Ciba wins US approval for Focus Night & Day

Ciba Vision will look to grow its contact lens market share in the US after the countryÕs Food & Drug Administration approved Focus Night & Day 30-day continuous wear.
The lenses, which were given the green light in Europe two years ago, have attracted thousands of patients on this side of the Atlantic.
Despite weakening consumer confidence in the US, Ciba Vision president of global lens business Stuart Heap is confident the brand will succeed, and claimed that it may attract some of those who were considering laser eye surgery.
ÔFocus Night & Day lenses are a good alternative to laser vision for the millions of individuals who desire around-the-clock clear vision, but who are not good candidates for the procedure or who are averse to it because of its high costs, invasiveness, non-reversibility and potential complications,Õ he said.
ÔFocus Night & Day is the most significant advancement in contact lens materials since soft lenses were introduced more than 30 years ago,Õ said Mr Heap.
Ô[It is] a breakthrough product that delivers what lens wearers want Ð convenient, continuous vision correction that easily fits with their busy and unpredictable lifestyles.Õ
Ciba VisionÕs latest FDA clinical trial involved 1,395 patients who were seen at 59 different investigation locations throughout the country. It ran for a year and tested the safety and efficacy of the lens.
The European Union gave the go-ahead for the lens to be marketed in its member states in 1999 (News, April 30 1999).