Points of Suffering for Contact Lens Wearers

Study shows certain activities, environments may trigger eye discomfort

Contact lens wearers often experience the feeling of dry, tired eyes during certain activities and in select environments. In a study conducted by an independent research firm on behalf of ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ PLUS, 2,027 patients (1,929 current contact lens wearers and 98 former contact lens wearers) were asked to identify activities or situations that most often triggered discomfort while wearing their current lenses.

Time spent in front of a computer (41 percent) was the most frequently mentioned situation, followed by commuting (28 percent) and air travel (23 percent).

Computers

According to estimates, more than 143 million Americans work on a computer each day; 88 percent of them suffer from discomfort related to computer use. In addition, nearly 54 million children work at a computer each day either at home or in school.

When working at a computer, people spend a lot of time concentrating and blink less frequently — about three times less than normally, according to studies. For contact lens wearers, long non-blinking phases may cause the surface of their contact lenses to dry out, which can lead to discomfort and a loss of visual clarity.

When working at a computer, experts advise closing your eyes for a minute or two or taking a break from staring at the screen to look briefly at other items in the room at varying distances. And, they note, it’s important tto make a conscious effort to blink more frequently – about once every four or five seconds is usual. For contact lens wearers, ask your eye care professional about ACUVUE® OASYS™ with HYDRACLEAR™ PLUS. In clinical studies with more than 190 contact lens wearers, patients wearing ACUVUE® OASYS™ reported consistently clear, crisp vision and noted that their eyes remained fresh and moist, even in challenging environments such as during computer use.

Commuting

Americans spend more than 100 hours a year commuting to work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Similar to computer users, drivers spend a lot of time concentrating and blink less frequently than normally. Sunny, dry, windy conditions and the use of heaters, blowers and air conditioning while driving increases tear evaporation and can quickly cause contact lenses to become dry and uncomfortable. To reduce these symptoms, direct air vents away from the eyes, wear sunglasses during the day, and remember to blink normally.

Air Travel

Air travel can cause discomfort to the eyes of all travelers, and contact lens wearers in particular. Pressurized cabins dehydrate the air and rob the eyes of moisture needed for comfortable lens wear. Reading on the flight, though a good way to pass the time, can exacerbate the situation since readers blink less than normal, which in turn may lead to eye discomfort and a loss of visual clarity.

About ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ PLUS

ACUVUE® OASYS™ is a breakthrough for contact lens wearers when their eyes feel tired and dry in challenging environments. It is the first daily wear contact lens made from senofilcon A, a new silicone hydrogel material that is 50 percent smoother than currently available silicone hydrogel lenses. In addition to its smooth feel, the new lens also features an improved formulation of the unique HYDRACLEAR™ technology that combines high performance base materials with a moisture-rich wetting agent. ACUVUE® OASYS™ block greater than 99 percent of UVA rays and almost 100 percent of UVB rays, meeting the highest UV-blocking standards for contact lenses. † *

ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR™ PLUS are indicated for daily wear vision correction. As with all contact lenses, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may also experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems.  Consult the package insert for complete information. For further information, call 1 -800-843-2020 or visit www.acuvue.com.

ACUVUE® OASYS™ and HYDRACLEAR™ are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

† * UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-Blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-Blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.