Contact lenses that darken in sunlight are now a reality

The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) just approved Acuvue Oasys contact lenses with Transition Light Intelligent Technology that get darker in the sun when they are exposed to sunlight. The company that developed them, Johnson & Johnson, explained about these lenses that they will basically be invisible on people with dark eyes, and slightly visible on people with light eyes. These lenses can be worn for daily up to 14 hours without getting teary eyes.

Malvina Eydelman (director of the Division of Ophthalmic at the FDA) said in a statement,

“This contact lens is the first of its kind to incorporate the same technology that is used in eyeglasses that automatically darken in the sun,”

These contact lenses are soft especially designed for daily use to correct vision of people who are nearsighted (myopic) or farsighted (hyperopic). They can also be used by people with a certain degree of astigmatism (an abnormal curvature of the eye). The contact lenses contain a photochromic coating that adapts to UV light exposure. Johnson & Johnson says the lenses will automatically return to a regular tint when exposed to normal or dark lighting conditions. These contact lenses quickly adjust from clear to dark in response to changing light conditions reducing exposure to bright light indoors and outdoors, including filtering blue light and blocking UV rays.

The agency tested the new lenses on 24 patients to make sure there were no problems with driving during the day and at night. None of the users reported any trouble with the contacts prior to the FDA’s approval.

Johnson & Johnson added that their subsidiary, Acuvue, will be introducing the new Oasys Contact Lenses during the first half of 2019, however, they warned that users should not sleep with them or expose them to water.

Will you be using these contact lenses? Let us know in the comments below.