ACUVUE Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of First Disposable Contact Lens With Launch Of New 1•DAY ACUVUE MOIST

Twenty years after revolutionizing the contact lens industry with the introduction of the first disposable soft contact lens, VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., today announced the U.S. launch of 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ Brand Contact Lenses with breakthrough LACREON™ technology.

LACREON™ technology employs a unique process that permanently embeds a water holding ingredient, similar to that found in natural tears, into the proven etafilcon A material of the 1•DAY ACUVUE® Brand. This technological advancement locks in moisture that lasts throughout the day, offering relief for the most frequently reported complaints of contact lens discomfort – dryness and end of day comfort. The new daily disposable lenses also eliminate the need for cleaning, disinfecting solutions and storage, and, compared to two-week lenses, may provide improved comfort for patients who experience mild discomfort and itching associated with allergies during contact lens wear.

"Two decades ago, with the introduction of ACUVUE®, it was immediately clear that a new, clean lens every week or every two weeks was a healthier paradigm," says Cristina Schnider, O.D., director, Medical Affairs, Vistakon. "Today, many eye care practitioners and consumers favor daily disposable contacts because of their health and convenience benefits."

Demonstrated Benefits for Eye Allergy Sufferers

Approximately two million allergy sufferers have eye allergies as their primary allergy, according to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. For many of the nation's 38 million contact lens wearers, allergy season can bring tears, and more, to their eyes.

"Allergy sufferers who wear contact lenses that you use for two weeks or more may experience discomfort and symptoms such as ocular itching, tearing and redness when wearing their lenses, because allergens may build up on the lenses over time," explains Leonard Bielory, M.D., professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Ophthalmology, director, Division of Allergy/Immunology & Rheumatology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. "When worn on a daily disposable basis, 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ may provide improved comfort for many patients who experience mild discomfort and itching associated with allergies during contact lens wear, compared to lenses replaced at intervals of greater than two weeks."

Lenses Also Offer UV Protection

All ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses offer effective UV-blocking. 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ block approximately 82 percent of UV-A radiation and 97 percent of UV-B radiation† *. On average, contact lenses without UV blocking block approximately 10 percent of UV-A radiation and 30 percent of UV-B radiation.

Although UV-blocking contact lenses provide important added protection for patients, they should not be viewed as a stand-alone solution. "For more complete protection, UV-blocking contact lenses should always be worn in conjunction with high-quality UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat," says Dr.Schnider.

To receive a free trial pair certificate for 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ visit www.acuvue.com (Professional exam fees not included) and look for "Click-to-be-Contacted," a new online service that offers patients a quick, easy way to schedule an eye exam for contact lenses.

1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™ is available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for individual patients. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop. To help avoid these problems, patients should follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens-care instructions provided by their eye doctor. Individuals should not wear lenses if they have an eye infection or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, they should contact their eye doctor immediately.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc.

The VISTAKON division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., specializes in disposable contact lenses which it markets under such brand names as ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ with HYDRACLEAR™, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for ASTIGMATISM, ACUVUE® OASYS™ with HYDRACLEAR™ PLUS, ACUVUE® and ACUVUE® 2; 1•DAYACUVUE®; 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™; ACUVUE® BIFOCAL; ACUVUE® TORIC, and ACUVUE® 2 COLOURS™.

ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® ADVANCE™, HYDRACLEAR™, ACUVUE® OASYS™, ACUVUE® 2 COLOURS™, 1•DAY ACUVUE® MOIST™, LACREON™ and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

† Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.

* WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-Blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-Blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.