With the launch of Johnson & Johnson Vision’s photochromic contact lens, the first to adapt to changing light conditions, Abi Millar looks at the growing field of contact lens technology, how it has developed over the years, and where the next breakthroughs may lie.
In April, Johnson & Johnson Vision announced the launch of its first-of-a-kind new contact lenses, ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions. The lenses feature a light intelligent technology, dispersed across the material in the form of trillions of photochromic molecules.
The lenses, which also provide vision correction, help the eyes adjust to darkness or brightness better than they would do on their own. 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.
“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. “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.”
Read the rest of this article in the July 2019 edition of Medical Technology
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