Despite a limited company-initiated recall of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye contact lenses in October this year, sales of the product in Australia and New Zealand continue to grow. We recently caught up with Simon Cosgrove, General Manager of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Australia and New Zealand, to talk about the advantages this product provides to patients.
Tell us about the recall of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye that took place this year. Should Optometrists and patients be concerned?
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care had a limited company-initiated recall on select batches of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye in October 2010 after some lenses failed to meet our high quality standards. We believe it is critical that, at all times, wearers experience the comfort they expect from our lenses, so we have taken the necessary steps to ensure these expectations are met. As a result of the recall, the company has invested in improvements to its manufacturing processes to achieve more consistent delivery of high-quality products.
Reports received following this event provide testimony to both patient and professional confidence in this product. Sales of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye have been uninhibited and continue to enjoy growth in both Australia and New Zealand.
So the product is performing well in Australia and New Zealand?
Sales for 1-Day Acuvue TruEye are currently very strong and continue to exceed the company’s expectations. We believe this is because of the superior comfort and convenience that these lenses provide.
Optometrists have told us that 1-Day Acuvue TruEye is an excellent option for patients who wear contact lenses for long hours especially in air conditioned environments and in front of the computer
How does 1-Day Acuvue TruEye, in your opinion, deliver ‘superior comfort and health’ to patients?
1 Day Acuvue TruEye contact lens brings together the health benefits of daily disposable modality with the superior oxygen transmissibility of silicone hydrogel lenses.
1-Day Acuvue TruEye utilises ‘Hydraclear 1’ technology to help keep the lens smooth and moist, providing superior end-of-day comfort when compared with hydrogel lenses. Research from University of Manchester has shown that 1-Day Acuvue TruEye offers equivalent level of comfort to no contact lens wear throughout the entire day1.
In addition, 1-Day Acuvue TruEye offers Class One UV protection that blocks 100 per cent of UV-B and 96 per cent of UV-A radiation.
What feedback have you received from Optometrists about the product?
Optometrists have told us that 1-Day Acuvue TruEye is an excellent option for patients who wear contact lenses for long hours especially in air conditioned environments and in front of the computer.
Optometrists in Australia are rapidly embracing silicone hydrogel and daily disposable lenses. According to the 2010 International Contact Lens Prescribing Survey, new fits in Silicone Hydrogels increased from 48 per cent in 2009 to 63 per cent in 2010. In addition, new fits in daily disposable contact lenses have risen from 11 per cent in 2006 to 27 per cent in 2010, with 29 per cent of these in the silicone hydrogel material.2
How is the company supporting 1-Day Acuvue TruEye in 2011?
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care created the daily disposable silicone hydrogel category in ANZ through the launch of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye in July 2009. We are very pleased about the performance of the lens in the market to date, and in 2011, we are planning to double our investment behind trial kits, to allow more patients to experience the benefits of this breakthrough technology.
In addition to this, we are increasing our presence at trade conferences, to further drive awareness of the product and its unique benefits.