Big news for the contact lens industry

Johnson & Johnson Vision have received FDA Approval for Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen – the first drug-eluting contact lens.

Each lens will contain a 19mcg of the antihistamine ketotifen. They will be daily disposable contact lenses which aim to prevent ocular itch due to allergic conjunctivitis, whilst also providing vision correctness. These will be available for patients who do not have red eyes, who are suitable for contact lenses and do not have more than 1.00D of astigmatism.

“Ocular allergic itch in contact lens wearers may soon be an issue of the past thanks to the decision of the FDA in approving Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen,” Brian Pall, Director of Clinical Science, Johnson & Johnson.

This announcement comes following a positive phase 3 clinical study which ‘showed a clinically and statistically meaningful reduction in itchy allergy eyes as quickly as 3 minutes after lens insertion and lasting up to 12 hours’. The lenses may be worn for longer for vision correction.

This new drug eluting technology could have many other applications and we are looking forward to seeing if J&J continue their research in this field and perhaps combine the contact lens with dry eye and other ocular disease medication.