Product Recognized Alongside Other Breakthroughs
that Represent ‘the Greatest Feats of Human Ingenuity’
SAN RAMON, Calif., Dec. 1, 2020— CooperVision announced today that its innovative MiSight® 1 day contact lens has been awarded a 2020 Popular Science “Best of What’s New Award” in the health category. The cornerstone of CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management Program, this daily wear, single use contact lens is the first and only FDA-approved* product to slow the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) when initially prescribed for children 8-12 years old.1†
The Popular Science “Best of What’s New Awards” recognize up to 100 of the most innovative technologies from the past year across 10 categories, such as health, home, aerospace and security. Each product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category. Past award winners have included the first portable defibrillator (1997), NASA’s New Horizons Voyage to Pluto (2015), the first FDA-approved gene therapy (2017) and 5G cellular (2019).
“Two out of every five Americans have myopia,2 a disease that both impairs distance vision and increases the risk of sight-threatening conditions later in life,”3 explained Jerry Warner, Executive Vice President, Americas and Global Commercial Functions for CooperVision. “The introduction of MiSight® 1 day contact lenses in the U.S. has meant that age-appropriate children, for the first time, have access to an approved solution that can help them reduce the severity of myopia progression and enjoy brilliant futures. We are honored that Popular Science has recognized the impact of this technology.”
This recognition comes as new data emerges from CooperVision’s landmark clinical study revealing that nearly one in four children’s eyes originally fit with MiSight® 1 day remain stable in their myopia level after six years.4 The study previously established the lens to be effective in slowing myopia progression in age-appropriate children by an average of 59% over a three-year period, as measured by spherical refraction.†1
"The Best of What's New Awards showcase the year’s greatest feats of human ingenuity," says Popular Science Editor-in-Chief Corinne Iozzio. "Even in a year like 2020, innovation has helped us glimpse a future that’s safer, smarter, and more enjoyable than we might have thought possible.”
More than 2,000 U.S. eye care professionals (ECPs) are now certified and able to prescribe CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management Program—a figure growing by the day. The widespread reach and prominence of the Popular Science “Best of What’s New Awards” will likely drive even more parents to seek information about participating ECPs.
CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management Program seeks to elevate the standard of care for age appropriate children by shifting the focus from refractive correction for myopia to interventions that also slow axial length progression. The program accomplishes this by creating the optimal environment for compliance, satisfaction, clinical outcomes and long-term loyalty. ECPs who are interested in beginning certification can learn more at coopervision.com/practitioner/myopia-management.
# # #
*Indications for use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters(spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.
† Compared to a single vision 1 day lens over a 3 year period.
1 Chamberlain P, et al. A 3-year randomized clinical trial of MiSight® lenses for myopia control. Optom Vis Sci. 2019; 96(8):556-67.
2 Vitale S, Sperduto RD, Ferris FL 3rd. Increased prevalence of myopia in the United States between 1971-1972 and 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(12):1632-1639. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2009.303.
3 Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31:622-60.
4 Chamberlain P, Arumugam B, Jones D et al. Myopia Progression in Children Wearing Dual-Focus Contact Lenses: 6-Year Findings. Optom Vis Sci 2020;97(E-abstract):200038
About CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advanced materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.com.
About CooperCompanies
CooperCompanies ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of women, babies and families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on medical devices and fertility & genomics. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., Cooper has a workforce of more than 12,000 with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
Media Contact
Hannah Barry, McDougall Communications
hannah@mcdougallpr.com or +1-585-645-8985