Allergy diseased person joy : the humans ’s first drug - deliver contact lens system has just been okay in the US .

Johnson & Johnson has developed a casual disposable contact lens that ’s coated with ketotifen , a widely used antihistamine used to treat allergies such as hayfever . dub ACUVUE Theravision , the lens aims to help people who wear daily middleman lenses but also suffer from allergies that can make their eyes uncomfortable .

Already useable in Japan and Canada , the medicinal drug - laced physical contact lenses have just been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) , as per an announcement fromJohnson & Johnson . So , theoretically , they could become available to Americans very in short , although there ’s currently not much entropy about the rollout .

The approval follows late Phase 3 clinical written report , published in the journalCornea , which come up the lens was in effect at reducing itchy eyes as quickly as three minutes after being inserted , as well as providing relief for up to 12 hours . The study , which involve 244 people , found the core was similar to conduct topical drug delivery , but without the trouble of administering center drops .

" [ physical contact genus Lens ] drug obstetrical delivery provides several advantages over unmediated topical ophthalmic diligence . Combining vision rectification and curative treatment for allergic reaction increases abidance for both conditions by simplify overall management , " the study reads .

Around 40 percent of contact lens wearer say they suffer from itchy middle due to allergies and almost 80 per centum of contact lens wearers with eye allergies take they are frustrated when allergic reaction interfere with their normal contact lens wear . With these lense , those thwarting could be facilitate .

“ optical allergic itch in contact lens wearer may soon be an way out of the retiring thanks to the decision of the FDA in okay Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen , ”   Brian Pall , Director of Clinical Science at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care , said in astatement .

“ These new lens system may facilitate keep more masses in contact electron lens , since they relieve allergic eye urge for up to 12 hour , without the penury for allergy drops , and provide visual sense correction , ” added Pall .