I have had quite a few emails and posts wondering about the status of Ciba Vision's other color contact lens options since their launch of the new Air Optix Colors. As of July 2014, this is the memo that Ciba Vision has circulated to doctors and contact lens distributors for the future availability of their older color products:
Freshlook Toric Handling Tint Single Trials: Discontinued July 31st, 2014
Freshlook Colorblends Toric Boxes: Discontinued October 31st, 2014
Focus Softcolor Single Trials: Discontinued Immediately
Focus Softcolor Boxes: Discontinued March 31st, 2015 (or as supplies last)
There is no plan at this time for another color toric (or astigmatism) contact lens to be on the market from the Ciba Vision company. I am uncertain of the future option of an Air Optix for Astigmatism Color lens, but I imagine it would be several years away at the earliest.
The recommended replacement for Focus Softcolor lenses are Air Optix Colors or Freshlook Dimensions.
What to do if your lens has or is being discontinued?
If you wear Freshlook Coloblends Toric, it appears that you should be able to continue to purchase boxes until October 31st. Certain distributors may no longer have the lens in stock, so you may need to call around if your vendor or doctor's office is unable to secure the lens for you. Your best bet is to order through a doctor if you are having trouble because they can order personally and directly from their Ciba company representative if there are any boxes left in your power or color to be had. After October 31st, if you would like to continue to wear color contact lenses with astigmatism, there will no longer be a readily available option. Ask your doctor if they offer custom contact lens fitting and the prices for this service. Custom contact lenses like Orion BioColor Toric come in a range of astigmatism and color options, but these lenses are specialized, made to order contact lenses. That means a more time consuming ordering and evaluation process, and typically a higher cost of goods and service. If you are interested in exploring custom astigmatism color contact lenses, your doctor will be able to tell you if it is a service they can provide, and the cost that this process and the lenses would require.
It is always frustrating when your favorite contact lens gets discontinued. Remember when they stopped making Durasoft colors? Remember when Acuvue discontinued all of their color contact lens options? In the future we may have more color options available again for people with high prescriptions or astigmatism, but it may take some time for new lenses that meet the FDA's safety protocols to get tested and approved to bring to market. Your doctor will work with you to find a lens that provides the health and comfort and vision that you need, but color options may be limited to the world of custom order for those in more specialized prescriptions for the time being.
Freshlook Toric Handling Tint Single Trials: Discontinued July 31st, 2014
Freshlook Colorblends Toric Boxes: Discontinued October 31st, 2014
Focus Softcolor Single Trials: Discontinued Immediately
Focus Softcolor Boxes: Discontinued March 31st, 2015 (or as supplies last)
There is no plan at this time for another color toric (or astigmatism) contact lens to be on the market from the Ciba Vision company. I am uncertain of the future option of an Air Optix for Astigmatism Color lens, but I imagine it would be several years away at the earliest.
The recommended replacement for Focus Softcolor lenses are Air Optix Colors or Freshlook Dimensions.
What to do if your lens has or is being discontinued?
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| Orion BioColor and BioColor Torics are a customizable soft contact lens made by Alden Optical. These are special order contact lenses requiring more sophisticated contact lens evaluation and fitting process. At this time BioColor is one of very few color contact lenses that are available in astigmatism correction. |
It is always frustrating when your favorite contact lens gets discontinued. Remember when they stopped making Durasoft colors? Remember when Acuvue discontinued all of their color contact lens options? In the future we may have more color options available again for people with high prescriptions or astigmatism, but it may take some time for new lenses that meet the FDA's safety protocols to get tested and approved to bring to market. Your doctor will work with you to find a lens that provides the health and comfort and vision that you need, but color options may be limited to the world of custom order for those in more specialized prescriptions for the time being.
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