FDA clears first light-adaptive contact lenses

Johnson & Johnson’s light-adaptive contact lenses have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The Acuvue Oasys Contact Lenses with Transitions Light Intelligent Technology feature a photochromic filter that continuously adjusts the amount of light entering the eye. The lenses automatically darken in bright sunlight and return to a regular tint in normal or dimly lit environments.

“This contact lens is the first of its kind to incorporate the same technology that is used in eyeglasses that automatically darken in the sun,” says Malvina Eydelman, director of the division of ophthalmic, and ear, nose and throat devices at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

The soft lenses are indicated for healthy individuals with myopia or hyperopia, and those with certain degrees of astigmatism. Each disposable lens can be worn daily for up to 2 weeks. While the contacts filter blue light and block UV rays, the FDA warns that the lenses should not be a substitute for sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye.

The approval was based on findings from a 24-person trial, which revealed that the photochromic technology poses no concerns for driving performance or vision.