How was O₂OPTIX developed?

What material is O₂OPTIX based on?

What is silicone hydrogel?

Why is it important for oxygen and water to pass through the lens to the eye?

What is Dk/t?

How is 5 x measured?

What is O₂OPTIX?

What is the wear and replacement schedule for O₂OPTIX lenses?

What powers is O₂OPTIX available in?

Is O₂OPTIX available in colors?

I have astigmatism. Can I wear O₂OPTIX lenses?

Will everybody be able to wear these lenses?

Where are O₂OPTIX contact lenses manufactured?

Does O₂OPTIX have a handling tint?

How much will the lenses cost in Australia and New Zealand?

How will O₂OPTIX be packaged for purchase in Australia and New Zealand?

Where can I buy O₂OPTIX contact lenses?

Do I need a prescription to purchase O₂OPTIX lenses?

Do O₂OPTIX contact lenses require any cleaning or disinfection?

What lens care solution should I use to clean my O₂OPTIX lenses?

 

 

What is O₂OPTIX?

O₂OPTIX is a revolutionary daily wear silicone hydrogel contact lens from CIBA Vision, that transmits up to five times more oxygen than traditional soft daily wear lenses.  Designed to reduce the signs of corneal oxygen deficiency, O₂OPTIX is an excellent choice for those patients who wear their lenses for many hours during the day.

What is the wear and replacement schedule for O₂OPTIX lenses?

O₂OPTIX is approved for daily wear. The recommended replacement schedule is 1 month.

What powers is O₂OPTIX available in?

O₂OPTIX is offered in a single base curve (8.6mm) in spherical powers from +6.00D to -8.00D (in 0.25D steps) and -8.50D to -10.00D (in 0.50D steps). 

Is O₂OPTIX available in colours?

No, O₂OPTIX lenses are not available in colour at this time.  However, CIBA Vision offers many types of coloured contact lenses to change, enhance or illuminate eye colour.

For more information on CIBA Vision's FreshLook colour lenses, visit http://www.freshlook.com.au/.

I have astigmatism.  Can I wear O₂OPTIX lenses?

Currently, an O₂OPTIX toric lens is not available, but CIBA Vision is developing an O₂OPTIX toric lens for release soon.  Patients with up to 1D to 1.25D of astigmatism may be able to be fitted in a spherical O₂OPTIX lens depending on their exact vision and visual needs.  If you have astigmatism, you should talk to your optometrist about this possibility.

Will everybody be able to wear these lenses?

As with all contact lenses, it is impossible to say that everyone can wear a particular lens.  O₂OPTIX will be offered in a single base curve (8.6mm) in spherical powers from +6.00D to -8.00D (in 0.25D steps) and -8.50D to -10.00D (in 0.50D steps).  Your optometrist can determine the best lens for you.

Where are O₂OPTIX contact lenses manufactured?

O₂OPTIX lenses are manufactured at CIBA Vision's facilities in Duluth & Georgia, USA and Batam, Indonesia.

Does O₂OPTIX have a handling tint?

Yes, O₂OPTIX lenses have a light blue handling tint, which makes them easier to see when handling.

How much will the lenses cost in Australia and New Zealand?

The annual patient cost of O₂OPTIX is determined by your optometrist.

How will O₂OPTIX be packaged for purchase in Australia and New Zealand?

O₂OPTIX is available for sale in packs of three.

Where can I buy O₂OPTIX contact lenses?

O₂OPTIX is currently available from licensed optometrists in Australia and New Zealand.

Do I need a prescription to purchase O₂OPTIX lenses?

Yes, contact lenses are a medical device and must be prescribed and fitted by a licensed optometrist.

Do O₂OPTIX contact lenses require any cleaning or disinfection?

Yes, worn on a daily wear basis, O₂OPTIX lenses should be removed daily and cleaned and disinfected prior to reinsertion on the eye.

What lens care solution should I use to clean my O₂OPTIX lenses?

CIBA Vision's new AQuify® multi-purpose solution designed specially for silicone hydrogel lenses, as well as preservative-free AOSept® Plus for sensitive eyes, are ideal for cleaning and disinfecting O₂OPTIX lenses. O₂OPTIX lenses are compatible with a number of multi-purpose solutions. 

How was O₂OPTIX developed?

O₂OPTIX is a continuation of CIBA Vision's industry-leading research into silicone hydrogel contact lens technology in association with Sydney - based Vision CRC .

What material is O₂OPTIX based on?

O₂OPTIX lenses are made of lotrafilcon B, a revolutionary, new patented silicone hydrogel material.

What is silicone hydrogel?

O₂OPTIX lenses are made of a revolutionary, new patented silicone hydrogel material, lotrafilcon B. The unique molecular structure of this material has two distinct pathways that allow water to pass through the lens without reducing the material's ability to transmit oxygen to the eye. This enables the lens to move freely on the eye and to keep plenty of oxygen flowing to the cornea.

Why is it important for oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye?

Oxygen is essential for corneal health. Insufficient oxygen compromises normal eye function and may cause the cornea to swell. While minimal swelling is common during sleep, even in people who do not wear contact lenses, sleeping in ordinary contact lenses substantially reduces oxygen supply to the eyes which can cause the cornea to swell significantly.  This condition often results in very irritated eyes and uncomfortable lens wear. 

What is Dk/t?

• Dk/t is the ISO (International Standards Organisation) approved measure to describe the oxygen transmissibility of contact lenses.


• Oxygen transmissibility is the rate that oxygen can flow through the lens to the eye.


• Quoted values are always for a -3.00 D lens. The Dk/t value for lenses of different powers or thickness will differ.
• Actual oxygen consumption will vary from person to person, by environment, temperature, time of day and many other factors.

How is 5 x more oxygen measured?

What does up to 5 x more oxygen mean?

• This means that the Dk/t of O₂OPTIX is 5 times higher than the Dk/t of the comparative traditional daily wear soft contact lens.


• This means that when your eye needs it most, the lens has the ability to transmit up to five times more oxygen through the lens to the eye.

Will my eye always use 5 x more oxygen?

• A lens with higher Dk/t will always allow the eye to consume more oxygen than a lens of lower Dk/t.


• Actual oxygen consumption will vary from person to person, by environment, temperature, time of day and many other factors.


• As yet we do not have good measures of how much oxygen the cornea actually consumes and there is debate in the scientific community about how to measure and predict this.


• Traditional daily wear soft contact lenses (low Dk/t lenses) are associated with signs of Corneal Oxygen Deficiency but silicone hydrogel lenses (high Dk/t lenses) resolve many of these problems.