ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Encourages Parents to Add ‘Eye Exam’ to the Back-to-School Checklist with New Campaign
Johnson & Johnson Vision is working to change the trajectory of myopia, a growing public health crisis impacting one in three children in the U.S.1,2
JACKSONVILLE, FL – August 3, 2023 – Today, the ACUVUE® Abiliti™ brand announced its Back-to-School campaign to inform parents about the growing risk of myopia and encourage them to schedule a comprehensive eye exam for their children ahead of the new school year. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a chronic and progressive disease in which the eye grows too long.3,4,5 If left untreated, it can lead to future sight complications including blindness.6,7 Over the past 20 years, the number of people with myopia has nearly doubled.7 To help raise awareness of this growing public health crisis, ACUVUE® Abiliti™ has teamed up with content creators, optometrists and patients to share their experiences and highlight the importance of yearly eye exams for children.
“As a parent of school-aged children, summer always seems to pass by in the blink of an eye and before you know it, we are running around town checking off every item on our back-to-school list,” said ACUVUE® Abiliti™ brand partner and father of two, Jason Hanna. “With myopia on the rise, we make it a point every year to schedule eye exams for both of our boys.”
Eye care expert, Dr. Caroline Cho, OD, DuPage Optical, Addison, IL, understands firsthand the significance of comprehensive eye exams for children. She’s treated many patients in the Chicago area for myopia, including Alexander, who started wearing glasses at a young age. Over time he began to complain of headaches and had trouble seeing the board at school.
“My husband and I were concerned with the symptoms our son was experiencing, so we brought him to the pediatrician who suggested we meet with an eye doctor. After visiting Dr. Cho, she recommended ACUVUE® Abiliti™ lenses for Alexander, which he wears at night while he sleeps,” said Estephanie, mother of Alexander. “Within less than a week of wearing the contacts, Alexander had 20/20 vision during the day, allowing him to go to school and play sports without needing to wear glasses or contacts. His headaches went away, he was able to see the board at school, and his overall confidence improved.”
An average of one in three kids in the United States have myopia,1,2 with most diagnosed between ages 8 and 12.8 Myopia can develop in earlier years, so it’s important for children to have annual comprehensive eye exams starting by age 5.9,10 Additionally, up to 40% of students with learning disabilities like dyslexia or ADHD have misdiagnosed vision issues, which is another reason it’s so critical for children to meet with an eye care professional yearly.11
“Alexander’s story is just one example of why I urge all parents to schedule an eye exam with their local eye doctor before their child heads back to school this fall. These exams can help supplement a quick eye test a child may receive at their pediatrician’s office,” said Dr. Cho. “And it’s important to note that no level of myopia is safe but if your child is diagnosed, there are many options available to help manage it.”
ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses have shown to be successful in myopia management among children and young adults.12 These lenses are worn overnight while the child sleeps and temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing for clear vision the next day.12,13,* Abiliti™ Overnight lenses typically eliminate the need to wear glasses or contacts during the day.13,*
“Eye health is key to children’s academic success and plays a role in early childhood development. In fact, 80% of classroom learning is done visually,”14 said Monica Jong, OD, PhD, Global Professional Education Lead for Myopia, Johnson & Johnson Vision.† “This further reinforces the importance of overall eye health and how critical it is to our well-being, even for our children. At Johnson & Johnson Vision, we’re committed to changing the trajectory of myopia, and one step in that direction is driving parents to take action and schedule a yearly comprehensive eye exam.”
On August 30, Sight For Kids®, the largest, school-based eye health program that provides comprehensive eye health services to low-income schools, will be hosting free comprehensive eye care exams for eligible students at the Keys Gate Charter School in Homestead, Florida, and will feature a mobile screening unit with local optometrists in coordination with Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and their Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program. Co-founded by the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and Johnson & Johnson Vision in 2002, Sight For Kids® has screened more than 42 million students around the world, with over 600,000 students treated and 500,000 pairs of glasses provided to children in need. For every purchase of Abiliti™ Overnight lenses, Sight For Kids® will provide a free eye exam to a child in need.
