Silicone Hydrogel News

Life-Changing Lens Showcased at BCLA

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:44:00 +0100

UltraVision was delighted with the large number of visitors to their stand at the BCLA this weekend. KeraSoft IC, the new soft contact lens for all irregular corneas generated most interest. Folllowing Cristina Kenney’s lecture on Friday morning, practitioners wanted to know all about how KeraSoft IC can provide their irregular and keratoconic patients with a healthy alternative to RGP lenses.

UltraVision, featured its most popular products; KeraSoft® IC, UltraWave® SiH and their Multifocal range of contact lenses. J Keith Lomas, CEO, was thrilled with the amount of interest shown, “KeraSoft IC was a particular draw to our stand this year. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, along with the dedication and enthusiasm for a working alternative to GP lenses from the whole UltraVision team, have helped raise the profile of this revolutionary contact lens which has changed many patients’ lives for the better.”

KeraSoft® IC is designed for all irregular corneas, including every level of Keratoconus and is now available in SiH and Hydrogel materials. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: Innovation, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a UK company, was received by UltraVision specifically for its KeraSoft design in April this year. This is the second Queen’s Award that UltraVision has received, the first being in 2006.

UltraVision’s 15 minute Premium Exhibitor Presentation, led by Irregular Cornea and Keratoconus Consultant Lynn White MSc FCOptom, was extremely well attended. An insight was provided into the rationale behind KeraSoft® IC fittings and the life-changing effect this ground-breaking lens has on patients with Irregular Corneas and Keratoconus, who previously have been struggling with GP lenses.

With the use of video testimonials Lynn was able to demonstrate the full impact that KeraSoft® IC can have on Irregular cornea patients who have had their life turned around, , through the use of KeraSoft® IC lenses. You can view these videos by clicking here, and full case studies, are available here.

Also available on UltraVision’s stand was information regarding training workshops, being run at our head office in Leighton Buzzard, further information on the workshops can be found by following this link.

The UltraVision team look forward to seeing delegates at next year’s BCLA in Manchester or at the 36th Hospital Optometrists Annual Conference from 5th to 7th November, being held at Heathrow, London.

Queen's Award for Enterprise - Innovation 2010

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:35:00 +0100

UltraVision CLPL is celebrating the fantastic news of a second Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – Innovation

UltraVision CLPL, the largest independent manufacturer, supplier and licensor of contact lenses in the UK, has scored a double with a second Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation.

The Queen’s Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a UK company and was awarded specifically for KeraSoft®, UltraVision’s patented soft and silicone hydrogel contact lenses for all irregular corneas including keratoconus.

In 2006 UltraVision received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation for its SAM® and UltraWave® technologies. As well as being applied to UltraWave® monthly disposable contact lenses, SAM® and Wavefront technology are also applied to KeraSoft®, HydroWave® and DuraWave® contact lenses.

The UltraVision group formed by two former St. Albans School friends, J Keith Lomas, Group CEO, and John Clamp, Group COO, both aged 39, is expanding throughout the world with sales into more than 60 countries.

“To receive the Queen’s Award once is a serious achievement, but twice is out of this world” said J Keith Lomas, CEO, “we were improving people’s vision but now our team is taking our technologies to new levels and dramatically changing lives for the better for thousands more people every month”.

Patients can have irregular corneas for a number of reasons including disease, trauma, corneal transplants or failed laser surgery, such as LASIK, and other prescription changing operations. Standard contact lenses or spectacles do not successfully address such complexities so patients can have considerably reduced vision. The traditional approach was with hard or rigid gas permeable lenses, but the rigid surfaces on thinning tissue was often extremely uncomfortable and resulted in short wearing times or patients not even able to wear the rigid lenses at all; so minimal sight.

KeraSoft® lenses are a combination of the latest in soft and silicone hydrogel materials using geometries from complex mathematics to offer comfortable wear and excellent vision for all waking hours, engineered and developed by John Clamp, COO. Keratoconus Consultant and Optometrist Lynn White, helped refine the design for a wide range of irregular cornea conditions through her close work with her patients.

