JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Johnson & Johnson Vision, a leader in eye health and part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, received Health Canada approval for its Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen, the first and only daily disposable contact lens for vision correction in patients who experience itchy allergy eyes due to allergic conjunctivitis, according to the company’s announcement Tuesday. The lens contains an H1 histamine receptor antagonist for the prevention of itchy allergy eyes associated with allergic conjunctivitis experienced by contact lens users to promote comfortable contact lens wear.

In March 2021, Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen received its first regulatory approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as VMAIL reported.

“We are proud to mark another step forward in delivering this important innovation to help relieve patients from allergic eye itch while continuing to comfortably wear contact lenses," said Xiao-Yu Song, MD, PhD, global head of research & development, Johnson & Johnson Vision. “We look forward to working with additional health authorities to make Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen available to more patients around the world.”

Itchy allergy eyes can impact vision, and this becomes even more problematic for contact lens wearers—most of whom resort to rubbing their eyes. Data show that nearly 8 out of 10 contact lens wearers feel frustrated when their eye allergies interfere with normal contact lens wear, according to J&J Vision.

Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen may help people continue to wear their contact lenses for vision correction, and prevent allergic eye itch, without the need for allergy eye drops.

Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen is the latest in a long line of innovative contact lenses from Johnson & Johnson Vision since the company introduced the world's first daily disposable soft contact lens three decades ago. According to J&J Vision, the new lens is the first in “an entirely new contact lens category and brings forward a better contact lens wearing experience for patients with allergic eye itch.”