Behind the design: Johnson & Johnson Vision on the Acuvue Oasys Multifocal

In July this year Johnson & Johnson Vision launched the Acuvue Oasys Multifocal with Pupil Optimised Design, a reusable contact lens designed to meet the needs of patients with presbyopia.

This was a key area of focus for Johnson & Johnson Vision at the BCLA Virtual Clinical Conference and Exhibition 2021 in June, with the company providing an insight into the Pupil Optimised Design technology, which also features in the 1-Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal.

Discussing the reason for the new contact lens, Dr Greg Williby, principal engineer for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, told OT: “We know that one out of every two contact lens wearers who are presbyopes drop out due to comfort and/or vision issues.”

The Acuvue Oasys Multifocal range aims to change this through three technologies at the heart of its design – a Pupil Optimised Design, hybrid back curve technology, and proprietary wetting agent: PVP.

Talking OT through the Pupil Optimised Design concept, Williby noted that, as pupil size tends to decrease with age, “it does mean we have a lot of complicated optics to fit into a small aperture,” adding that a mismatch in size could lead to unwanted aberrations and reduced performance.

“With regard to pupil size, what is less intuitive is that pupil size also varies with refractive error,” Williby said, adding that a contact lens design needs to accommodate these known changes.

The hybrid back curve technology aims to better match the natural eye shape and help keep the optics in the right place, Williby shared, while the wetting agent also supports stability and comfort.

Reflecting on the challenges that practitioners can encounter when fitting multifocal contact lenses, Williby reflected: “We certainly know that some practitioners have had limited success with multifocals in the past and that they may be reluctant to try them again.”

To support practitioners in the fitting process, Williby emphasised the importance of using the manufacturer’s fitting guide, highlighting: “I think what is so important for everyone to understand is that the fit guide is created in conjunction with the optical design.”

Illustrating the importance of the fitting guide, Williby noted that a recent study conducted with the Acuvue Oasys Multifocal found over 97% of patients were fit with two pairs or less – meaning less time spent in the chair.

Describing the ‘partnership’ between practitioners and manufacturers, Williby said that manufacturers are working to provide practitioners the tools and confidence to fit multifocal contact lenses.

“It’s understandable that these lenses are complicated. It’s a complicated problem that we’re trying to solve,” Williby told OT. “But I think if eye care practitioners can embrace that partnership. And try these products out on patients that are willing to go on this journey with them, and follow the manufacturer’s fit guide, I have no doubt that they’ll be the hero to their presbyopic patients.”