Future
of the Lens
David Moreira, VP of Marketing for Menicon gives
insight into lens trends and technology for 2014
1. What new lens technology are
4. How has Menicon met the lens
you anticipating in 2014?
needs of ECPs and wearers?
In 2014 Menicon America hopes
to introduce Miru 1day flat pack to
Canada.
Although we may not follow
the same e-commerce distribution
model as we have in the U.S., Miru
promises to be an exciting option
for the daily disposable lens market.
Menicon distributes its products
in 88 countries across the
world. Menicon’s products now
include innovative soft and rigid
gas permeable contact lenses, the
leading lens for keratoconus patients
(Rose K™), a dry eye diagnostic
tool (Zone Quick phenol red thread
test) and gas permeable and soft
contact lens solutions including
a system distributed through
a pioneering e-commerce business
model.
1
2.
How
have
you
seen
lens
technology change over the past
5 years and what have been the
2
overall benefits for wearers?
Improvements in lens technology
are offering contact lens fitters and
wearers a wider range of options
for vision correction… especially
in the specialty lens segment. With
the availability of hyper-permeable
materials such as Menicon Z
computerdriven lathes and better
fitting techniques, scleral lenses
have reemerged as a viable option
changing lives for those patients
who previously thought they were
no longer candidates for contact
lens wear.
3
3. What direction do you see digital
lens technology moving in?
Digital lens technology is here and
continues to rapidly evolve offering
ECPs and patients instant access to
information, convenience and better
quality of vision.
4
5. What do you think is still
missing in the lens industry from a
technology perspective?
The ongoing opportunities and
challenges that technology may
help address is non-compliance (i.e.
using APPs to help remind patient),
lens discomfort and allergies, (i.e.
new polymers and manufacturing
technology) further meeting the
needs of the presbyopia market
(i.e. better designs with fewer
compromises) and increasing the
corneal reshaping segment (i.e.
technology for improving fitting
efficiency and treatment).
5
6. How have contact lens washes
improved in recent years and what
While
newer
contact
lens
solutions have been introduced
in recent years, practitioners are
challenged with choosing the right
lens and pairing it with proper
lens care for that patient. At a
minimum, all of the cleaning
and disinfecting system recently
introduced are safe for the ocular
surface, effective at disinfection,
and help provide lens comfort.
The SOLOCARE AQUA® Lens
Care System is such a system
but also provides an extra
safety
component with
its
unique MicroBlock® case. The
case and cap are impregnated
with antimicrobial silver ions
that reduce bacterial contamination
and development of biofilms.
6
7. How else is Menicon working
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to make choosing a pair of contact
lenses easier and more comfortable?
Ever since we developed the
first rigid contact lens in Japan in
1951, Menicon has led the industry
as a pioneer manufacturer of
contact lenses, helping people have
healthier vision and a better life.
We’ve been launching new materials
and designs for lenses, improving
manufacturing techniques and
upgrading production and quality
control systems.
improvements do you forecast for
2014?
OPTICAL PRISM | JAN/FEB 2014
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