First-of-its-kindi contact lens developed by Johnson & Johnson and Essilor subsidiary Transitions Optical named among TIME’s ‘Best Inventions of 2018’.
TIME has selected ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology™ as one of the ‘Best Inventions of 2018,’ in its annual round-up spotlighting groundbreaking innovations worldwide.
Developed through a strategic partnership between Johnson & Johnson Vision and Essilor subsidiary Transitions Optical, this innovation represents an entirely new category of contact lenses that provides wearers with vision correction and reduces blaring lightii,iii for all-day soothing visioniv,v.
ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology™ – built for a modern and active lifestyle – helps reduce exposure to bright light indoors and outdoors, including filtering blue lightvi and blocking UV rays that can impact eye comfort, vision and health.† ‡ vii,viii,ix,x,xi The lenses help the eyes manage different types of light at different intensities and brightness throughout the day. Combining the strengths and expertise of each company, the contact lens was born out of deep research into consumer lifestyle needs.
Transitions Optical has long been the leader in light management technology, mastering light for over 28 years. It has a long history of product innovations and strategic partnerships that have enabled the company to break new ground, grow the photochromic category and introduce the benefits of light adaptation to more patients. It took more than a decade to combine the revolutionary light-adaptive Transitions technology with these advanced contact lenses. The result are lenses that deliver a first-of-its-kind benefit, going beyond vision correction to be as nimble as consumers are in their everyday lives.
“We are very proud to see ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology™ selected by TIME magazine as one of the ‘Best Inventions of 2018’. This innovation will revolutionize contact lenses and photochromics by introducing the benefits of light adaptation to more patients” said Chrystel Barranger, president of Essilor Photochromics and Transitions Optical. “Addressing the unmet needs of contact lens wearers, this innovation contributes to achieving our mission to bring good vision to each person on the planet.”
The two-week reusable contact lens, which will be marketed by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., continuously adapts from clear to dark and back, helping eyes adjust to changing light better than they would on their ownvii. ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions begin to darken as soon as they’re exposed to UV or HEV light, thanks to Transitions Light Intelligent Technology, becoming dark in 45 seconds – and fade back from dark to clear within 90 seconds when going from outdoors to indoorsvii. At full activation, the lenses block up to 70 percent of visible light and filters light indoors, even in its clearest statevii. The revolutionary invention is designed to offer the highest level of UV protection available in contact lenses and are the only contact lens that provides 100% protection against UVB rays. † ‡ vii, viii
The lenses received 510(k) clearance for the attenuation of bright light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April of this year. They are expected to launch in the U.S. and other select markets in the first half of 2019.
i FDA Press Release: FDA clears first contact lens with light-adaptive technology
ii Defined as changing high intensity / bright light found both indoors and outdoors
iii JJV Data on File 2018: Blaring Light Market Research
iv Defined as comfortable vision under bright light conditions.
v JJV Data on File 2018: JJV Data on File 2018: ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ Objective Clinical
vi Calculated per ISO-8980-3 for 380-460nm (Blue Light Hazard Function, B(λ))
vii JJV Data on File 2018: Definition of ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™
viii JJV Data on File 2018: Material Properties ACUVUE OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® Plus and other reusable contact lenses
ix American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is Photokeratitis. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eyehealth/diseases/photokeratitis-snow-blindness. Accessed 22 Jan 2018.
x American Optometric Association. UV Protection. Available at: https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-foryour-vision/uv-protection. Accessed 22 Jan 2018.
xi Walls HL, Walls KL, Benke G. Eye Disease Resulting From Increased Use of Fluorescent Lighting as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy. American Journal of Public Health. 2011;101(12):2222-2225.
