CooperVision Biofinity™ Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses Now Available in United States

Patented Aquaform™ technology optimizes the relationship between water and oxygen to deliver excellent comfort, health, and performance.

CooperVision announced today that its Biofinity™ silicone hydrogel contact lenses are now available for daily wear in the United States. Designed with patented Aquaform™ technology, Biofinity monthly replacement lenses are made with a unique lens material offering higher water content, a lower modulus, and high oxygen transmissibility. These characteristics translate into maximum comfort, optimal health, and excellent performance for the patient.

Biofinity lenses use CooperVision-patented Aquaform technology to create a naturally wettable silicone hydrogel contact lens. Aquaform minimizes concerns over lens dehydration because it establishes hydrogen bonds with water molecules to create a naturally hydrophilic contact lens that retains water within the lens. In addition, wettability is inherent within the material itself, eliminating the need for additives, coatings, wetting agents, or surface treatments.

Aquaform technology also incorporates longer-chain siloxane molecules, which means less siloxane needs to be incorporated into the lens material to achieve high levels of oxygen transmissibility. The result is a softer, more wettable material that gives better all-day comfort. The aspheric front surface lens design improves visual performance, and the single base curve and back surface design enables fast, easy alignment and a quicker fitting process. A patented molded round edge reduces conjunctival interaction, resulting in continuous wearing comfort for the patient.

“The wettability and high modulus issues associated with silicone hydrogel lens wear are irrelevant with Biofinty. Aquaform technology optimizes the relationship between oxygen and water, creating a softer, more flexible lens material that stays moist and comfortable all day long,” said James Gardner, director, spherical lens marketing, CooperVision. “Biofinity will offer patients a level of comfort never thought possible with a silicone hydrogel lens.”

Biofinity is manufactured from comfilcon A material. The water content of Biofinity is 48 percent, Dk is 128, and Dk/t is 160. The lens features sphere powers from -0.25 to -6.00D, a base curve of 8.6, and a diameter of 14.

In addition, CooperVision will continue to advance its silicone hydrogel portfolio with the introduction of a two-week silicone hydrogel sphere in 2008, as well as a silicone hydrogel toric lens in late 2008. The company will also continue to pursue FDA-clearance for Biofinity as an extended-wear (overnight wear) lens, with approval expected in the second half of 2008.

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About CooperVision

CooperVision is one of the world’s leading and fastest-growing manufacturers of contact lenses, currently the third-largest manufacturer in the United States and worldwide. CooperVision is considered the world’s leading producer of premium-quality toric lenses for people with astigmatism. In addition, CooperVision manufactures lenses for people with spherical and presbyopic conditions and opaque lenses for patients who want to change the appearance of their eye color.

Michigan Eye Institute is a leading regional eye care center, offering complete optical, medical and surgical eye services in Flint, Fenton, Lapeer, Grand Blanc and Oxford.  All Doctors are Board Certified.  State-of-the-art facilities accommodate every aspect of primary and specialty eye care.