Contact Lenses News

Nearly all contact lens wearers who participated in an online survey took part in behaviors that may increase the risk of eye infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today.

In a study of identical twins, researchers determined wearing hard or soft contact lenses was the only environmental factor studied to be associated with an increased risk of acquired eyelid ptosis.

Following a challenge from Alcon, the National Advertising Division determined that “compare to” statements made by Bausch + Lomb and Wal-Mart on packaging for Equate contact lens products are not comparative performance claims requiring substantiation, according to the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council.

The Refractive Surgery Alliance has formally demanded that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention retract a November report that linked close to 1 million office visits each year to poor contact lens care, which it believes creates a false understanding of the risks of contact lenses.

NEW YORK — Failure to properly clean and store contact lenses significantly increased risk for acute conjunctivitis, according to a presenter at the 2014 Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium.

Most scientific experts concur that existing testing methods for contact lenses and solutions should be reviewed. In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health along with organized ophthalmology and optometry hosted a workshop involving scientists, clinicians and industry experts with the goal of formulating a consensus for new standards and guidelines for improving microbiological test methods as well as patient education.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Optometric Association have partnered to launch Contact Lens Health Week, an annual campaign with the objective of increasing public awareness and encouraging healthy behavior surrounding contact lens wear and care.

It is estimated that just more than 40 million Americans and about 125 million people worldwide wear contact lenses. In the U.S., this is just more than 11% of the population.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on its website that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health has granted a 1-year extension of the Sept. 24, 2014, Unique Device Identification System compliance date for various class 3 medical devices.

The Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust Competition Policy and Consumer Rights held a hearing July 30 to explore contact lens pricing strategies initiated recently by contact lens manufacturers that would affect retail price competition, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said as she presided over the proceedings.