FORT WORTH, Texas—Alcon has launched the first monthly replacement color contact lenses available in the U.S. using silicone hydrogel technology. By combining 3-in-1 FreshLook Color-Blends lens technology with the company’s Air Optix Aqua contact lens material, Air Optix Colors contact lenses offer comfort and breathability in nine natural-looking colors along with vision correction. The technology allows up to six times more oxygen through the lens when compared to the leading color contact lens, according to the company.
 

Air Optix Colors contact lenses are made of the same lotrafilcon B material as Air Optix Aqua contact lenses. This technology offers an identical 33 percent water content and oxygen transmission (Dk/t 138 @ -3.00D), and features the smooth, permanent plasma surface technology for superior wettability and lipid deposit resistance, for comfort from day one to day 30, according to the company.

Air Optix Colors contact lenses are available in nine colors, ranging from subtle (pure hazel, blue, green, gray and brown), to more vibrant (brilliant blue, gemstone green, honey and sterling gray). Also, there is no refit required for current Air Optix Aqua contact lens wearers.

There is a vast untapped market of those who are interested in cosmetic contact lenses: “19 million people are interested, but only 2.4 million currently wear color contact lenses,” according to a presentation made by Thomas F. Steiner, industry consultant who was formerly vice president of marketing for Wesley Jessen, at the Alcon-sponsored Corporate Optometry Reports March 2014 meeting. ■

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