Gareth Beynon, a keratoconic patient from Rugby, Warwickshire said “I had to persevere with rigid lenses for years as there used to be no alternative. I was limited to a maximum of six to eight hours of comfortable wear a day, five days a week so I had to choose when I could see; at home or at work. My life revolved around whether I could wear my lenses or not and had no spontaneity at all. I had to rely on others being present most of the time in case I had a problem with the lenses which was very frustrating. With the KeraSoft® lens, it’s like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I can now see throughout all my waking hours, have resurrected my motor racing hobby and have got my life back. This is genuinely transformational for me and others. The more people who hear about this the better”.

KeraSoft® lenses are fitted and dispensed by optometrists and opticians in hospital departments, private and high street practices. Ophthalmologists are using the lenses both pre and post-operatively, following cross-linking surgery and as a safer and longer term solution than corneal transplants.

UltraVision CLPL states that KeraSoft® sales are growing by double digit percentages month on month. As well as launching directly in India with new dedicated operations in Trivandrum, Kerala, UltraVision CLPL is currently in licensing discussions with third parties to help accelerate the roll out of KeraSoft® around the world.

J Keith Lomas added “We’ve got game-changing technology here so need to maximise the positive impact on people’s lives wherever we can”.

Her Majesty The Queen will host a reception at Buckingham Palace later this year for the winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – 2010.

To learn more about the Queen's Awards, please visit http://www.queensawards.org.uk

Online Ordering Increases Patient Satisfaction

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:39:00 +0100

Contact lens manufacturer UltraVision initially launched its online ordering system in 2008, and online orders have accelerated recently, growing by over 500% in the last year alone. The bespoke system allows registered practitioners in the UK and worldwide to place and track their contact lenses orders via the Internet, 24 hours a day.

Designed in-house by James Deane, Web Development Manager, and Klas Lindgren, CL Research & Development Engineer, the online ordering system is directly linked to UltraVision’s manufacturing system, enabling orders to be processed automatically into the manufacturing laboratory for a rapid turnaround.

Practice Manager, Jan Martin, from V A Martin Opticians in Cumbria commented “We have been using UltraVision’s Ordering system extensively to place the majority of our orders and, as Practice Manager, it has made the ordering process much quicker, easier and our lenses are being despatched earlier, resulting in increased patient satisfaction. We purchase a high volume of monthly disposable lenses from UltraVision but we are also able to easily order tailor-made lenses such as HydroWave Multifocal SiH contact lenses.”

All of UltraVision’s disposable lenses are available to order via the website and the majority of their tailor-made lenses can also be ordered online. Only the most complex lenses have to be ordered via email, if sending topography images, or over the telephone. V A Martin Opticians order a large amount of UltraWave® contact lenses, and have recently started fitting patients with the recently launched UltraWave® SiH; Jan Martin said “Our patients are very happy with the new UltraWave SiH lens and are reporting excellent comfort and vision.” This superior monthly disposable completes the UltraWave family and, along with UltraVision’s many other lenses, gives practices the right choice of lens for their patient base.

For existing UltraVision customers the registration process is simply a matter of contacting the Customer Service team who can activate your account for online ordering. The team can be contacted on freephone 0800 585115. Alternatively please visit www.ultravisionorders.co.uk.

KeraSoft a 'Hot Topic' in Las Vegas

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:27:00 +0000

Irregular Cornea expert, Lynn White MSc FCOptom presented alongside Eef van der Worp BOptom PhD, Tim Koch FCLSA of Contamac and Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Meijome OD PhD of the University of Minho in Portugal, at the recent 2010 Global Specialty Lens Symposium, with ~400 practitioners present.

During Contamac's breakout session, Lynn described how specialty soft lenses have a prominent role to play in the ongoing management of patients. Also during the presentation, 'Advantages of Fitting Irregular Corneas with High Water Content Soft Lens Materials', case studies showed how irregular cornea patients could be given an improved quality of life, even after surgery, with custom made soft lenses.

The emerging use of custom-made soft lenses for the correction of irregular corneas including keratoconus was a hot topic at the Las Vegas based GSLS. Lynn White gave three presentations based around KeraSoft® IC and how the treatment and management of Keratoconus is evolving rapidly in the UK and the rest of the world.

Michigan based Art Optical, who completed an agreement in 2007 to license advanced lathe-cut soft lens technology for the USA from UltraVision, invited Lynn White to present 'The KeraSoft® IC Revolution: Experiences from the UK and Beyond' in their breakout session.

