CIBA VISION^® Introduces AIR OPTIX Individual™

the first and only made-to-order Silicone Hydrogel lens from a worldwide leader in Silicone Hydrogel technology.

CIBA VISION has now launched AIR OPTIX Individual™, the first and only made-to-order silicone hydrogel lens from a worldwide leader in silicone hydrogel technology. AIR OPTIX Individual will allow eye care professionals to provide the benefits of a silicone hydrogel lens to even the most challenging-to-fit contact lens patients¹.

AIR OPTIX Individual is available in powers +20.00D to -20.00D in three different parameters and a range of 12 basecurves. The lenses are available for high myopia, high hyperopia, large and small corneas, steep and flat corneas, aphakia and even for common ametropia. A unique lens design, with a Dk/t of 117 @ -3.00D, enables AIR OPTIX Individual lenses (sifilcon A) to transmit up to 5 times more oxygen than the leading made-to-order soft contact lenses (methafilcon B, phemfilcon A)².

Unlike other silicone hydrogel lenses that are cast moulded, AIR OPTIX Individual is a lathe cut lens, allowing for the large range of parameters and powers on offer. Actually lathe cutting a silicone hydrogel lens presents some significant manufacturing challenges, not least of which is that silicone is a rubbery material. In order to overcome this a new material, “Sifilcon A” has been created that has the necessary mechanical properties to allow accurate cutting on a lathe, whilst still delivering the comfort and health demanded of a silicone hydrogel. Sifilcon A has a similar water content, oxygen transmissibility and modulus to lotrafilcon B, the material used for AIR OPTIX lenses.

 

 

To complement this new material a new lathe process called InnoLathe™ Manufacturing Technology has been developed. In traditional lathing techniques the edge shape is polished onto the lens after the front and back curves have been cut. A key feature of InnoLathe Manufacturing Technology is that the back surface and edge shape are cut in one step. This, combined with the high precision lathe cutting, means there is no need to polish the lenses. The absence of a polishing step contributes to outstanding reproducibility in a lathe cut lens.

The health benefits of silicone hydrogel lenses are now well recognised even for daily wear, and these benefits are even more pronounced in higher prescriptions where lens thickness starts to increase.

As with all the AIR OPTIX family of lenses, AIR OPTIX Individual lenses feature a patented, permanent, biocompatible plasma surface treatment that resists deposits to contribute to a cleaner lens.

With this unique surface treatment, AIR OPTIX Individual lenses can be worn comfortably on a daily wear basis for up to three months³.

To control lens thickness in high powers AIR OPTIX Individual feature a double zone lenticular region. This also helps to provide a relatively consistent peripheral thickness across a wide range of powers.

They are approved for daily wear, and are recommended for quarterly replacement. They come in blisters rather than vials and are available in 1 packs and 2 packs. For a new patient to AIR OPTIX Individual it is advisable to start with 1 packs as they are covered by a 90 day exchange warranty, but 2 packs are not⁴. Lenses are fitted empirically and there are no diagnostic lenses. A fitting guide is available and further advice is readily available from CIBA VISION technical services.

More information can be found at www.airoptixindividual.co.uk

References

1 Spherical prescriptions only at launch

AIR OPTIX™ Individual is known as O2OPTIX Custom™ in North America

2 CIBA VISION. Data on file. 2006.

3 CIBA VISION. Data on file. 2006.

4 Lenses ordered in a single pack may be returned for an exchange or credit for up to 90 days from the date of CIBA VISION’s receipt of the initial order for the patient in question, for the purpose of providing a satisfactory fit, vision improvement or in the event of an unsuccessful patient. Lenses purchased in 2 packs may only be returned if the product is defective, in accordance with CIBA VISION’s standard terms and conditions.