I've worn Focus Night and Day contacts without significant problems for a number of years; basically since they came out. This past August I went in for my Colorado state-mandated annual prescription review for contacts and was informed that Ciba Vision, owner of the Focus brand, had "improved" the Focus Night & Day line by taking the same lens, coating it with some sort of fancy, buffered coating and by adding a tint and lettering on the lens that said "ok" if the lens was in the correct position (i.e., not flipped the wrong way). I popped in the new sample lenses at the optometrist's office, they seemed fine, and so I ordered a year's worth of lenses. That's when the problems started.Never before had I really needed to remove my lenses to clean them, but it seemed like I had to do it daily; never before had I had a problem sleeping in my lenses, but I was waking up needing to clean them. Although it seemed like some of the itching and burning in my eyes may have been allergy-related, I've never really had allergies, and when I removed my contacts, the symptoms seemed to almost immediately disappear; it got to the point where I was either carrying a contact lens case with solution or throwing lenses away when I was at work because I couldn't take the irritation.
Finally a couple of weeks ago I decided to take a break from the lenses and even went to see if I was a candidate for laser surgery as I had promised myself that if I could no longer wear extended wear lenses, I would get the surgery. While I was at the laser eye surgery consultation answering questions, the assistant asked if I had any problems with the AIROPTIX because there apparently were massive problems with the lenses and that Ciba Vision was aware of the problem and exchanging lenses. I immediately called my optometrist and he confirmed that there were issues, Ciba was aware of the issues, and that Ciba would exchange out the AIROPTIX for stock of the old Focus Night & Day with no questions asked. Furthermore, he offered me a couple of free pairs of Bausch & Lomb PureVision lenses along with a prescription for those -- PureVision is the Buash & Lomb extended wear lens.
If you're having the same issues I was, here's what I suggest:
- Stop wearing the lenses immediately. If you think you have an infection or some other negative effect from the lenses, call your optometrist immediately.
- Call your optometrist that wrote the prescription -- chances are that they are aware of the issue and can get your lenses switched out by their Ciba rep. Chances are also good that they may have some samples of the older Focus Night & Day lenses that they can give you until Ciba gets you new lenses.
- Ask your optometrist to give you some samples of PureVision. I'm sure that Bausch & Lomb is loving that Ciba has screwed this up and is loading up optometrists with extra samples to convert customers.
- Should your optometrist be unwilling or unable to help you, call Ciba directly as they are aware of the issue -- (800) 875-3001.
42 comments:
Thank you so much for posting this information. I have been having major issues since they changed these lenses. Neither of the eye doctors I have seen has been able to help me figure out what is going on. I've been devastated by not being able to wear my contacts anymore. You've given me hope. I'm going to call Ciba right now. A million thanks.
Glad I found this. I had some problems with the older lens, but recently my optometrist put me in these lens and, man, has it been a problem. I put in 2 new ones this morning. One of the new lens is perfect. The other totally sucks. It appears to me that quality control is taboo at Ciba. Thanks.
I have had the same problem, looking around at other posts it seems like others are as well. I had a full year but most have been thrown away because of the same problems. I am posting this response on 11-19-2009. I was thinking it was me but not so sure now. going to the OD tommorow. If there is a problem why havent they traced all the people who purchased specific lot codes! my lot code is 8691085 made in Indonesia, the whole year supply was the same lot code. I could go on, Feel like dirt in eye, wakeing up with what seems like conjunctivitis (note: wife has daily contacts and no problems). Thought it was my eye however iritation problem followed contact when placed in other eye (even after cleaning lense). This is all very reminiscent of some older lenses that had a special moisture solution that caused severe eye damage... I hope it isnt.
I have been wearing contacts since I was 10 Im 40 now and cant ever recal having such difficulties with ANY other lenses.
Well, heres hoping all is well and hope this was helpfull to anyone else.
Once again thankyou for posting, after having problems with a lense I opened just 2 days back I decided to just take a look see if anyone else was having problems, just kinda sick of throwing out hardly used lenses and got my answer. Thanks!
mmmm however I also saw that the NON aqua ones are the ones they are no longer making for some reason. I guess I will have to find out.
Hmm well I called 1.800.875.3001 and they had no idea what I was talking about and "have never had any recals on the air optix night and day aqua"... however she did arange to send me 2 new boxes of lenses to my OD. I am posting this response 11-19-2009. Next time I will order something different.
Im still not confident in their quality control or the "NEW" enhancements they have made.
That's interesting because their sales reps certainly know about it -- they are replacing lenses with no questions asked around the Denver area. I got them to replace everything I bought without even needing to show proof of purchase, even the ones I had already used, however, they did only provide me with 2 boxes of the old ones and 2 boxes of the "improved" new ones.