J Keith Lomas, CEO of UltraVision, and COO John Clamp, also attended the Symposium. Keith Lomas commented, 'The interest shown in KeraSoft® IC was an excellent boost with delegates approaching us to express their enthusiasm in the much anticipated lens design. The KeraSoft® design is inspiring practitioners across the globe to move irregular cornea patients out of GP lenses and into soft lenses which can provide up to 18 hours of comfortable wear time.'

With many years of experience in practice, Lynn White is passionate about the benefits of soft lenses when dealing with compromised corneas. Her philosophy of 'doing no harm' to the eye and providing patients with lenses that improve their quality of life beyond all previous expectations is her driving force and she articulated this clearly in her final presentation: 'The UK Experience in Custom-made Silicone Hydrogel lenses for the Irregular Cornea'.

Click to download a PDF version of Lynn White's poster submission

For more information about the KeraSoft® Range of contact lenses for Irregular Corneas including Keratoconus, please visit: www.kerasoft.co.uk

KeraSoft for Irregular Corneas launches in Switzerland

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:33:00 +0000

KeraSoft® IC, the newest addition to the KeraSoft® family of lenses, has been successfully launched in Switzerland by KeraSoft® SARL. Practitioners around the world are realising the benefits this ground breaking lens has over RGP lenses and UltraVision is delighted by the new availability in Switzerland, a country defined by its leading edge technologies and healthcare.

KeraSoft® SARL was set up in Switzerland by Luc Tissot, and his wife Katia, to act as Distributor on behalf of UK based contact lens manufacturer, UltraVision. Tissot Watches has been connected with innovative high-tech products manufactured with special materials and advanced functionality, since 1853, which fits in nicely with UltraVision’s products and positioning.

Keratoconus Consultant & Optometrist, Lynn White, presented at the launch the major benefits she can now offer to keratoconic patients through using KeraSoft® contact lenses, citing a number of case-studies. UltraVision’s CEO, J Keith Lomas, was in attendance and spoke about the UltraVision Group and the benefits and pleasure of partnering with Luc Tissot and his team, a name synonymous with the best technologies and quality engineering in Switzerland.

Optometrists representing each French Canton of Switzerland attended the launch and the immediate and subsequent feedback was most positive.

KeraSoft® IC, for all irregular corneas including keratoconus, is a soft lens designed to give optimum visual performance for the most complex patients. If required, the lens can be manufactured with full Sector Management Control (SMC), thereby enabling a tailor-made fit for any irregular cornea. KeraSoft® IC is available in two lathe-cut materials; a 74% water Silicone Hydrogel and 77% water conventional Hydrogel, both of which provide the healthiest basis for a complex lens.

'Breakthrough' Soft Contact Lens for Irregular Corneas

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:58:00 +0100

Hospital Optometrists attending the HOAC34 in Harrogate next month will be able to learn about KeraSoft® IC; UltraVision's latest high tech soft contact lens. Manufactured in their UK laboratories in Bedfordshire, KeraSoft® IC is designed to fit all irregular corneas, including post laser refractive surgery, Pellucid Marginal Degeneration (PMD) and other complex corneal irregularities. KeraSoft® IC is the world's first Silicone Hydrogel (SiH) lens to incorporate Sector Management Control (SMC).

Designed in Ultravision's Cambridge based R&D centre, KeraSoft® IC is the newest innovative addition to the highly successful specialist range of KeraSoft® contact lenses already on the market. J Keith Lomas, UltraVision's Chief Executive, commented 'The development of the KeraSoft range is a breakthrough in the management of all irregular corneas. RGP wearers often experience pain and short wearing times leading to them having to make the choice between wearing their lenses for working or wearing them during social time. KeraSoft IC can be life changing for patients with corneal irregularities, enabling them to experience full days with clear comfortable vision and enjoy family life to its fullest.'

KeraSoft® IC has a number of configurable lens parameters, including customisable periphery design and Sector Management Control (SMC) which, uniquely, can be fully tailored to meet the needs of the individual eye. Incorporating wavefront optics KeraSoft® IC is available in a choice of two materials; a 3 month 74% water SiH material, and a 12 month conventional high water 77% material. With the recent increase in post-laser refractive surgery corneal changes, this lens ticks all the boxes for health, optics, comfort and ease of fitting.

