Top contact lens stories of 2024: Innovation, purchasing options
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This year saw several innovations in contact lenses, including tinted lenses for athletes and the new Clariti multifocal lens by CooperVision.
In addition, 2024 was a year of major news in terms of lens purchasing options, including a Utah bill that could limit the purchase of contact lenses from a prescribing eye doctor and the announcement that online retailer Zenni Optical would begin offering contact lenses.
Healio has gathered our top contact lens stories of 2024 below.
Tinted contact lens for athletes, people with light sensitivity now available in US
Performance Vision Technologies has launched Altius advanced performance-tinted contact lenses, the second generation to Nike MaxSight, in the U.S. and select international markets.
“The exceptional and unique potential of Altius in both elite and recreational athletes, combined with its role as a viable alternative for individuals with photosensitivity concerns, remains evident,” Fernando Bolio, North America marketing director at Performance Vision Technologies, told Healio. “Each day, we field inquiries from more eye care practitioners treating traumatic brain injury and concussion patients, actively seeking potential solutions that might support their patient’s recovery.” Read more.
Zenni Optical now offers contact lenses
Online eye wear retailer Zenni Optical announced it has expanded its product offerings to include contact lenses, according to a company press release.
“We are incredibly proud of the legacy Zenni has built in providing affordable eye care to individuals around the world,” David Ting, the company’s global chief technology officer and general manager, said in the release. “The decision to offer contact lenses has been in the works for a long time and will help us further our goal of making vision care accessible to as many people as possible. Whether our customers prefer glasses or contact lenses, we now provide vision solutions that suit anyone’s lifestyle and vision needs.” Read more.
MiSight 1 day contact lenses delay axial growth by up to 4 years
Treatment with MiSight 1 day contact lenses reduced axial growth in children by 0.52 mm compared with predicted accumulated growth of untreated eyes, according to 6-year data published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics.
“The rigorous, multicenter study design, unequaled investigation timeframe and clear outcomes have strengthened prescribing confidence for this unique, effective optical intervention to slow the progression of myopia,” Paul Chamberlain, BSc, study author and senior director of research programs at CooperVision, said in a related company press release. Read more.
Survey: Most glasses wearers interested in contacts say their doctor never suggested them
New data from the Contact Lens Institute indicate that nearly half of glasses wearers are interested in wearing contact lenses, but only one in 10 said their eye care provider suggested them.
The institute previewed new consumer research that is part of its “See Tomorrow” initiative at Vision Expo East. The initiative “explores consumer and eye care professional perspectives surrounding issues that can influence contact lens fitting and wear, according to the Contact Lens Institute website. Read more.
CooperVision launches new Clariti multifocal contact lenses in US
CooperVision has announced the U.S. launch of its new Clariti 1 Day Multifocal 3 Add contact lenses, designed to provide all-day comfort, ease of fit and optimal visual acuity at all distances for all levels of presbyopia.
“We actively look for ways to extend meaningful innovations across other products, so that more practices and wearers can benefit,” Michele Andrews, OD, vice president of marketing and professional and academic affairs in the Americas at CooperVision, said in a company press release. Read more.
Editor’s note: This article was updated Jan. 9, 2025, to correct the name of the Clariti 1 Day Multifocal 3 Add lens. Healio regrets the error.