What's interesting to me is that they were willing to mail 2 boxes to you; if there's not a problem, why would they agree to do that?
posting 11-25-2009
Sooo My "Replacement" lenses arrived today. They are the standard Night and Day, not "Air Optix"... both boxes. Havent put them in yet but I’m sure they will be fine.
Curios, no?
That's what they are giving out -- the old Focus Night and Day lenses as replacements.
They did give me 2 boxes of the supposedly "improved" AIROPTIX, but, to be honest with you, I'm scared to try them as I consider myself lucky not to have some sort of eye damage from the defective ones.
Thank you so much for writing about your experience with these new Aqua lenses. I think I am suffering from exactly the same situation, and my optician today mentioned that Ciba's new coating might be causing the problem.
I've not been able to find any other references to this problem on the internet. Has Ciba admitted to this officially or written about it?
Cheers,
Mark
Hi Mark,
I haven't seen anything official from Ciba and, as you can tell from some of the comments above, people have had varying degrees of claimed responsibility when they contact Ciba; interestingly, however, everyone that has asked for replacement lenses and posted their story here has received them and most people have received the old Focus Night & Days as I did -- you do the math.
Ross
I was wearing the original Night&Day contacts, and absolutely loved them! I was thrilled when my OD told me about the "new and improved" contacts by Ciba at my last eye appointment. I filled this new contact prescription, then ended up with "the worst eye infection" my OD had ever seen. After about a month of drops and doctor visits (for which I had to pay a $25 co-pay each time), my eye eventually cleared up. (I have monovision, so only wear one contact in my right eye.) My OD tried to tell me I had allergies, which was obviously the cause of the eye infection. (Is it really plausible that I would have allergies in just one eye?) After my eye cleared up, I waited about 3weeks just to be absolutely sure everything was fine, then inserted a brand new contact. Again, within a day of wearing it, that old, familiar feeling returned --a goopy red eye with crusty eyelashes -- again, only in the eye with the contact. Again, I used drops, waited, inserted a brand new contact, and yet again, the same problem. I'm down to my last contact, so my one-year supply has dwindled down to nearly zero in less than half a year because I keep having to toss them out after just a few days' use.
Today I'm going to contact Ciba, as well as my OD's office. I am not pleased, and am grateful to have these posts as reinforcement and assurance that I'm not crazy, there's something terribly wrong with these contacts. I ordered mine through 1-800-Contacts. I'm not sure if it's a bad lot, or if they're all crap, so maybe Ciba can explain that to me. I NEVER had any issues whatsoever with the old Night&Days, and I'm so glad to know they still make them. Thanks for opening up this conversation! I live in the Denver area, so I'll post again and let you know how the issue was handled. Hopefully Ciba will handle my situation as well as they have handled others.
Just an FYI -- I dialed the number given in the first post, and it's NOT Ciba. Actually, it's some sort of subscription number, and I may now be facing a $9.99 fee through my cell phone. If you dial that number, you'll receive a text asking you to press "Y", and if you do, then you're automatically subscribed to whatever service it is that they're offering. (I'll probably have to spend a lot of time getting this straightened out!) The CORRECT number for Ciba is 1-800-875-3001.
Just as a quick follow-up ... I called Ciba this morning and explained my situation. I asked if this problem had come to their attention before, or was I just an isolated case. The Ciba rep was surprised and indicated she had never received any previous complaints. She asked me for the lot number, as well as the expiration date, which I provided. She also asked me for my eye doctor's name and phone number, which I also provided, along with my name and address. I told her I used to have the Night&Day Focus lenses which I never had any problems with, and wished I could go back to those. She told me they stopped making them at the end of March, 2009, and that I probably wouldn't be able to find them anymore. I told her I suppose that I'd have to switch to Bausch and Lomb Purevision lenses if that was the case, as I definitely was not willing to wear the Air Optix any longer. She indicated she would call me back as soon as she had spoken to my eye doctor. I look forward to hearing what they have to say, and will post more info. as soon as I hear back from them.
Hey Gladys,
Sorry for having the wrong number on there. I never had to call it since my optometrist took care of everything, but I corrected it to the 875 number in my post in case anyone else needs to call.
Thanks,
Ross
Add me to the list of people who are really happy that you posted this, Ross. I thought there was something really going wrong with my eyes, as I too have worn the old version of these lenses for years and never had any problems, but now have all of the symptoms described: cloudiness, irritated eyelids, etc. I'll be calling my OD in the morning.