With KeraSoft® IC the practitioner is able to fit most irregular corneas using a combination of fitting lenses and topographical images. Fitting sets, available to order now, are supplied in the 77% high water content Hydrogel material. The KeraSoft® IC lens fitting set has been designed to enable the practitioner to fit both materials using the same fitting set.

The ocular health benefits of the KeraSoft® IC, along with the state-of-the-art design including award-winning wavefront optics, mean that most patients suffering with any type of irregular cornea are able to attain levels of comfort and vision they had not previously thought possible. UltraVision's Keratoconus Consultant, Lynn White, has been witnessing many significant moments for her patients at the KeraSoft clinic. One such patient, Martin Cooper, found relief from depositing GP lenses when Lynn re-fitted him with KeraSoft® IC lenses. He can now wear his lenses for up to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, with good stable vision. Martin Cooper's remarkable story can be found here.

For further information please visit www.kerasoft.co.uk or call Freephone 0800 585115.

Vision Sufferers Break Out with Soft Option

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:39:00 +0100

Millions of people are affected by an eye condition so severe that it seriously limits their lives – unaware they can now be set free.

Up to 1 in 500 people are rendered partially sighted by a common group of conditions that affect the surface and shape of the front layer of the eye, the cornea. Distortion of the cornea, due to keratoconus , causes blurred vision with ghosting, haloes and even multiple images. It can be likened to constantly looking through a window covered in heavy rain.

The world as seen through a distorted cornea.

These conditions cannot be corrected with spectacles or standard contact lenses, and laser refractive surgery will simply make it worse – many people only discover they may be prone to keratoconus and related conditions when they visit a laser clinic. Specialised surgical options such as implants, corneal grafts and most recently cross-linking can be an effective treatment, but are not always possible.

The simpler, non invasive and more accessible route is specialist contact lenses, usually rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Although GP lenses can often be very uncomfortable, removing them means stepping out of the sighted world into that of a partially sighted person; very stressful, and now unnecessary.

Living with such poor eyesight is difficult because it means having to make choices; for example, using ‘seeing time’ for work or for spending time with family. Keratoconus sufferer and previous GP lens wearer, Martin Cooper, provides an insight into his experiences. About his RGP lenses he comments “My eyes would often be ‘gungey’ and gritty and my lenses would become cloudy and dirty, which made them difficult to see with. I was taking them out up to 2 or 3 times a day to clean them and as the day went on the time before they were dirty again would decrease.”

Major new developments in materials and optics have now opened up the choices extensively, making the latest and most healthy (Silicone Hydrogel) contact lenses available for even the most complex irregular corneas. Lynn White, Optometrist and Keratoconus Consultant in Mayfair, London, UK says, “The latest advances in lens design mean that patients are now able to wear comfortable, healthy contact lenses all waking hours, achieving levels of vision they never thought possible. Every week I see patients in practice who have been struggling with their vision for years. Some have been unable to tolerate hard lenses at all and are amazed when they can see comfortably and for longer.”

After struggling with GP lenses for years, Martin Cooper’s optician booked him a hospital visit. There, after an afternoon of testing, he was informed that a corneal graft was the only way forward. A very nervous Martin was left to make the decision of whether or not to go ahead with invasive surgery. After completing research on the internet he realised up to 6 months recovery time would be needed; an option Martin felt he couldn’t consider as he is self employed.

