The FDA on Tuesday cleared Acuvue Oasys contact lenses with transitions light intelligent technology as the first contact lens to automatically darken amid bright light exposure.
The contacts, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, contain a photochromic additive that slightly darkens the lenses in bright sunlight. The lenses return to a normal tint in normal or dark lighting conditions.
"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," said Malvina Eydelman, MD, director of the division of ophthalmic and ear, nose and throat devices at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The contacts, available for both nearsighted and farsighted individuals, can be worn daily for up to two weeks.