Here's my follow-up post: Ciba sent some replacement lenses to my doctor's office, which I picked up today. I put the "old" lens in, and it feels soooooooooo good! No cloudiness, no goopy eye feeling, it absolutely feels completely clear. Honestly, I can't feel a thing, which is how it's supposed to be. I hope they restart production on these again, as they're simply perfect. Kudos to CIBA for their good customer service. Unless I develop similar problems again, I'm going to assume that it definitely was the Airoptix lenses that were irritating my eyes. I think that blue coating is what caused all of my problems in the past.
Whooops... just noticed I made a mistake last night i posted that the old air optiks were good.... no no no no no the old NIGHT AND DAY are good not air optix.. sorry.
just delete the other post.
Thanks Ross for the great post. I am having exactly the same problems. I purchased Aqua last July but had a supply of Focus to use up. Began use of Aqua in December. My optometrist claims to have not had a single complaint re. Aqua. I called Ciba this morning and they readily admit to having a minor problem (1% of customers) who could not wear these contacts for extended use. They believe the issue is the raised lettering on the lens causing a mechanical sensitivity as the eye lid blinks over those characters. Interesting, they asked if I had to seek medical attention so I wonder if some people ignored the warning signs and continued to wear beyond a couple days. They claim to have no more Focus contacts available but are contacting my optometrist to get me the new, improved lens. Has anyone received the new Aqua lens and has that resolved the problem for you?
Thanks.
Rich
I've got a few boxes of the "new and improved", but I've honestly been scared to try them -- still have a few months of the Focus lenses left.
Thanks! I thought I was nuts, but the new lenses are 'GARBAGE'!!!! I can barely keep them in for 24 hrs, much less 30 days (like I've done comfortably for 10 yrs). I am surprised CIBAvision didn't step up and let people know. You can't mess with your eyes.
Tony,
I thought I was reacting to allergies or maybe just a bad batch of lenses but no matter how many I replaced they all produced the same results. Red eyes, puffy eyelids, the inside of my eyelids felt raw and scratchy after I took the "new and improved lens" out. The eye discharge has been horrible; I've never had so much "eye gunk" with any of my other contacts even when I had semi-hard lens. I mentioned the problem to my wife and she was having the same problem and thought it was something wrong with her eyes and not the contacts. Thanks Ciba, you've proven that 'new and improved' is just marketing double-talk and not quality.
Follow up: The contacts promised by Ciba Customer Support arrived a few minutes ago. They are the old "Focus" contacts, not the new and improved version of Airoptix. There must be ongoing issues with Airoptix that Ciba is not sharing with the public. Anyway, I am a happy camper to have the old style lens until I need to have my annual exam. I will definitely look at the Bausch & Lomb 30 day as my friend wears them for the full 30 days without removal. I don't think I could,or would want to keep them in my eyes more than a week, but that says something for their comfort. Thanks again Ross for pointing us all in the right direction.
Thank you SOOO much for this post. I too was having "gunky" and "fogging" issues with the new Air Optix.
After wearing the Focus Night & Days for almost 7 years and never having an issue. I called right after reading your post and I am happy to report they are sending replacement lenses to my eye dr. and sending return tags to pay to ship my current stock back to them. I highly suggest anyone having ANY issues to call, and really I can't thank you enough!
Great! thanks for the info guys! I was out on a camping trip, with the supposed new and improved, with no way to clean them. I started haveing irritation about an hour after i had put them in, and i ignored it, thinking it was just the feel of a new contact, and i would get used to it... that was a mistake. It got to the point of fogging, and constant blinking that turned into slight pain. So I ended up thinking this was not normal, and just taking them out, and going blind for the rest of the weekend. kinda ruined my weekend, but i hope there was no damage done.
Great stuff as always! Thanks for the post. This site is definitely in my bookmarks :)
I was so upset when I found out that CIBA discountinued the original Night & Day contacts. They were amazing! I was reluctant to try the "new and improved" Air Optix because of everything that I read online. My eye doctor convinced me to try them and I do not like them at all. They weren't terrible, but after working all day and wearing the contacts at night, my eyes got really dry and it felt like there was gunk in my eyes and needed to remove the contact immediately. With the old Night & Day contacts I barely used eye drops and could go for a weekend without taking them out. The new contacts are not TERRIBLE; they are similar to any other contact I have worn (Proclear Compatibles, Accuve Oasis, etc.) The old CIBA Night & Day are just a different level of comfort, and now that I know this kind of comfort exists, I will not settle for a lower-quality lens.