Martin learned about Lynn White’s Mayfair practice during his internet research and after a few email exchanges he made an appointment to see her, as she had suggested a soft contact lens for keratoconus, KeraSoft®3. He goes on to say “The result of the test was a revelation, I could just about see the line above 20/20 vision on the chart, with both eyes, and Lynn was adamant that I didn’t need a graft. She also advised that had KeraSoft®3 not have been suitable, then many other choices were still available; including Soclears, SynergEyes, sclerals, etc, not to mention looking at CXL (Cross-Linking – to strengthen the cornea) or Intacs (implants to correct distortion)!” Martin continues, “Comfort is in another league and I no longer worry about ‘bad eye’ days. Previously it was quite common to have watering eyes...... In fact, I had a small rash on my face where my eyes had watered continually! This simply does not happen anymore and I feel almost normal! I’m getting up to 18 hours a day good, comfortable wear with good vision. The urge to rub my eyes when I remove the lenses has now all but gone! In addition, my eyes look brighter and more open – my friends are amazed at how much better my eyes look and, most importantly, I am no longer damaging my eyes on a daily basis. It’s fantastic to finally have an optician who truly understands Keratoconus.....you might even think Lynn had the condition herself from the insight she shows! Furthermore, my confidence has grown hugely. I knew I wasn’t seeing that well previously and it’s amazing how you con yourself into thinking things are ok when they are not. Your vision levels drop off very slowly and you get used to this and consider it normal – the huge jump into good vision is amazing! And finally, this is the first summer I’ve been able to play on the beach with my young daughter without the fear of sand getting in my eyes and causing me the pain and soreness it would have done previously – priceless!”

Lynn White, who has travelled the world helping people with keratoconus, adds, “It is very rewarding to restore someone’s sight, and in fact functional life, simply through fitting a pair of specialist soft contact lenses. I love my work, but patients love it even more. The challenge is now to make more people aware that the answer is now available.”

UltraVision Introduces SiH to UltraWave® Family

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:57:00 +0100

UltraVision has expanded its UltraWave® family of monthly disposable contact lenses with the addition of UltraWave® SiH. With a low modulus of 0.5MPa the lenses are designed to offer better health and comfort by being softer on eye. ‘Designed by UltraVision for UltraVision’, UltraWave® SiH lenses incorporate UltraVision’s award-winning SAM® and Wavefront technologies, providing greater visual acuity and oxygen permeability. UltraVision claims that the UltraWave® range of monthly disposable lenses is ideal for all wearers, including VDU users and early presbyopes.

With powers -10.00DS to +8.00DS and a DK/t of 86 (-3.00DS lens), the lenses require no surface treatment and offer superior comfort and handling to the patient. Wearers can therefore rub the lenses to clean them with confidence, without the fear of rendering the lenses unusable by removing the plasma coating.

UltraVision’s patented unique aberration control system, based on wavefront technology studies, and the application of their SAM® (Spherical Aberration Management) technology provides optimised aberration control design to produce the advanced optics.

J Keith Lomas UltraVision’s CEO, said “UltraVision is absolutely delighted to be introducing a much anticipated Silicone Hydrogel monthly disposable lens, designed by our dedicated R&D team based in Cambridge and led by John Clamp. UltraWave® SiH fits nicely into our product range, along with HydroWave® and the KeraSoft® range of SiH contact lenses. It is great to know that practitioners can now fit all of their contact lens patients with our SiH lenses.”

For more complex prescriptions in Silicone Hydrogel; HydroWave®, a 3-monthly lathe-cut SiH contact lens, is available in Sphere, Toric and Multifocal forms, with a power range of -/+30.00DS and Cylinders up to -11.00DC in every axes and near Add up to +3.00DS.

Contact lenses from the UltraWave® family, along with many of UltraVision’s other lenses, can be ordered using their recently launched Online Ordering portal; www.ultravisionorders.co.uk or by contacting the Customer Services Team. To find further information on UltraVision’s range of products, including UltraWave® SiH, please contact our Customer Service team on freephone 0800 585115, or visit our website www.ultravisiongroup.com.

UltraVision Enjoys High Interest at BCLA!

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:49:00 +0100

Despite the apparent world-wide recession, the BCLA's recent 33rd Annual Clinical Conference and Exhibition proved to be one of the busiest so far for Premium Exhibitor, UltraVision. 'We had a record number of visitors to our stand this year and were delighted with the interest shown in all our leading products', commented J Keith Lomas, UltraVision Group CEO.

UltraVision showcased their world-leading KeraSoft® lenses, including the popular KeraSoft®3 SiH contact lens for Keratoconus. KeraSoft® IC, for all irregular corneas, the latest addition to the KeraSoft® family was introduced at the show and drew a lot of attention from both UK and international delegates.

