May 14, 2020

Johnson & Johnson Vision Announces Global Initiatives to Support Eye Care Professionals and their Patients During COVID-19 and Beyond

Mobilizing Johnson & Johnson’s full resources to address pandemic
Supporting customers in their roles as business owners and employers through the pandemic and recovery
Reaching thousands of eye care professionals (ECPs), students, patients, and consumers across the globe with educational resources

United Kingdom: May 14, 2020 – Johnson & Johnson Vision* is deploying solutions around the world to help address the challenges facing eye care professionals (ECPs) and their patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These support the broader efforts that Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, is taking to curb the crisis, including development of a vaccine and providing equipment, products, and financial donations to support organizations and healthcare workers globally.

Click to Tweet: As we continue to navigate #COVID19, @JNJVision has resources and solutions to meet the evolving needs of eye care professionals and patients. https://bit.ly/35YqVns

“All of us at Johnson & Johnson are guided by Our Credo in our approach to supporting patients, health care professionals, customers, and the global community we serve. COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed the landscape of 2020, but Johnson & Johnson was built for times like these,” said Shlomi Nachman**, Company Group Chairman, Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions Group and Johnson & Johnson Vision. “The Johnson & Johnson Vision organization is looking to the future with optimism. We’re using this time to listen, learn and lead - helping professionals and practices prepare for recovery to ensure patients everywhere are able to prioritize their eye health.”

Initiatives launched in direct response to COVID-19 include:

Supporting our customers as business owners and employers. Tailoring approach by region and customer need, the company is working to minimize new burdens placed on ECPs to allow them to focus on their patients, business, and families. This includes offering terms extensions, and continuing orders through home deliveries where possible.
Facilitating access to care, by providing customers around the world with guidance on engaging patients in this time, including communicating about virtual appointments and support that can be given online, by email or phone. To help patients reach eye care professionals directly, in countries such as Russia J&J Vision has launched a web locator to find local practices that remain open.
Introducing new virtual professional education resources, providing live trainings, webinars, and on-demand podcasts to help practitioners stay up-to-date on product innovations, clinical techniques, and resources for small business owners. J&J Vision’s professional education teams have provided training to more than 60,000 ECPs across the globe since January 2020.
Supporting the next generation of ECPs, collaborating with professional bodies worldwide to support students. J&J Vision is delivering virtual lectures to university students across several markets and has maintained close contact with hundreds of students through its Success Through Education Programme (STEP®) in the UK. J&J Vision has also partnered with the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) to create virtual educational sessions to help optometry students meet graduation requirements where academic institutions face interruptions.
Providing new digital resources for patients. J&J Vision is collaborating with experts in all regions to develop educational resources and materials for ECPs, consumers, media, and government officials, offering a full programme of expert webinars and educational content on contact lens safety online at ACUVUE.com/coronavirus. For example, in the UK, J&J Vision has launched a Live Chat Agent to address real-time patient questions. The company launched a 51-day education campaign on eye health, infection prevention, and safe contact lens wear in Asia Pacific, and is collaborating with the Centre of Ocular Research & Education (CORE) to educate on contact lens safety in the US.

“As markets begin a slow return to business, Johnson & Johnson Vision’s efforts are shifting to focus on how we can help eye care professionals and practice leaders re-open safely for patients and employees alike,” says Dr. Rajesh K. Rajpal***, Chief Medical Officer and Global Head of Clinical and Medical Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Vision. “Then, how we can quickly pivot to better serve the practices of tomorrow – using what we’ve learned through this shared experience. That’s the next horizon for innovation at Johnson & Johnson Vision.”

About Johnson & Johnson Vision*
At Johnson & Johnson Vision, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, we have a bold ambition: to change the trajectory of eye health worldwide. 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.

About Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies****
At Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, we are helping people live their best lives. Building on more than a century of expertise, we tackle pressing healthcare challenges, and take bold steps that lead to new standards of care while improving people’s healthcare experiences. In surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional solutions, we are helping to save lives and paving the way to a healthier future for everyone, everywhere.

*Johnson & Johnson Vision represents the products and services of Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., and the affiliates of both.

** Shlomi Nachman is an employee of Johnson & Johnson, serving as Company Group Chairman, with oversight of the Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions Group and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

*** Dr. Rajesh K. Rajpal is an employee of Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., serving as Head of Clinical and Medical Affairs across both the Surgical Vision and Vision Care organizations.

**** The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies comprise the surgery, orthopaedics, vision, and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices segment.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR ACUVUE CONTACT LENSES: ACUVUE® Contact Lenses are indicated for vision correction. As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. Complete information is also available from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., by calling 1-800-843-2020, or by visiting www.jnjvisionpro.com.

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Media Contacts
Sally Hetherington
Leader, EMEA Communications
shether1@its.jnj.com
+44 7770 337800

Carly Hilkin
Fleishman Hillard Fishburn
carly.hilkin@fhflondon.co.uk
+44 7501 951525

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