By Troy Patterson

About 3.5 million Canadians use contact lenses to correct their vision, according to the latest VisionWatch Canada report from the Vision Council Research.

Roughly 18 per cent of Canadian women and nine per cent of Canadian men wear contacts, with the majority purchasing new contacts about once per year.

As the popularity of contact lenses continues to rise, companies are constantly working to develop new products to meet the vision care needs of even more Canadians.

CooperVision recently announced the launch of MiSight lenses on the heels of introducing MyDay toric lenses in Canada.

CooperVision MiSight one-day contact lens not only correct existing myopia in children but have been proven to slow the progression of the condition in most children.

Myopia is projected to affect more than half of the world’s population by 2050.

MiSight 30pk from CooperVision

In the short term, myopia robs children of their ability to fully participate in everyday life,” says Alexandra Donkin, country manager for CooperVision Canada.

Correcting it is only part of the battle, since the condition can worsen as a child matures. The MiSight oneday contact lens has been specifically developed to control that progression, which can significantly reduce the risk of myopia-related complications and vision loss later in life.”

Myopia significantly increases the risk of retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy, with even low myopia levels associated with a higher prevalence of glaucoma and cataracts.

MiSight one-day has been shown to reduce myopia progression by more than half versus a single-vision one-day lens.

MyDay 1Day toric 90pk from CooperVision.

CooperVision MyDay toric daily disposable lenses, meanwhile, offer patients with astigmatism the benefits of a premium silicone hydrogel material.

The company says MyDay offers an extensive power range in a oneday toric lens, which enables eye care professionals the chance to fit a greater number of patients in CooperVision’s softest oneday silicone hydrogel lens.

Centennial Optical is the Canadian distributor of Extreme H2O Weekly, the only disposable contact lenses available in three different diameters, 13.6, 14.2 and 14.8.

This enables eye care professionals to successfully fit small, standard and large diameter patients, providing them with a better fit and a more comfortable wearing experience,” says Rick Leroux director of marketing & communications for Centennial Optical Ltd‘s Lens Division.

Extreme H20 Weekly from Centennial Optical.

A weekly replacement modality is ideal for patients who would benefit from a more frequent replacement, but don’t want to incur the cost of a daily disposable.

Centennial Optical is also supporting the growing scleral lens market by offering Canadian eyecare professionals the Atlantis Scleral contact lenses, which perform well on any patient with an irregular cornea.

Johnson & Johnson Vision recently announced the launch of ACUVUE VITA Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM, a daily wear, monthly replacement contact lens for the Canadian marketplace.

Astigmatism is an imperfection in the curvature of the cornea that can cause blurred or distorted vision. Symptoms of uncorrected astigmatism may include eye strain and headaches, especially after reading or other prolonged visual tasks. Squinting also is a common symptom. Mild to moderate astigmatism can be corrected through eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery.

ACUVUE VITA for ASTIGMATISM from J&J Vision.

With the launch of Acuvue Vita for Astigmatism in 2017, patients now have access to a monthly astigmatism lens with a silicone hydrogel formulation balanced to help maximize and maintain hydration throughout the lens for reliable, exceptional comfort all month long,” says Kara Peterson, leader of North American communications for Johnson & Johnson Vision.