As contact lens wearers embrace newer technology, company phases out older products
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 26, 2014) – Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., today announced that effective March 31, 2015, ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Brand Contact Lenses, ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Brand for ASTIGMATISM, and ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Plus Brand will be discontinued and revenue lenses will no longer be available for sale from the company. All remaining parameters of ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses, the initial product that revolutionized the industry in 1987, also will be discontinued on March 31, 2015.
Diagnostic lenses for ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Brand and ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Brand for ASTIGMATISM had previously been discontinued, and diagnostic lenses for ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Plus will be discontinued effective August 1, 2014.
“For more than 25 years, the ACUVUE® Brand has been at the forefront of innovation, contributing to today’s high standards for contact lenses,” says Laura Angelini, president, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Companies, North America. “Contact lens wearers continue to embrace innovative new materials, technologies, and designs that meet their vision, comfort, health, and lifestyle needs. As we continue to invest heavily in research and development of new and improved products that offer benefits beyond vision correction, we have made the decision to discontinue production of some of our older technology.”
During this period, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care will support practitioners by providing in-office tools to help doctors and staff transition patients from ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Brand Family and ACUVUE® Brand to the most current ACUVUE® technology. The company also will alert contact lens wearers by communicating the product discontinuation information on the ACUVUE® website (www.acuvue.com).
To ease the transition, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care is offering a Fitting Fee Reimbursement of up to $100 toward patients’ fitting fees when ACUVUE® ADVANCE® Brand Family or ACUVUE® Brand wearers are prescribed an annual supply of any product in the ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Family, 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® Brand Family, or 1-DAY ACUVUE® TruEye® Brand Contact Lenses.
ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may 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. Complete information is also available from VISTAKON® Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020 or by visiting www.ACUVUEProfessional.com.
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ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® ADVANCE®, ACUVUE® OASYS®, 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST®, and 1-DAY ACUVUE® TruEye® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.