January has been declared National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness globally.  According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation glaucoma is known as "a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning."¹

Because glaucoma is so hard to detect in the early stages it is important to be screened on a regular basis.  Visit the Glaucoma Research Foundation's website for more information, including risk factors for the disease and to learn how you can help find a cure. Contact your eye care practitioner today to schedule your next eye exam. To find an eye care provider near you, please click here.

¹ Glaucoma awareness month. Glaucoma Research Foundation, Retrieved from <http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/glaucoma_awaren.php>.

It is extremely important to be sure that eyes are protected in the winter months, especially if you are a contact lens wearer. Many outdoor activities should be accompanied by eye protection; from debris, and from the sun.  Activities in the snow such as skiing, snowboarding and sledding should be accompanied by goggles that also have UVA and UVB protection.  “On a sunny winter day, snow can reflect 80% of all UV rays.”¹  Light reflecting from the snow can damage eyes; even if the sun may not seem as strong as the summer.   It is also extremely important to protect children’s eyes; this may decrease chances of certain eye diseases later in life.  

Be sure to remind your patients about the importance of eye protection in the colder months.  For more some information on how CooperVision’s contact lenses can improve your overall sports performance please click here.

¹http://www.chla.org/site/c.ipINKTOAJsG/b.6063229/k.AD84/Winter_Sports_Eye_Safety__Eye_Health_Tips__The_Vision_Center.htm

CooperVision offers a variety of Lenses with different replacement schedules.  Whether you're an extended wearer or change daily, CooperVision has the contact lenses to suit your eyes and your lifestyle!

CooperVision has a selection of lenses that are recommended to be replaced daily, bi-weekly or monthly.  Your Eye Care Practitioner will recommend a replacement schedule depending on your prescribed lenses, your eye condition and your lifestyle.  Be sure to bring up any concerns about replacement recommendation s to your Eye Care Practitioner when getting fitted for your contacts.   It is important to follow your replacement schedule to achieve comfortable problem-free lens wear.  To be sure you are getting the most out of your lenses follow our Contact Lens Care tips.

Dry eye is a condition in which one’s eyes do not produce enough tears, or produce tears which do not have the proper chemical composition.  Symptoms of dry eye may include irritated, scratchy, dry, uncomfortable, or red eyes; a burning sensation or feeling of something foreign in your eyes; and blurred vision. Excessive dry eyes may damage eye tissue, scar your cornea (the front covering of your eyes) and impair vision, and make wearing contact lenses difficult¹.

Did you know that CooperVision’s Proclear 1 Day Lenses may bring comfort to contact wearers with Dry Eye Symdrome?

CooperVIsion’s Proclear 1 Day lenses are Proclear 1 Day lenses are the only daily disposable contact lenses with a FDA clearance for the claim: "may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear."²

If you think you may be experiencing dry eye symptoms, contact your eye care practitioner today! Be sure to mention our Proclear 1 day lenses for some potential comfort from your Dry Eye Syndrome.  Click here to find an eye care practitioner near you.

¹Reference: AOA. http://www.aoa.org/x4717.xml#1
²Reference: CooperVision.

The New Years is a time for change and positive outlook for the upcoming year.  Setting a goal for the New Year is tradition; but can bring health and happiness. Investing in your eye health is an easy resolution that consists of a quick visit to your optometrist! Regular eye exams are essential to keeping your eyes in check, but they can also be extremely important for your overall health. 

A basic eye exam can reveal some more serious diseases that may affect more than just your vision.  An exam can potentially uncover hidden medical conditions such as:  high blood pressure, diabetes, inflammations, and infections.  Be sure to schedule you’re eye exam for the New Year!

If you don't already have an eye care practitioner, click here to find one near you.

It is hard to know where to start when choosing a contact lens.  CooperVision would like to suggest using the Find a Lens tool on our website. Simply answer a few questions about your basic eye condition, then enter in your name and contact information.  Once you submit the quick assessment you will be provided with a suggested lens! You will also see a list of local practitioners; feel free to use this as a reference if you do not already have a local eye care practitioner.  We encourage you to read about the features that your suggested lens offers or about our various families of lenses at CooperVision by clicking here.  Be sure to schedule an appointment with your eye care practitioner as soon as possible to be fitted with your new lenses. 