Johnson & Johnson Vision is also encouraging its employees and others to share their children’s back to school eye exam experience. Those interested in joining the conversation and helping to raise awareness can do so by posting on social media and using #SeeYourAbiliti.
To find a myopia specialist near you and schedule an eye exam ahead of the new school year, visit seeyourabiliti.com.
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About ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management
ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management are orthokeratology lenses approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for myopia management. Abiliti™ Overnight lenses are worn overnight to temporarily reduce refractive error up to 6.00 diopters (and up to 1.50 diopters of astigmatism), and subject to the eye care professional’s myopia management plan, may eliminate the need to wear contact lenses or glasses throughout the waking hours after lenses are removed.13,‡
About Johnson & Johnson Vision§
At Johnson & Johnson Vision, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech,** we have a bold ambition: to change the trajectory of eye health around the world. Through our operating companies, we deliver innovation that enables eye care professionals to create better outcomes for patients throughout their lives, with products and technologies that address unmet needs including refractive error, cataracts and dry eye. In communities with greatest need, we work in collaboration to expand access to quality eye care, and we are committed to helping people see better, connect better and live better. Visit us at www.jjvision.com. Follow @JNJVision on Twitter and Johnson & Johnson Vision on LinkedIn, and @JNJVision on Facebook.
Important Safety Information for Contact Lens Wearers
ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for the management of myopia. An eye care professional will determine whether these contact lenses are right for you. Although, rare, serious eye problems including vision loss and blindness can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these symptoms, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care disinfection instructions provided by your eye care professional. Do not wear these contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and review the Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-877-334-3937, or visit www.seeyourabiliti.com.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023, including in the sections captioned “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in Johnson & Johnson’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., Johnson & Johnson MedTech nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.
* The lenses are indicated for reducing refractive error up to 6.00D of myopia and up to 1.50D of astigmatism. Results may vary by patient and prescription level.
† Monica Jong, OD, PhD, is an employee of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., with oversight of as Global Professional Education Lead for Myopia for the Vision Care organization.
‡ Results may vary by patient and prescription level.
§ Johnson & Johnson Vision represents the products and services of Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., and the affiliates of both.
** Johnson & Johnson MedTech comprises the surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson’s MedTech segment.
1 Vitale S et al. Increased prevalence of myopia in the US, 1971-1972, 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(12)1632-1639.
2 Theophanous C, Modjtahedi BS, Batech M, Marlin DS, Luong TQ, Fong DS. Myopia prevalence and risk factors in children. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018 Aug 29;12:1581-1587
3 Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31(6):622-660.
4 Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A et al. Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. OVS 2012;89(1):27-32.
5 Pärssinen O, Kauppinen M. Risk factors for high myopia: a 22-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2019;97(5):510-518.
6 Morgan IG, French AN, Ashby RS, Guo X, Ding X, He M, Rose KA. The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 Jan; 62:134-149.
7 Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016; 123:1036-42.
8 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Nearsightedness: What Is Myopia? 2022 September. https://www.aao.org/eyehealth/diseases/myopia-nearsightedness
9 American Optometric Association. Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-youreyes/eye-exams?sso=y
10 Morgan IG, French AN, Ashby RS, Guo X, Ding X, He M, Rose KA. The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 Jan;62:134-149.
11 Feis, A. Learning Difficulties? Have Your Child’s Vision Checked. Midwestern University Clinics. 2022 August. https://www.mwuclinics.com/clinics/news/learning-difficulties-have-your-childs-vision-checked
12 JJV Data on File 2023. ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management – Consolidated, Approved Claims List; U.S. Only Claims
13 Data on File 2023. Instruction For Use (FDA)
14 Vision to Learn. UCLA Study: Impact Analysis of Vision to Learn. https://visiontolearn.org/impact/ucla-study-impact-analysisof-vision-to-learn/
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