Bausch + Lomb Introduces enVista™ Glistening-Free, Hydrophobic IOL in European Union

VIENNA, September 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, announced the launch of its new enVista™ glistening-free, hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) at the 2011 Congress of European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in Vienna, Austria.

As the first hydrophobic IOL from Bausch + Lomb, the enVista lens represents a significant step forward in IOL technology.  Setting the enVista apart from currently available IOLs is the unique combination of aspheric, aberration-free Advanced Optics technology, designed to deliver enhanced contrast sensitivity and better vision quality, with a clinically proven glistening-free material.  In addition, the enVista lens design is intended to minimize posterior capsular opacification (PCO), a common long-term problem with IOLs that can cause patient vision to become clouded post-surgery.  These features combined into one platform with the enVista lens, provide surgeons the opportunity to optimize short-term and long-term outcomes for their patients.(1-3)    

"The enVista hydrophobic lens has been clinically demonstrated to be free of glistenings, a key attribute to help improve visual acuity," said Professor David Spalton, FRCS, FRCP, FRCOphth, St. Thomas Hospital, London."Its360 degree square-edge barrier also provides an effective optic-haptic junction, which is associated with a low incidence of PCO."

Glistenings are fluid-filled microvacuoles that can form within an IOL, and are common in some hydrophobic acrylic IOLs.  They cause a portion of the light coming into the eye to be scattered in all directions, and have been shown to have a negative impact on visual acuity.(4)  

"We are proud to innovate the hydrophobic lens category with an IOL that provides a high quality of vision and addresses the common issue of glistenings," said Robert Grant, chief executive officer and president, Global Surgical Business, for Bausch + Lomb.  "It was important that we deliver an advanced hydrophobic lens that surgeons and patients can count on now and over the long-term, and data shows that we have achieved that with the enVista lens."

Bausch + Lomb will be hosting an enVista launch symposium, "Leading the Way for Vision Rejuvenation," on September 17, 2011 from 13:00-14:00 in Strauss Room 1 at Reed Messe Wien GmbH.  The event features presentations by Professor Spalton, as well as Edoardo Ligabue, MD, of the Ophthalmic Center at the San Siro Clinic in Milan, Italy, and Erik Mertens, MD, of the Antwerp Eye Centre in Belgium.

The enVista hydrophobic lens has received CE Mark approval in the European Union and additional approvals are pending worldwide.  

About Bausch + Lomb

Bausch + Lomb is one of the best-known and most respected healthcare companies in the world. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at http://www.bausch.com.

enVista™ is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.

(1) Pepose JS, Qazi MA, Edwards KH, Sanderson JP, Sarver EJ. Comparison of contrast sensitivity, depth of field and ocular wavefront aberrations in eyes with an IOL with zero versus positive spherical aberration. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2009;247(7):965-973.

(2) Johansson B, Sundelin S, Wikberg-Matsson A, Unsbo P, Behndig A. Visual and optical performance of the Akreos® Adapt Advanced Optics and Tecnis Z9000 intraocular lenses: Swedish multicenter study. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2007;33(9):1565-1572.

(3) Nishi O, Nishi K, Osakabe Y. Effect of intraocular lenses on preventing posterior capsule opacification: design versus material. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2004;30(10):2170-2176

(4) Christiansen G, et al.  Glistenings in the AcrySof intraocular lens: pilot study. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2001;27:728-33

News Media Contacts:

Michelle McAdam
Global Director, Surgical Communications
Bausch + Lomb
+1-310-902-1274 (during ESCRS), +1-949-297-3546 or michelle.mcadam@bausch.com

Lorie Fiber
Weber Shandwick on behalf of Bausch + Lomb
+1-310-623-0404 or lfiber@webershandwick.com