HydroWave® proved to be very popular with visitors, along with UltraVision's full range of lathe-cut SiH lenses for Hospitals. Keratoconus Consultant, Lynn White, presented a 15 minute workshop on the benefits of Silicone Hydrogel lenses for Keratoconus. The talk was very well attended and generated further interest in the ever popular KeraSoft® range of lenses. Gill Narramore, UltraVision Group Operations Manager said 'We were delighted to receive delegates to our stand from many countries across the world with representation from Hospitals, High Street practices and Academia. Our professional and friendly staff enjoyed catching up with our customers, taking the opportunity to gather feedback and discussing new ideas regarding our full range of products and services.'

Also introduced at BCLA was the new addition to the UltraWave® family, UltraWave® SiH; a monthly disposable silicone hydrogel lens incorporating UltraVision's award winning wavefront optics. UltraVision's Online Ordering website and their e-newsletter also attracted interest with many delegates signing up to both. To find out more about UltraVision's product range and services, feel free to visit their website, www.ultravisiongroup.com, or call their friendly Customer Service team on Freephone 0800 585115.

Silicone Hydrogels: A New Opportunity

Wed, 21 May 2008 12:20:00 +0100

European Lenses & Technology magazine talks to UltraVision CEO J. Keith Lomas and COO John Clamp about the launch of UltraVision's new range of Silicone Hydrogel contact lenses.

Please tell us about UltraVision’s new range of Silicone Hydrogels.

We now offer Silicone Hydrogel (SiH) contact lenses to any prescription and design. We’re concentrating on the more specialist areas where we can offer further benefits such as KeraSoft^®3 our SiH lenses for keratoconus. This is a genuine ‘World’s First’ product and something we’re very excited about.

We started working on the SiH material with Contamac back in 2006 and the research & development time and involvement has been pretty intense.

We launched the material Definitive™ at the end of 2007. It is a new lathe cut 74% SiH material which is not plasma-treated. With a Dk of 60, this offers about four times the oxygen permeability requirements indicated by Holden and Mertz.

As well as being produced in the new SiH material, KeraSoft^®3 also benefits from a re-design as a front-surface aspheric prismatic toric (or asphere) to provide greater stability of vision.

The original KeraSoft^® lens was launched by us (Igel as we were called then) back in the early '90s and had success as a softer and more comfortable alternative to RGP lenses for keratoconus. Our successful sales and monitoring of returns has shown it to be one of our most successful contact lens types ever. Whilst few could argue against the obvious comfort benefits compared with RGP lenses, some said that soft lenses for keratoconus gave poorer levels of vision. In some cases we agreed, but also being an RGP manufacturer and supplier, including for keratoconus, we could also see the benefits of soft lenses, particularly in this sensitive situation where keratoconic patients can be effectively blind without comfortable and useful correction.

We were therefore able to combine the visual benefits from our massive investment in Spherical Aberration Management, Sam^®, and Wavefront technology incorporation into contact lenses. We’ve got a growing suite of patents in this field. Incorporating this technology allowed us to launch KeraSoft^®2 back in 2006.

The remaining argument was against the lenses being thicker than typical modern soft lenses, thus reducing the oxygen permeability. Now with KeraSoft^®3 lenses in SiH, we have four time the oxygen permeability of before, hence our delight with the latest product in our KeraSoft^® range.

KeraSoft^®3 lenses offer major benefits and can be life changing for the wearers. For more general applications our SiH range for independent and high street practitioners is branded HydroWave^® and is available in spheres, torics, multifocal and multifocal torics.

Our experience dictates that the toric and multifocal HydroWave^® lenses in particular are well sought after, with little competition. The spherical versions are often chosen when fitting higher prescriptions, with us supplying lenses to +/- 30DS and with toric cylinders available up to -11DC, our lenses can fit virtually every demand.

For our hospital and more specialist practitioners we also offer our full SiH range for Bandage, Paediatric and Aphakic prescriptions and designs.

Will the range of products be available throughout Europe?

Absolutely. In the UK we supply directly to practitioners only. Internationally we work with local distributors.

We’re also rolling out our lens marketing through a number of newly launched, and to be launched, web sites such as www.kerasoft3.com

What are the characteristics of the newly developed lathe-cut Silicone Hydrogel material?

Our SiH material is naturally hydrophilic offering excellent wetting and comfort.

