care organization.
¹ Flitcroft DI et al. IMI–Defining and classifying myopia: a proposed set of standards for clinical and epidemiologic studies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019;60:M20-30.
² Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A et al. Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. OVS 2012;89(1):27-32.
³ Pärssinen O, Kauppinen M. Risk factors for high myopia: a 22-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2019;97(5):510-518.
⁴ Holy C, Kulkarni K, Brennan NA. Predicting Costs and Disability from the Myopia Epidemic – A Worldwide Economic and Social Model. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.2019;60(9):5466-5466.
⁵ Hu Y, Ding X, Guo X, Chen Y, Zhang J, He M. Association of Age at Myopia Onset with Risk of High Myopia in Adulthood in a 12-Year Follow-up of a Chinese Cohort. Jama Ophthalmol. 2020;138(11):1129-1134. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.3451.
⁶ Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, Jong M, Naidoo K, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 to 2050. Ophthalmol. 2016;123(5):1036-1042. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.01.006.