World Council of Optometry Awards ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM), ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) Brands With Global Seal of Acceptance for UV Absorbing Contact Lenses

World Council of Optometry Awards ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM), ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) Brands With Global Seal of Acceptance for UV Absorbing Contact Lenses

June 28, 2007

Contact Lenses Meet Highest Standard for Contact Lens UV
Protection


    BOSTON, June 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Johnson &
Johnson Vision Care, Inc., today announced that its
ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM) with HYDRACLEAR(TM), ACUVUE(R)
ADVANCE(TM) for ASTIGMATISM, and ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) with
HYDRACLEAR(TM) PLUS Brand Contact Lenses are the first
contact lenses to receive the World Council of Optometry's
(WCO) Global Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbing
Contact Lenses.  The announcement was made at the annual
meeting of the American Optometric Association in Boston.

    ( Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070628/CLTH019 )

    "In awarding the Global Seal of Acceptance, the
World Council of Optometry Global Commission on Ophthalmic
Standards (WCO GCOS), which provides independent evaluation
of ophthalmic related products, has determined that the
ACUVUE ADVANCE and ACUVUE OASYS brands meet established,
recognized and accepted standards that are adopted by the
WCO GCOS," said WCO President Robert Chappell.
"These include published standards of International
Standards Organization (ISO) and American National
Standards Institute (ANSI)."

    The ISO and ANSI standards classify UV-blocking contact
lenses into two groups based on the lens' absorptive
capacity at its minimum thickness.  Class 2 UV-blockers
must absorb at least 70 percent of UVA and more than 95
percent of UVB radiation. Class 1 UV-blockers must absorb a
minimum of 90 percent UVA and at least 99 percent UVB
radiation.  Only products that meet these standards may
claim to be UV blocking.  All three lenses previously
received the American Optometric Association (AOA) Seal of
Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers.

    "Not all contact lens lines offer UV protection,
and, of those that do, not all provide similar absorption
levels," explains Cristina Schnider, OD, Director,
Medical Affairs, VISTAKON(R), Division of Johnson &
Johnson Vision Care Inc. "All ACUVUE(R) Brand Contact
Lenses offer effective UV-blocking, and among contact lens
brands, ACUVUE ADVANCE, ACUVUE ADVANCE for ASTIGMATISM, and
ACUVUE OASYS with more than 90 percent of UVA rays and 99
percent of UVB rays blocked(+)(*) are the only lenses to
achieve Class I UV blocking status." 

    Experts say the effects of UV radiation are cumulative
and can do irreversible harm to all structures of the eye
and surrounding tissue that are left unprotected or
under-protected.  Certain conditions, such as age-related
cataract, may not manifest for years at which point the
damage is already done and it is too late to reverse the
effects of the sun.  "That's why it is important to
get maximum protection beginning in childhood,"
advises Dr. Schnider. "The most complete measure of UV
protection can be achieved with a combination of
UV-absorbing sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and
UV-blocking contact lenses."

    Because they cover the entire cornea and limbus,
UV-blocking contact lenses offer an added level of
protection when worn with UV blocking sunglasses.  While
many sunglasses block UV rays that enter through the
lenses, most do not prevent unfiltered rays from reaching
the eyes through the sides, as well as the top, and/or
bottom of the glasses. Due to their inability to block
these peripheral rays, some sunglasses block as little as
50 percent of all UV radiation from reaching the eyes.

    "It is just as important to block these peripheral
UV rays," warns Dr. Schnider. "UV-blocking contact
lenses provide added protection by effectively blocking
sunlight that may enter the cornea from the top, bottom, or
sides of the glasses."  Although UV-blocking contact
lenses provide important added protection for patients,
they should not be viewed as a stand-alone solution.
Contact lenses should always be worn in conjunction with
high-quality UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
for maximum UV protection for the eyes.

    ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with
HYDRACLEAR(TM), ACUVUE ADVANCE(TM) for ASTIGMATISM and
ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with
HYDRACLEAR(TM) PLUS are indicated for daily wear vision
correction. ACUVUE OASYS may also be worn for up to 6
consecutive nights/7 days of extended wear as recommended
by an eye care professional.

    Contact lenses should not be worn for longer periods
than recommended by an eye care professional. As with all
contact lenses, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can
develop. Some wearers may also experience mild irritation,
itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be worn if the
wearer has an eye infection or experiences eye discomfort,
excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye
problems.  If these conditions occur, the wearer should
contact their eye care professional. Consult the patient
information guide available from your doctor for complete
information. For further information, talk to your eye care
professional or call [phone] or visit
http://www.acuvue.com .

    About The World Council of Optometry

    WCO is an international organization dedicated to the
enhancement and development of eye and vision care
worldwide. Representing over 200,000 optometrists from 75
member organizations in 41 countries, WCO serves as a forum
for optometric organizations to respond to public health
needs and opportunities around the world. The WCO is a
member of the International Agency for the Prevention of
Blindness and maintains official relations with the World
Health Organization.

    Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. 

    The VISTAKON division of Johnson & Johnson Vision
Care, Inc. specializes in disposable contact lenses which
it markets under such brand names as ACUVUE(R), ACUVUE(R)
ADVANCE(TM) with HYDRACLEAR(TM), ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM) for
ASTIGMATISM, ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) with HYDRACLEAR(TM) PLUS,
ACUVUE(R) and ACUVUE(R) 2; 1-DAY ACUVUE(R); ACUVUE(R)
BIFOCAL; ACUVUE(R) TORIC, and ACUVUE(R) 2 COLOURS(TM).

    ACUVUE(R), ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM), HYDRACLEAR(TM),
ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM), ACUVUE(R) 2 COLOURS(TM), and
VISTAKON(R) are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision
Care, Inc.

    (+) Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV
radiation to the cornea and into the eye.

    (*) WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT
substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as
UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not
completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should
continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE:
Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk
factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a
number of factors such as environmental conditions
(altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors
(extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-Blocking
contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV
radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to
demonstrate that wearing UV-Blocking contact lenses reduces
the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders.
Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.


    For more information, please contact:

     Gary Esterow
     VISTAKON
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Katie Shapiro
     Rpr Communications 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]