Johnson & Johnson Vision ’ s ( J & J Vision ) Vision Care Asia Pacific & Japan ( APJ ) Head of Research and Development ( R & D ), Biten Kathrani said : “ J & J Vision continues to make significant investments in science and innovation , and thereby bringing in the best in class products , which not only offer efficacy but also benefit and cater to the changing lifestyle of our consumers .

“ We have significant investments across J & J Vision , and our R & D headquarters is based in Jacksonville , Florida , in the US .”

Biten is responsible for myopia global research and combination product global research . He leads J & J Vision ’ s largest public-private partnership programme in APAC , focusing on myopia management and the science of myopia , in partnership with the Singapore National Eye Centre . Biten also leads J & J Vision ’ s beauty cosmetic contact lenses global R & D .

Pioneers of first-in-class technologies

J & J Vision has always been a pioneer in solving unmet needs , said Biten , thereby opening opportunities for more consumers to embrace contact lenses .

“ Back in 1987 , J & J Vision launched the world ’ s first disposable contact lens under the ACUVUE ® brand and created the disposable contact lens category .

“ And in the early 2000s , we pioneered the cosmetic contact lens category with our ACUVUE ® DEFINE ® range of products .

“ The most recent first-in-class pioneering technology products introduced are the ACUVUE ® Theravision ® and ACUVUE ® OASYS with Transitions™ .”

ACUVUE ® Theravision ® is the world ’ s first drug-eluting contact lens for eye allergies . Meanwhile , ACUVUE ® OASYS with Transitions™ is the world ’ s first light management contact lens .

Big opportunities with rising eye complications

Contact lenses , said Biten , is an underpenetrated category with opportunities to provide superior efficacy , vision and comfort to meet the evolving lifestyles of those that need vision correction or eye health management .

“ For example , by 2030 , more than a billion children will require myopia management , and about two billion will require presbyopia correction .

" We need to help children at risk to delay onset or those with myopia slow progression and thereby preserve long term eyehealth . Most progression happens till the age of 18 , so early intervention is key .

“ We also see a rise in ageing-related eye complications . As they age , billions of people will suffer from diseases and complications such as cataracts and glaucoma .

“ So , there will always be a big opportunity to resolve these unmet clinical

Biten Kathrani

needs , and there will be many innovations coming into the market for paediatric eyes , adult developed eyes , and ageing eyes .”

J & J Vision , he said , has some of the widest contact lens offerings for complex vision correction needs like astigmatism , multifocals and myopia management and will continue to deliver first in class innovations .

Delivering new solutions and innovative products

Biten also shared that several new contact lens technologies and innovations were in the pipeline .

“ Our ACUVUE ® OASYS daily disposable

lens is a category-leading lens . And we have gone ahead and disrupted ourselves by recently launching the ACUVUE ® OASYS MAX daily disposable lens .

The ACUVUE ® OASYS MAX lens comes with two innovative technologies , the OptiBlue™ Light Filter and TearStable™ Technology , which offer MAX Comfort and MAX Clarity to serve the heavy digital use lifestyles .

“ Another is the ACUVUE ® Abiliti™ range of Myopia management solutions - we now have the Abiliti™ 1-Day soft therapeutic contact lenses available in Canada , Hong Kong , and Singapore .

“ Based on recently published 6-month efficacy data , the Abiliti™ 1-Day soft therapeutic lens has significantly higher efficacy than single vision lenses and has shown control axial length elongation by 0.105mm in 6 months .

“ Our 3 year pivotal study is ongoing and we look forward to share longer term efficacy data when available .”

He added that J & J Vision also provides digital solutions for eye care professionals ( ECPs ) and consumers .

The MyACUVUE ® app allows ECPs and consumers to connect , make appointments , and make purchases while the SeeAbiliti™ app will keep parents updated on their children ’ s lifestyles and myopia management . – The Health

We need to help children at risk to delay onset or those with myopia slow progression and thereby preserve long term eyehealth . Most progression happens till the age of 18 , so early intervention is key .