JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Johnson & Johnson Vision reported Tuesday that it has developed a “first-of-its-kind contact lens that provides wearers with vision correction and a dynamic photochromic filter” that adapts to changing light conditions. The new lens, which continuously balances the amount of light entering the eye, will be marketed as Acuvue Oasys with Transitions Light Intelligent Technology and will become available in 2019. In its announcement, J&J Vision said it developed the new lens “in strategic partnership with Transitions Optical.” The lenses quickly and seamlessly adjust from clear to dark in response to changing light conditions, thus reducing exposure to bright light indoors and outdoors, including filtering blue light and blocking UV rays, the J&J Vision announcement stated.

The two-week reusable, spherical contact lens will be marketed by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. and will be commercially available in the first half of 2019, according to the announcement. The Food and Drug Administration issued a 510(k) clearance for the new Oasys lenses this week with an indication for the attenuation of bright light. “This regulatory milestone is an important step toward achieving JJV’s vision of helping people see better, connect better, and live better,” J&J Vision said.

“This innovation was born out of deep research into consumer lifestyle needs and fits our future-forward approach to caring for human sight,” said Dr. Xiao-Yu Song, global head of R&D for Johnson & Johnson Vision. “Acuvue Oasys with Transitions creates and defines an entirely new category of contact lenses that will address unmet needs for patients.”



The new lens is the result of more than a decade of product development and numerous clinical trials involving more than 1,000 patients, J&J Vision said. In a separate announcement, the FDA said it reviewed scientific evidence, including a clinical study of 24 patients who evaluated daytime and nighttime driving performance while wearing the contact lenses. The results of the study demonstrated there was no evidence of concerns with either driving performance or vision while wearing the lenses.

In addition, J&J Vision said the strategic partnership “between Johnson & Johnson Vision and Transitions Optical combines “the respective strengths of each company. While Acuvue is the world leader in contact lenses, Transitions Optical is the leading provider of photochromic (smart adaptive) lenses worldwide. The two companies are working together to research and deliver best-in-class, vision care innovations.”