Ciba Vision — Shared Passion for Healthy Vision and Better Life

Atlanta, Ga., November 1, 2010

AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM contact lenses are now available in expanded parameters

• CIBA VISION® now offers one of the widest silicone hydrogel toric lens parameter ranges

AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM contact lenses are now available in one of the widest in-stock parameter ranges of any silicone hydrogel toric lens, resulting in increased patient coverage from 88% to 99%*. ⁱ

AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM lenses combine the breakthrough Precision Balance 8|4™ design with a highly breathable silicone hydrogel material, resulting in a healthy, comfortable contact lens option that provides consistent performance and crisp, clear vision. AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM contact lenses deliver up to six times more oxygen through the lens than leading low Dk/t hydrogel toric lenses ⁱⁱ to help protect patients from the signs and symptoms of corneal oxygen deficiency. They are approved for daily wear, and up to six nights of extended wear, and are recommended for monthly replacement.

“Because of its exceptional comfort and performance, AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM contact lenses have become my go-to solution for astigmatic patients,” said Richard Orgain, OD. “Now with an even wider range of parameters, more of my patients can benefit from its high performance.”

Eye care practitioners can fit most patients in AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM contact lenses because the lens fitting characteristics and axis orientation are consistent from patient to patient. In a clinical study, 95 percent of patients were successfully fit with the first lens ⁱⁱⁱ, and the lenses stabilize on the eye in just 30 seconds^iv.

Patients also prefer AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM lenses when given a choice. In clinical studies, patients indicated a preference for AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM contact lenses, compared to ACUVUE® ADVANCE® for ASTIGMATISM , SofLens® 66 Toric^{vi, vii} and Biomedics® Toric^vi.

AIR OPTIX® for ASTIGMATISM lenses are made of lotrafilcon B, and have a Dk/t of 108 @ -3.00D, -1.25D x 180. They are available from +6.00 to -6.00 in 0.25D steps, with cylinder powers of -0.75, -1.25, -1.75 and -2.25, and from -6.50 to -10.00 in 0.50 steps in -0.75, -1.25, -1.75 and -2.25 cylinder powers. They are available in axes around-the-clock in 10° steps, have a diameter of 14.5 mm and a base curve of 8.7 mm, and feature a blue visibility handling tint.

About CIBA VISION^®

With a shared passion for healthy vision and better life, CIBA VISION^® is a global leader in the research, development and manufacturing of contact lenses and lens care products. CIBA VISION^® is dedicated to improving the quality of patients' lives around the world through innovative vision care solutions and strong partnerships with eye care professionals. With worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, CIBA VISION^® products are available in more than 70 countries around the world. For more information, visit the CIBA VISION^® web site at www.cibavision.com.

AIR OPTIX, CIBA VISION and the CIBA VISION logo are trademarks of Novartis AG.
ACUVUE, and ADVANCE are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
PureVision, PureVision Toric and SofLens 66 Toric are trademarks of Bausch and Lomb, Inc.
Biomedics Toric is a trademark of CooperVision
2010-10-1115
© 2010 CIBA VISION Corporation, a Novartis AG company.

Dk/t = 108 @ -3.00D, -1.25D x 180. Other factors may impact eye health.
^i* Among astigmatic patients with 0.75 to 2.75D cylinder. 1. Based on the prevalence of refractive errors presenting to U.S. ODs surveyed in 1999 and calculation of residual astigmatism (of ≤ 0.62D); CIBA VISION data on file, 2009.
ⁱⁱ Based on the ratio of lens oxygen transmissibilities; CIBA VISION data on file, 2009.
ⁱⁱⁱ In a randomized subject-masked clinical study over 150 subjects; significance demonstrated at 0.05 level; CIBA VISION data on file, 2005.
^iv In a randomized, subject-masked, multi-site clinical study of all 11 sites with 83 subjects; significance demonstrated at 0.05 level; CIBA VISION data on file, 2006.
^v Brobst A, Janakiraman DP, Wang C. Multi-Center, Masked Comparison of Two Silicone Hydrogel Toric Contact Lenses. Optom Vis Sci 2006; 83: E-abstract 065265. Based on patients with a preference.
^vi Janakiraman DP, Brobst A, Wang C. Performance Comparisons of a Silicone Hydrogel to Low Dk Toric Soft Contact Lenses. Optom Vis Sci 2006; 83: E-abstract 065263. Of those with a preference.
^vii Secor, G. A clinical comparison of two toric lenses. Contact Lens Spectrum. 2008; 23 (s): 42-44. Of those with a preference.