3,000 contacts prescribed

Carlsbad, CA-SynergEyes Inc.’s second-generation silicone hydrogel hybrid contact lens (Duette) has been prescribed to more than 3,000 patients in 700 practices across 47 states since it became available nationwide Jan. 1, according to the company.

“[The lens] represents the movement of hybrid contact lens technology from treating irregular corneas to providing an unprecedented combination of visual acuity and comfort to [patients with] normal cornea[s who] walk into the office every day,” said Kellie Kaseburg, vice president of global marketing for SynergEyes.

The hybrid lens technology, an alternative to soft toric contact lenses, incorporates materials for both the RGP center and the soft lens skirt. The high modulus RGP (MaxVu) has a Dk of 130 and class II UV blocker incorporated, whereas the high-Dk, low-modulus silicone hydrogel skirt has a Dk of 84 and is 32% water. A patent-pending surface treatment (HealthyEyes) is designed to increase wettability and resist protein deposits to maximize comfort.

The lens is designed to be rotationally symmetric, and to provide corneal astigmatism correction without inconsistent axis shift by using an optimized lacrimal layer to decrease aberrations and enhance optical performance, eliminating soft toric lens rotation issues such as blur, inconsistent vision, and less-than-optimal night vision, according to the company.

The hybrid contact lens is available in sphere powers of +4.00 to
–12.00 D and is offered in five base curves and three skirt curves. It is approved to correct up to 6.00 D of corneal astigmatism. Eye-care professionals interested in prescribing the lens should visit www.fitsynergeyes.com to inquire about a diagnostic fitting set.