It’s that time of year again; time to be sure that you’re getting the most out of your flexible spending account dollars!  With the holiday season in full swing we tend to forget about those flex spending account dollars, CooperVision would like to remind you that these accounts follow the “Use It or Lose It” rule (meaning you must use the entire amount in your healthcare flexible spending account by the end of each plan year or grace period - any funds you don’t use will be forfeited¹). 

Using your flexible spending account dollars on contact lenses is a great way to save money this holiday season.  Why not indulge yourself with CooperVision’s highly breathable, naturally wettable Biofinity contact lenses?   Stocking up with CooperVision’s luxurious Biofinity contact lenses will prove for a comfortable and clear start to your new year.  What are the holidays without a little self-indulgence anyway? Contact your eye care practitioner and use your flex spending dollars to stock up on Biofinity lenses today!

To find a practitioner nearest you please click here.

Happy holidays from everyone at CooperVision!

¹ http://www.nyc.gov/html/olr/html/flex_spending/hcfsa_forfeiture.shtml

PLEASANTON, CA USA – CooperVision announced today that it is expanding its worldwide recall of the Avaira brand product line of contact lenses to include a limited number of lots of Avaira Sphere contact lenses. In continued collaboration with the United States Food and Drug Administration, CooperVision is expanding the recall because it identified certain lots of Avaira Sphere lenses that did not meet its updated quality requirements due to the level of a silicone oil residue. 

The presence of the residue (silicone oil) on Avaira Sphere contact lenses may cause hazy vision or discomfort, severe eye pain or eye injuries requiring medical treatment. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms.

“The company is confident we found the problem and have taken corrective action to fix the problem,” said Christine Moench, Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance.  “The health and safety of our customers is our top priority.”  

If you wear Avaira Sphere contact lenses and experience any symptoms, CooperVision recommends that you stop wearing the lenses immediately.  Contact your eye care practitioner for advice.

Avaira Sphere contact lens wearers should: 

• CooperVision will launch a recall site (www.coopervision.com/international-recall) on Wednesday November 16th for wearers to enter the package lot number found on the contact lens carton or blister label to determine if their lenses have been recalled. 

• Alternatively, contact CooperVision on a toll-free consumer hotline at 1-855-526-6737.

• If you discover your lenses are among the recalled lots, return them to the point of purchase or to your eye care practitioner.

In August 2011, CooperVision announced a recall of limited lots of Avaira Toric contact lenses. CooperVision has identified the issue and has corrected it through its quality system process. 

CooperVision will continue to supply Avaira Sphere lenses that are not affected by this recall.

As part of the expanded recall, CooperVision is notifying its customers and requests that eye care practitioners contact their patients regarding this recall. Communication efforts are focused at eye care professional and distributors to effectively reach lens wearers. CooperVision recall efforts include:  

• Sending worldwide recall notifications to Avaira Sphere CooperVision customers.

• Issuing a press release via PR Newswire and Globe Newswire regarding the recall of limited lots of CooperVision Avaira Sphere lenses.

• Providing information on the CooperVision website for lens wearers to check if their lenses are impacted (www.coopervision.com/international-recall).

• An information notice has been posted on www.coopervision.com.

• Offering a toll-free consumer hotline (1-855-526-6737).

• Providing retailers and distributors access to patient communications materials. 

• Providing support and detailed information to eye care practitioners to remove recalled lots of Avaira Sphere lenses from the market place.

• Offering customer care resources to answer questions from patients.

The total number of Avaira Sphere lenses manufactured that are affected by the recall is 6.6M, of which 4.9M were shipped to customers globally. CooperVision intends to replace the recalled product with available Avaira Sphere inventory. 

About CooperVision

CooperVision, a unit of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE: COO), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of soft contact lenses. The Company produces a full array of monthly, two-week and daily disposable contact lenses, all featuring advanced materials and optics. CooperVision has a strong heritage of solving the toughest vision challenges; such as astigmatism, presbyopia and ocular dryness; and offers the most complete collection of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, thereby creating real advantages for customers and wearers.

Thank you to all of the U.S. military veterans who have served our country.

We have teamed up with Armed Forces Eyewear and created a program that delivers contacts right to the door of military personnel and family members – anywhere in the world. Our unique alliance means you can quickly search for the contact lenses that best meet your needs for vision, comfort and convenience. Imagine receiving your lenses direct at your doorstep, with just one click.

Visit the Armed Forces Contact Lenses website for more information, including an instant rebate savings offer on your CooperVision purchase and a free trial pair of contact lenses.

Wishing you a Happy Veteran’s Day from all of us at CooperVision!