On October 11, 2001 the FDA approved Ciba Vision's Focus NIGHT & DAY contact lenses for up to 30 nights continuous wear. NIGHT & DAY lenses are the first high-oxygen, extended wear, soft lens with this wearing indication in the United States.

NIGHT & DAY lenses are made from a revolutionary silicone hydrogel material that supplies 500 percent more oxygen to the eye than ordinary disposable lenses and 40 percent more oxygen than the minimum threshold recognized by independent researchers for overnight wear of lenses. After a month of use, the lenses are discarded and replaced with a new pair.

Insufficient oxygen compromises normal eye function and may cause the cornea to swell. While minimal swelling is common during sleep, even in people who do not wear contact lenses, sleeping in ordinary contact lenses substantially reduces oxygen supply to the eyes which can cause the cornea to swell significantly and often results in very irritated eyes and uncomfortable lens wear. In research studies, users wearing NIGHT & DAY lenses experienced minimal swelling similar to those wearing no lens at all and significantly less redness than is typically seen with soft contact lens wear, reports the company.

This unique material also enables the lens to wet easily and move well on the eye and helps prevent bacteria and deposit buildup on the lens surface. NIGHT & DAY can also be worn on a daily basis with more comfort and less dryness than many other lenses.

"NIGHT & DAY is the most significant advancement in contact lens materials since soft lenses were introduced more than 30 years ago," said Stuart Heap, president of CIBA Vision's global lens business. "CIBA Vision's commitment to innovation has produced a breakthrough product that delivers what lens wearers want - convenient, continuous vision correction that easily fits with their busy and unpredictable lifestyles. NIGHT & DAY lenses are also a good alternative to laser vision surgery for the millions of individuals who desire around-the-clock clear vision but who are not good candidates for the procedure or who are averse to it because of its high costs, invasiveness, non-reversibility and potential complications," Heap said. NIGHT & DAY lenses will be available through U.S. eyecare practitioners on a limited basis beginning November, 2001. They are likely to be priced competitively with other disposable contact lenses currently on the market.

Due to his significant involvement in the clinical investigation of this lens over the past three years, Dr. Goldsmid has been selected to be the first eye care practitioner in the United States to receive and fit this new lens. Please call Arena Eyeworks Optometry at (619) 224-2879 for more information.