Jill Anastor (l) and J Keith Lomas.

BEDFORDSHIRE, U.K. and GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Art Optical Contact Lens Inc. has been manufacturing and supplying Intelliwave prescription hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses in the U.S. and Asia under license from UltraVision CLPL, since 2008. The two companies jointly announced that they have agreed to extend this relationship to 2020 and beyond, and say they will build on it by including additional technology to create new GP multifocal and other specialty contact lens designs.

Founded in 1931, Art Optical Contact Lens Inc., is one of the world’s largest independent manufacturers of custom GP, hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Art Optical uses advanced software and designs within its own state-of-the-art engineering platforms in Grand Rapids, Mich., to help manufacture the latest contact lenses in numerous custom design variations. The technology package has been created, supplied and is supported by UltraVision CLPL in the U.K.

Jill Anastor, president of Art Optical said, “It’s great to build even further on our longstanding technology partnership with UltraVision CLPL so we can continue to offer eyecare practitioners and their patients a full range of the latest specialty contact lens designs.”

UltraVision CLPL is one of the largest independent contact lens manufacturers in Europe and supplies manufacturing software, advanced designs and support to many contact lens laboratories throughout the world, with technology licensees in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia.

J Keith Lomas, Group CEO, commented, “Art Optical was an early adopter of our technology and we’ve worked closely with them and become great friends over the years. We continue to invest heavily in R&D, including cast-molding and lathe-cutting, and we are delighted that we are becoming the ‘go to people’ for contact lens technologies with lab customers in virtually every continent around the world.”