Results Point to Effectiveness of CooperVision’s Biofinity Energys Contact Lenses
that May Help Reduce Ciliary Muscle Stress During Digital Device Use
PLEASANTON, Calif., November 6, 2018—Recent research by CooperVision, Inc. and the Kajita Eye Clinic that examined the effects of digital device use on the eye’s ciliary muscle has shed new light on an emerging area of eye care. The study revealed that patients wearing CooperVision’s Biofinity Energys™ contact lenses with Digital Zone Optics® lens design experienced less change in accommodative microfluctuations and the lenses may help reduce ciliary muscle stress during digital device use1.
Today’s contact lens wearers spend a significant amount of time on digital devices, with their eyes constantly moving between on-screen and off-screen activities. More than 90 percent of adults use digital devices for two or more hours per day, and more than 50 percent of 18-29 year olds admit to spending nine or more hours per day on digital device2.
“Eye care professionals are seeing a growing number of patients complaining of tired, dry eyes. Although we have connected these symptoms to extended digital device use, the biological impact of this use on the eyes has not been widely understood,” said Michele Andrews, OD, Senior Director of Professional and Academic Affairs, North America, CooperVision. “One hypothesis has been that digital eye fatigue symptoms may be a result of ciliary muscle stress, which was the focus of this research.”
As first presented at the Dutch Contact Lens Congress (NCC) in the Netherlands and more recently at the BCLA Asia Conference in Singapore, the study evaluated changes in accommodative microfluctuations in subjects wearing silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses with two different optical designs—CooperVision’s Biofinity Energys™ with Digital Zone Optics® lens design, and CooperVision’s Biofinity® sphere contact lenses. The paper was presented by Gary Orsborn, OD, MS, FAAO, FBCLA, Vice President of Global Clinical and Professional Affairs at CooperVision, along with Masayoshi Kajita of the Kajita Eye Clinic in Tokyo, a globally recognized expert in advanced optics and Taku Muraoka, OD, Director of Professional Services at CooperVision Japan as co-authors.
Accommodative microfluctuations are caused by ciliary muscle vibrations related to ciliary muscle stress during accommodation. The study analyzed the accommodative microfluctuations of patients while wearing each lens, and practitioners observed a statistically significant difference in the average change of accommodative microfluctuations between the two lenses. CooperVision’s Biofinity Energys™ contact lenses with Digital Zone Optics® lens design may help ease the accommodative burden experienced by users of personal digital device displays at close range.
“Many people believe the symptoms of digital eye fatigue are something they have to deal with as part of everyday life, and are unaware that lens technologies – including contact lenses – can help alleviate these symptoms,” said Maureen Beddis, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for The Vision Council. “Given the vast number of Americans affected, The Vision Council is pleased to have CooperVision as part of its membership, and be part of the effort to educate the public about digital eye fatigue and the solutions available.”
Biofinity Energys™ with Digital Zone Optics® lens design (https://coopervision.com/contact-lenses/biofinity-energys) is the first contact lens specifically created for digital lifestyles. These pioneering contact lenses are engineered from the ground up, combining breakthrough optical properties with an advanced moisture-retaining polymer material.
“It has been more than a year since we began fitting Biofinity Energys™ contact lenses in our practice, and now we are seeing those initial patients back for their annual eye exams,” said Andrew Neukirch, OD, who practices at Carillon Vision Care in Glenview, Ill. “Overall, they are very pleased and asking to stay in the lens. Biofinity Energys™ is an innovative and advanced monthly contact lens, and with the prevalence of digital device use today, we believe nearly every patient can benefit from it.”
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1 Prospective, multi-center (9 sites), subject-masked, bilateral wear, cross-over, non-dispensing study comparing the difference of the change in AMF frequency measured by the Accommodative Function Analyzer instrument (AFA). Based on a statistically significant difference of the mean change of Accommodative Microfluctuations and when compared to Biofinity® sphere after reading on an iPhone for 20 minutes held at a distance of 25 cm
2 YouGov; Eye Fatigue Research 2016: Data on file
About CooperVision
CooperVision, a unit of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of soft contact lenses. The Company produces a full array of monthly, two-week and daily disposable contact lenses, all featuring advanced materials and optics. CooperVision has a strong heritage of solving the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism and presbyopia; and offers the most complete collection 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 The Cooper Companies
The Cooper Companies, Inc. ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper is dedicated to being A Quality of Life Company™ with a focus on delivering shareholder value. 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 families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on women’s health, fertility and diagnostics. Headquartered in Pleasanton, CA, Cooper has more than 10,000 employees with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
Heather Kowalczyk, APR | Associate Vice President
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