BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Almost half of women over the age of 40 admit to feeling embarrassed, frumpy or annoyed when reaching for reading glasses, but what’s a woman to do when a survey, conducted by Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company, in partnership with VibrantNation, Inc., found that 70 percent wear glasses or contact lenses and still have difficulty reading labels? In addition, more than half of the women surveyed (53 percent) struggle with reading text on their digital devices, but new contact lens technology, such as PureVision®2 multi-focal contact lenses for presbyopia, provides a new alternative to their current “old-tech” options of drugstore readers or magnifiers.

Blurred vision can result from a condition known as presbyopia, which becomes more prevalent as our eyes age.Presbyopia impacts the eye’s ability to focus and progresses over time. Initially, some people find that they have to hold reading materials farther away to see them clearly.  You can often identify a person experiencing presbyopia when they hold reading materials out at arm’s length (e.g. reading menus at a restaurant)!  In fact, 45 percent of women surveyed report squinting at menus when dining out1.  Presbyopia can occur in people who are already wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses for distance.  For these individuals, presbyopia can lead to the need to use bifocal or multifocal lenses.

Aside from the frustrations of not being able to see clearly, many of the women surveyed believe that what they wear (61 percent), how they style their hair (58 percent) and wearing reading glasses (38 percent), are telltale signs that they are getting older.1 Twenty percent of women say that wearing reading glasses also makes them feel older.1 These results mimic a study supported by Bausch + Lomb in Europe, which showed that twice as many people are concerned about becoming dependent on glasses than finding wrinkles or going grey.2

“It is common for my patients to ignore small, slow changes their eyes are undergoing, especially when they fear their vision issues may be age-related,” said Rhonda Robinson, OD, an eye care professional from Indianapolis, IN. “However, innovations in multifocal contact lens design have made it possible for people to see clearly and comfortably, so they do not have to choose between exceptional vision and reading glasses, which give the appearance of aging.”

PureVision2 multi-focal contact lenses for presbyopia are the latest multifocal innovation from Bausch + Lomb. These recently introduced lenses feature an innovative 3-Zone Progressive™ design, which are designed to improve near, intermediate and distance vision.

“I have been impressed with the clarity of vision provided by Bausch + Lomb’s recently introduced PureVision2 multi-focal contact lenses for presbyopia,” added Dr. Robinson. “Many of my patients report that these lenses allow them to see clearly at all distances and in all directions of gaze, which they find more convenient than multifocal glasses.”3

Everyone’s eyes are different, so if you find yourself squinting or relying on reading glasses to see things up close, be sure to speak to your eye care professional to determine if a contact lens that allows you greater clarity for near, intermediate and distance vision is right for you.

About The Survey
The online survey was conducted by Bausch + Lomb, makers of PureVision2 multi-focal contact lenses for presbyopia, in partnership with VibrantNation, Inc. The survey was designed to gauge women’s perceptions of aging, particularly the role reading glasses play. There were 305 women over the age of 40 who responded to the survey, fielded in June 2014.

About PureVision2 Multi-Focal Contact Lenses for Presbyopia
PureVision2 multi-focal (balafilcon A) contact lenses for presbyopia is a visibility tinted, monthly silicone hydrogel multifocal contact lens packaged in borate buffered saline. Featuring a next generation 3-Zone Progressive design, these innovative lenses are designed to improve near and intermediate vision while providing excellent distance clarity. PureVision2 for presbyopia contact lenses are the latest multifocal innovation to be added to Bausch + Lomb’s PureVision2 line of contact lenses. The lens is designed to deliver the clear, crisp vision patients demand.

About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. company, is a leading global eye health organization that is solely focused on protecting, enhancing, and restoring people’s eyesight. Our core businesses include ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. We develop, manufacture and market one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in our industry, which are available in more than 100 countries. 

About VibrantNation.com
VibrantNation.com is the leading online community for women over 45 – the place where they connect and support each other on issues unique to their stage of life, including fashion, beauty, family, work, relationships, health, fitness, money, and sex. A trusted resource for women 45+, Vibrant Nation features a growing network of midlife bloggers and influencers to help understand and activate this influential and fast- growing demographic. It has managed online marketing campaigns for major companies like Pfizer and Coca-Cola, and compiled its ongoing research in a book, Vibrant Nation: What Boomer Women 50+ Know, Think, Do & Buy. For more information, visit www.vibrantnation.com.

REFERENCES
1 The online survey was conducted by Bausch + Lomb, makers of PureVision®2 Multi-Focal Contact Lenses For Presbyopia, in partnership with Vibrant Nation, Inc.  The survey was designed to gauge women’s perceptions of aging, particularly the role reading glasses play. 305 women over the age of 40 responded to the survey, fielded in June 2014.

2 The study was commissioned by the eye health company Bausch & Lomb and conducted by independent global market research specialists, Kadence. 1,410 completed interviews were carried out with adults aged forty plus, between 1 and 17 June 2005. The research included 200 interviews per country. 150 interviews were carried out with forty to fifty-nine year olds and 50 interviews with plus sixty-year-olds. The research was conducted in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK via a quantitative telephone survey (structured CATI administered survey.

3 Thirty-nine ECPs (from 10 countries) refitted 422 existing soft contact lens wearing presbyopes into PureVision®2 for Presbyopia. Patients returned for follow-up visits after 1-2 weeks. ECP assessment of lens performance including ease of fit, and patient satisfaction with lenses in real world conditions, were measured using a 6-point agreement survey.

PureVision is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates. 
All other product/brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. 
©Bausch & Lomb Incorporated

# # #

News Media Contacts:

Kristy Guerra
Public Relations Product Manager, Bausch + Lomb

(585) 338-8095 or kristy.guerra@bausch.com

Don Murphy

Zeno Group, on behalf of Bausch + Lomb

(212) 299-8970 or don.murphy@zenogroup.com

US/PVP/14/0035