The demand for coloured lenses is a rapidly growing segment of the contact market, making it an exciting opportunity for eyecare professionals. The global contact lens market is projected to be valued as US$13.47 billion by 2019. The market will grow because of three key uses – cosmetic, aesthetic and therapeutic (Contact Lens Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 – 2019.). With the beauty industry trending towards a more natural appearance as the new norm, here are two recently launched options.

Alcon Vision Care’s Air Optix Colors

Alcon Vision Care’s Air Optix Colors are the first monthly-replacement, daily-wear colour contact lenses in Canada on a silicone hydrogel platform. “Basically what that means is that it’s the first coloured contact without any compromise. It has the same level of breathability as a regular clear contact lens, “ said Nelson Da Silva, Sr. Brand Manager, Air Optix. “That is the game changer for coloured contacts. They are going to be as healthy as a normal contact lens.” They were designed with Fresh- Look 3-in-1 colour technology that blends with the eye colour to provide a beautiful natural appearance. The outer ring defines and emphasizes the iris, while the primary colour transforms the eye colour, and the inner brightens and adds depth. The unique, smooth surface technology creates a protective layer of moisture that resists irritating deposits so the lenses stay comfortable from day one to day 30. “The actual colour is encapsulated in the lens material which vastly improves the comfort,” said Da Silva.= The lenses are available with a prescription from an eyecare professional, but they also have the option to prescribe the lenses in plano form.

Air Optix are marketed to women between the ages of 18 to 35 who are interested in changing their eye colour. They provide a natural looking change and are available in nine colours, from subtle for people who have lighter irises to more vibrant for those with darker irises. The website (www.airoptixcolors.ca) has a colour studio where an image can be uploaded in order to play with the different colour options. The software can also choose what it believes to be the best option for that particular patient. “It is actually a very good representation of how it’s going to look on you,” said Da Silva. Available in Pure Hazel, Blue, Green, Gray, Brown, Honey, Brilliant Blue, Gemstone Green and Sterling grey.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 1-DAY ACUVUE DEFINE

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. has launched 1-Day Acuvue Define lenses with LACREON technology, a new category of eye enhancement lenses that accentuate natural beauty while helping to support a healthy eye. Now available in Canada with expanded product availability in the market, the brand has had ten years of success in the Asian market. The product addresses an unmet need for natural-looking eye enhancement: the 2013 Gallup Study of the U.S. consumer contact lens market showed that one in three vision corrected teens/adults expressed a strong interest in purchasing a contact lens that enhances the natural beauty of their eyes. Acuvue Define has sophisticated iris-inspired designs with high definition patterns that combine a clean, clear limbal edge with crisp contrast – to give eyes greater definition by creating contrast between the iris and sclera – and an inner translucent light-effects pattern – to add depth and definition without changing the eye’s natural colour. The lens provides personalized eye enhancement that uniquely interacts with each iris pattern. Independent research (Preliminary

Evidence that the Limbal Ring Influences Attractiveness, Department of Cognitive Science, University of California Irvine.) shows that people are more attracted to those with darker more pronounced limbal rings, as limbal rings are associated with a healthy and youthful appearance. As we age the thickness of our limbal ring declines, fading and becoming less pronounced. The lens features Beauty Wrapped In Comfort technology that fully encloses the pattern within the lens ensuring that the design pigments are not in contact with the surface of the eye or eyelid. The lens mimics the feel of natural tears on the eye to keep eyes moist and fresh. They block approximately 81 per cent of UV-A radiation and 97 per cent of UV-B radiation. It is available in plano and vision correction ranges from +1.00 to -9.00 with a base curve of 8.5 and diameter 14.2mm and is being introduced in three styles to complement all eye colours: natural sparkle, natural shimmer and natural shine.