'Eye Health and Allergies' Brochure from Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Offers Advice for Eye Allergy Sufferers; Includes Seasonal Strategies for Contact Lens Wearers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Come late summer, some 10 to 20 percent of Americans begin to suffer from ragweed allergy, or hay fever. In addition to symptoms of sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, allergic reactions involving the eyes are a major distraction for many allergy sufferers.

As ragweeds release billions of pollen grains into the air, symptoms of eye allergies -- such as tearing, itchiness, swelling and burning, can make it so uncomfortable for allergy sufferers that it impedes their leisure-time and sports activities, interferes with school performance and can affect productivity on-the-job.

'Of Americans who are allergic to pollen-producing plants, 75 percent are allergic to ragweed,' says Mike Tringale, Director of External Affairs, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies. 'While there is no cure for ragweed allergy, there are some things eye allergy sufferers can do to minimize its impact on their day-to-day activities.'

To help eye allergy sufferers better understand and handle the condition, AAFA is offering a free educational brochure, 'Eye Health and Allergies.' The brochure can be viewed or downloaded at www.aafa.org . 'This brochure offers useful information on how eye allergies occur, common signs and symptoms, and practical advice on how to treat and prevent eye allergies,' says Tringale.

The brochure, supported by 1-DAY ACUVUE(R) MOIST(R) Brand Contact Lenses, includes vital allergy season advice for the nation's 40 million contact lens wearers, a group for whom eye allergies can cause distinctive troubles.

'Soft contact lenses are great pollen collectors, so symptoms may be exacerbated during hay fever season for those allergy sufferers who wear contact lenses,' explains James Kershaw, O.D., an Optometrist from North Olmsted, Ohio. 'People with itchy eyes are also more likely to rub them, which can lead to greater discomfort for the contact lens wearer.'

Fifty-four percent of those who wear contact lenses find it very uncomfortable to wear their lenses when they have allergy symptoms, according to a 2006 survey of 500 adult contact lens wearers with ocular allergies. The vast majority cope by increasing their use of wetting drops, wearing their lenses less often or removing their lenses during the day. A significant minority (42 percent) say they stop wearing lenses and switch to glasses.(1)

But, says Dr. Kershaw, there is another option.

'Single use, daily disposable contacts enable contact lens wearers to continue use throughout the allergy season,' he explains. 'Studies have shown that single use contacts - daily disposable lenses that you throw away at the end of the day - can be a healthy and more comfortable option for many people with eye allergies. By putting in a clean, fresh lens every day, one-day contacts minimize the potential for accumulation of allergens and irritants that can often accumulate with repeated use of the same pair of lenses.'

In a three-year study(2) comparing the clinical performance of daily disposables (1-DAY ACUVUE(R) Brand Contact Lenses) with that of conventional daily-wear lenses replaced at 1 or 3 months (n=126), frequent replacement lenses replaced every 2 weeks (n=144) and daily disposable wearers (n=68), single-use lens wearers reported fewer symptoms of redness, cloudy vision, and grittiness; at the same time, they reported better vision and overall satisfaction, and had fewer lens surface deposits, complications, or unscheduled doctor's visits than conventional daily lens wearers.

To help allergy sufferers who would like to start wearing or continue wearing contact lenses, the brochure, along with a free trial-pair certificate* for 1-DAY ACUVUE(R) MOIST(R) Brand Contact Lenses, is available at www.acuvue.com/seasons .

'When worn on a daily disposable basis, 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST may provide improved comfort for many patients suffering from mild discomfort associated with allergies during contact lens wear compared with those wearing contact lenses replaced at intervals of greater than two weeks,' says Dr. Kershaw.

ACUVUE(R) Brand Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020 or visit www.Acuvue.com.

     *  Professional exam and fitting fees not included. Valid only while
        supplies last at a participating eye care professional.
    (1) Eye on Allergies consumer survey, conducted June 6 - 9, 2006, by
        MarketTool(R) on behalf of VISTAKON(R), Division of Johnson & Johnson
        Vision Care, Inc.
    (2) Solomon OD, Freeman MJ, et al. 'A 3-year prospective study of the
        clinical performance of daily disposable contact lenses compared with
        frequent replacement and conventional daily wear contact lenses.'
        CLAO J, 1996; 22:250-7.

ACUVUE(R), 1-DAY ACUVUE(R), and 1-DAY ACUVUE(R) MOIST(R) are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

SOURCE VISTAKON, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.