With a Dk of 60 it is four times more oxygen permeable than typical soft lenses and with a modulus of 0.38 comparable with soft materials for flexibility, unlike earlier generation SiH lenses which were much more rigid. It has no plasma-treatment which means the lenses can be cleaned properly without changing the characteristics of the lens. It means that the wearer is not therefore limited to only using ‘no-rub’ solutions.

What would you say are the key advantages of Silicone Hydrogel technology that the optician needs to communicate to customers?

As the material provides four times greater oxygen transmission than standard Hydrogel material, it allows longer wearing times, increased comfort and greater ocular health. It is also highly water retentive, making it ideal for dry eyes.

We support and hope that practitioners explain to their customers the importance of the eye getting lots of oxygen and the risks of reducing the available levels.

What kind of marketing tools are you offering to opticians to support the new products on offer?

As the world moves more electronic our customer feedback is for electronic copies of marketing literature for their own customization. This also works particularly well with our international distributors who can then have the files translated into their local language.

Our growing suite of SiH lenses has started with the beta launch of www.kerasoft.co.uk. We plan to add further websites dedicated to our SiH material in general use and a separate web site with a focus on presbyopia and our multifocal lenses.

UltraVision was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation 2006 for our wavefront technology, now included in these products. Along with UltraVision, our customers are allowed to use the Queen’s Award logo when promoting our products, underlining their quality and prestige.

Please comment on the growth of the Silicone Hydrogel market in Europe.

SiH contact lenses are often now the first choice lenses for practitioners. Until recently, these have been limited to mainstream prescriptions only. With the lenses now available for all parameters we expect significant further growth.

Interestingly, many countries have different approaches. In the UK, SiH are now really prevalent, they are less so in some Southern European countries like Spain and Italy. We expect high growth levels in those countries over the next few years.

And is this impacting the CL market generally in Europe? Please explain.

We certainly see strong signs of growth throughout Europe, but particularly with the more specialist lenses that offer greater benefits. Traditional lathe-cut soft and RGP lenses have come under pressure through the increase in availability of power ranges of mass market moulded lenses but the limited parameters available with disposable lenses mean they’re not suitable for everyone.
As the vast global CL companies focus on mainstream disposability companies like UltraVision can benefit through specializing.

In November you announced a preview of your latest patented UniqueWave^® technologies, which offers complete aberration, design and fitting control. Please give further details.

UniqueWave^® is an exciting technology that’s come from our Cambridge, UK, Research & Development offices. It allows practitioners to upload topography and aberrometry measurements via a website to design the ‘perfect lens’. Computer simulation on screen allows the practitioner to also evaluate what the fitting and visual effects will be on eye with movement and lid pressures taken into consideration.

These are not expected to be mainstream lenses for some years to come, but the most specialist of practitioners and the most demanding of customers can have something really very special indeed; unique contact lenses totally tailored for unique fitting and aberration control.

What further advances do you foresee in contact lens technology and Silicone Hydrogel technology in particular in the near and long-term?

We’ve been predicting this for years, but we really do expect wavefront technology to come more standard in contact lenses. We have vast amounts of data and sales over the years and experience to show the advantages.

Unfortunately, there has been some mis-information around re wavefront technology and its inclusion in contact lenses. Sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and we really want better education out there of what is available and how it works. In most professions there are differing opinions on some technologies.

Over the years we’ve learnt that the best way to promote our wavefront technology lenses is to get people, practitioners in particular, to try them in their own eyes. Once people have experienced the benefits from our wavefront technology lenses they simply don’t want to go back to standard lenses.

Please add any comments that will give ECPs greater insight into UltraVision and its strategic vision for the future.

UltraVision’s strategy is to continue differentiating by offering the most successful contact lenses, typically being the most comfortable and offering the best vision.

Our product range covers all types of contact lenses, as that’s where the demand is. Our concentration on the more specialist lenses, though, offers real benefits to us, our practitioner customers and their patients.

The more advanced specialist lenses are not cheap commodities offered in pharmacies and supermarkets, but quality products from practitioners only. They offer real benefits to wearers which is more than repaid through increased loyalty to practitioners.

Our group turnover is now about four times greater than it was when we took over the company in 1996 and we aim to continue to grow both organically and through further corporate acquisitions and partnerships.

We continue to actively seek technology partnerships world wide, both with specialist practitioners and contact lens manufacturers alike.