Take 5 with Dr John Buch

Dr John Buch, senior principal research optometrist at Johnson & Johnson Vision

Dispensing Optics editor Nicky Collinson catches up with Dr John Buch, senior principal research optometrist at Johnson & Johnson Vision, to hear more about the company’s new Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day contact lenses.

NC: What sets Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day apart from other one-day lenses?

JB: Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day contact lenses bring together an unprecedented combination of two new technologies¹. Firstly, TearStable Technology works to provide all-day comfort to patients by prolonging tear film stability and retaining moisture^2-4. Meanwhile, we believe the OptiBlue light filter has currently the highest level blue-violet light filter in the industry at 60 per cent¹. Reducing light scatter increases visual clarity and leads to improved distance vision quality⁵, day and night². We’re incredibly proud of the research, development and innovation in new manufacturing practices required to make this happen, and the positive impact they are already having on contact lens wearers.

NC: How exactly do they reduce digital eye strain?

JB: Over the past few years, we have been living in an increasingly digital-dependent world. This has meant we are blinking less as we spend more time on our devices, destabilising our tear film and leading to feelings of dryness and tired eyes at the end of the day. We know this is a widespread issue. In fact, a majority (81 per cent) of Europeans use at least five different digital devices per day, with more than two-thirds (68 per cent) reporting a negative impact on eye comfort and increasing our exposure to blue-violet light⁶.

This was one of the driving reasons behind the development of Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day and Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day Multifocal contact lenses. The contact lenses are made using a state-of-the-art manufacturing process that provides enhanced tea film stability and moisture retention between blinks^2-4 – leading to increased visual clarity and superior comfort. Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day is designed with a HEV/blue-violet light filter that reduces light scatter, filtering 60 per cent per cent of blue-violet (HEV) light².

NC: What role – if any – might these lenses have in mitigating against eye disease in later life?

JB: The contact lenses do not directly mitigate against eye disease later in life. What I can say, is the combination of the technologies we have introduced help filter high energy blue-violet light, helping to reduce light scatter and improve end of day comfort for patients^2-4.

NC: What feedback have you had from patients and practitioners so far?

JB: We’re delighted to say that nearly 90 per cent of heavy users of digital devices confidently reported a reduction in the feeling of tired eyes from using a computer or other digital device when wearing Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day versus Acuvue Oasys 1-Day¹. This sentiment is something that we are hearing echoed from practitioners and we’re extremely excited to see the continued impact the lenses will have on patients’ lives as well as on the wider industry.

NC: What support can you offer new prescribers?

JB: We have worked incredibly hard to make these contact lenses as easy to fit as possible. For new prescribers we provide an Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day diagnostic fitting kit to help support the contact lens fitting process. We also provide access to a range of support, which includes product information on our website, product support through our Acuvue account managers and professional peer-to-peer support through our dedicated professional affairs consultants. This all aims to ensure that new prescribers are fully equipped to recommend and fit Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day contact lenses.

References

1. JV Data on File, 2022. CSM Subjective Responses Acuvue Oasys 1-Day Contact Lenses – Retrospective Meta-analysis.
2. JJV Data on File 2022. TearStable Technology Definition.
3. JJV Data on File 2022. Effect on Tear Film and Evaluation of Visual Artifacts of Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day Family with TearStable Technology.
4. JJV Data on File 2022. Materials Properties: 1-Day Acuvue TruEye, Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology and Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day with TearStable Technology Brand contact lenses and other daily disposable contact lens brands.
5. JJV Data on File 2022. Blue-Violet Filter Utilized in Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day contact lenses.
6. Digital Comfort Survey, March 2022, TRUE Global Intelligence and Vitreous World.