CIBA Vision to rebrand silicone hydrogel contact lenses

Duluth, GA-CIBA Vision has announced that Air Optix will be the global brand name for new products and product improvements to CIBA Vision's silicone hydrogel contact lenses in all markets worldwide.

According to the company, having one global brand name will allow CIBA Vision to simplify its business operations and enhance customer satisfaction. It also will allow improved speed to market with future product innovations.

This spring will see the U.S. launch of its silicone hydrogel contact lens (Air Optix for Astigmatism). The lens has an 8 | 4 lens design that features a wide optic zone for optimal visual acuity and helps ensure that the lens fitting characteristics and axis orientation are consistent from patient to patient.

The lenses are made of lotrafilcon B and have a Dk/t of 108 @ –3.00 D. Launch parameters are from plano to –6.00 D in 0.25-D steps, with cylinder powers of –0.75 and –1.25 D and axes around-the-clock in 10° steps. They have a diameter of 14.5 mm, a base curve of 8.7 mm, and feature a blue handling tint. The lenses are approved for daily wear, up to 6 nights of extended wear, and are recommended for monthly replacement.

Including a recommended monthly modality for Air Optix products helps encourage higher patient compliance. Research provided by the company shows 56% patient compliance for wearing monthly lenses, an increase of more than twice the compliance rate of 1- to 2-week lenses. As few as 26% of patients wearing 1- to 2-week disposable-type contact lenses are compliant with the recommended replacement schedule.