Alcon Launches Toric, Multifocal, Disposable Contact Lenses

“Alcon Laboratories expanded its Dailies AquaComfort Plus portfolio with the launch of toric and multifocal designs,” notes Optometry Times. “Dailies AquaComfort Plus Multifocal uses the Precision Profile Design of Air Optix Aqua Multifocal. Dailies AquaComfort Plus Toric incorporates the dual thin zone Precision Curve Lens Design of Focus Dailies Toric. Both new lenses are made from nelfilcon A, the same material used in Dailies AquaComfort Plus. Powers for Dailies AquaComfort Plus Multifocal range from +6.00 D to -10.00 D in 0.25 D steps with low, medium, and high adds. Diameter is 14.0 mm, and base curve is 8.7 mm.” Read more.

Cooper Expands the Avaira Recall -- Again

"Cooper Cos. has broadened a contact lens recall to include some lots of its Avaira Sphere lenses and expects a roughly $9 million charge in its fiscal fourth quarter," reports the WSJ's MarketWatch. "Cooper in August issued a recall for some lots of its Avaira Toric contact lenses after a small number of customers complained of hazy vision after wearing them. The company's CooperVision unit said it identified a residue on a small number of the lenses, which were first introduced in April 2010. Tuesday, the company said it was expanding its recall as certain lots of Avaira Sphere lenses failed to meet updated quality requirements due to the level of a silicone oil residue. The company said no other product line uses silicone oil in the manufacturing process other than Avaira Sphere and Avaira Toric." Read more.


According to the company's press release, "CooperVision announced today that it is expanding its worldwide recall of the encore 100 brand product line of contact lenses to include a limited number of lots of encore100 Sphere contact lenses. In continued collaboration with the United States Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada, CooperVision is expanding the recall because it identified certain lots of encore100 Sphere lenses that did not meet its updated quality requirements due to the level of a silicone oil residue."

CL Sales Up

The financial blog Zack.com, a Forbes.com blog, reports Cooper Companies' current financial success comes from its Toric line. The sales for the company's vision segment "were up 10% from last year to $263 million. From that group, it’s Toric products, also known as soft contact lenses, saw the biggest gains, up 14% to $78 million. Its highest revenue product from this segment, non single-use sphere, was up a solid 10% to $110 million." The question is why in such a stagnant economy are CLs selling well? Maybe: that which was once considered a luxury is now a necessity.