Johnson & Johnson is presenting new contact lens research at the American Academy of Optometry annual meeting in Anaheim, California, including data from a new Moisture Retention Index designed to compare water evaporation among daily disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

The research evaluated 7 daily disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses to determine how effectively each resisted water evaporation. Investigators used the Moisture Retention Index, which measures how much a contact lens slows evaporation compared with saline under standardized conditions of 35 °C and 40% relative humidity.

According to Johnson & Johnson, the testing identified differences among the evaluated products, with Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day demonstrating the highest Moisture Retention Index, followed by Acuvue Oasys 1-Day.

The company said the measure could provide researchers with another way to investigate relationships between contact lens material characteristics and patient experiences such as comfort and end-of-day dryness. Potential material factors include polymer composition and the manner in which water is retained within a lens.

The Moisture Retention Index findings are among several areas of contact lens and presbyopia research Johnson & Johnson is highlighting during the meeting.

Among the fifteen accepted abstracts, other highlights include:  

Perceptions of Linking Presbyopia with Perimenopause: A Survey of U.S. Female Eye Care Professionals - Bishop et al.  

  • A survey of 75 U.S. female optometrists found that many patients experience emotional reactions when presbyopia starts—about two-thirds of clinicians said patients often show feelings like “too young for this” (45%) or frustration (41%)—and more than half reported patients also bring up other symptoms such as dry eye, headaches, or perimenopausal/menopausal issues. 

  • Most clinicians (76%) see presbyopia and midlife hormonal symptoms occurring at the same time, but over half don’t bring up broader health topics during visits because of time limits, uncertainty, or discomfort.

  • Almost all respondents (91%) thought patients would welcome combined information on vision changes and menopause, pointing to a clear opportunity for simple, trustworthy educational resources and more empathetic conversations that link presbyopia with women’s midlife health.

Patient-Reported Vision, Handling, and Comfort with Senofilcon C Reusable Lens - Osei et al.  

  • Over four weeks, 80 healthy, habitual soft contact lens wearers aged 18-40 years (mean age: 30.6 years) wore Acuvue Vita reusable contact lenses and reported their experiences with comfort, vision, and handling.

  • Nearly 9 in 10 wearers reported that the lenses felt comfortable and smooth.

  • Nearly 9 in 10 wearers were satisfied with clarity of vision throughout the day and reported very good vision at the end of the day.

  • 9 in 10 wearers found the lenses easy to insert and remove, while 8 in 10 rated lens handling as exceptional.

  • Overall, the findings highlight the ability of Acuvue Vita to support a seamless and satisfying contact lens experience throughout everyday wear.