I kept insisting to my doctor that these new contacts felt different. She finally told me that even though the new contacts are made with the same material, they are dipped in some kind of moisturizing coating, which may be the source of the problem. Additionally, I read online that the "OK" written on the contact can also cause problems for some people. (Side note: if you can't determine which way is the correct way to put in your contacts, than maybe you should reconsider wearing contacts altogether).
After much research, I finally found one company that still sells the old CIBA Night & Day lens: http://www.coastalcontacts.com/. I ordered from them last week and the contacts arrived this week. Great company and good customer service. Although it is a temporary solution, I stocked up for the next two years. Hopefully by the time I run out, CIBA will realize its mistake and continue to produce the old Night & Day contacts.
I have never used Night & Day lenses, however I was amazed of the clairity and compfort when I trialed the Air Optix multifocus. Two weeks latter I got a bloody eye spot on the edge of the iris. My OD said that it was probably just from exercise or straining activity.....also changed my cleaning regiment to Clear Care. I did not wear my lenses for about 1 week and half. Then started to wear my lenses again and 8 days latter another blood pool in my eye! .. This time I was suspicious... My OD gave said this time that it was an allergy, but not the lenses.... gave me some drops.. and said I could use them always to counter effect what ever allergy I had. I used the drop but this time I developed a stye inside my lower lid, eye pain, and as well both eyes were extreamly red. Well this time I`m convince.. it is the contacts. The disapointment is that I have not found anything comparable.. I am wearing Proclear, no eye pain, no blool, but it is definitely not the vision I have gotten from the Air optix.. too bad the Night and Days are not available.. ps. this night mare costs me a 5 months supply in two months, I still have one months left and will not touch it again. I wrote to Ciba hopefully the feedback is being put to good use.
omg, I have been back to the doctor 4 times in a month with issues. He finally told me that a "few" people have had issues. Apparently not the case. He finally switched my brand on Thursday. Still have vision issues even with new contacts, like my eyes haven't healed yet. It's scary. Anyone else?
Its amazing to hear so called improvements actually cause the problems they do, as if these improvements are more based upon a cost cutting and substitution basis than anything else.
Air Optix Night and Day are defective due to the raised inversion seal on them. I have had an eye infection and bumps under my eye lids for one year now and have had appointment after appointment with my doctor who told me the reason for my problem: the lenses. I have had to use steroid eye drops for the first time in my life and still my eyes are ruined. I cannot wear any lenses now to my horror and dismay. I want a lawyer to help me since the company knew of the defect and no one phoned me to alert me while I continued damaging my eyes. Has anyone wanted a class action legal suit ? Please try to do so so that I may join in.
Jun 29 2011, I found this web site finally. Now I knew I was not the only one had this problem...
Since I changed to new Air Optix night & day I had some problems right away. But my eye Dr was keep telling me it is same one...
They did not believe me...
That why I did not want to go back to same eye Dr this year any more and I was searching online shop, then I found this Blog.
Thank you so much to let us know this important information.
I wish I knew about it in 2009....
I found this article very helpful and explained all the issues I'm having with Air Optix Night & Day. But it's now June 18 2012 , looks like this article is from 2009. Did I get stuck with an old stock of lenses or is this an ongoing problem for the manufacturer?
Thanks.
Air Optix Night & Day are Ruining People's Eyes and the Company Seems Oblivious to all Complaints:
I was switched over from Focus Night & Day to Air Optix Night & Day, Aqua last Fall. I've worn soft contact lenses since 1975 and have never had any kind of eye problem - not even so much as a sty on either of my eyes.
I have found complaints all over the Internet about these lenses. It appears some folks can wear them without problems and others, find themselves with severe eyelid inflammation (Blepharitis, Ocular Rosacea and MGD), or even worse - eye ulcers and/or cornea damage.
My eye doctor - only after I took a file folder into his office with thousands of complaints about these lenses - acknowledged to me that my eyes had gradually built up a total intollerance to the lenses resulting in all the above. The problem, he said, appears to be the materials they are made of make it harder for the wearer to keep them lubricated evenly over the whole surface of the contact lens. In my case, the lenses did not seem to be irritating my eyes while I was wearing them, but the day after I had worn them. It started with my eyes burning, like soap or strong onion fumes were in my eyes. When I started to wear them almost everyday, still not connecting my eye issues back to the contact lenses, my eyelid irritation came to a peak, and my eyes felt like my eyeballs were swollen or something. It was a very strange feeling - much worse than any allergy I'd ever had in my eyes. It was 2 weeks before I could see a specialist, who diagnosed me with Blepharitis, MGD, and Ocular Rosacea. I've been back to his office since mid-May monthly for follow-up visits. At first, he said it was steroid eye drop induced, then he said it was low estrogen levels, then when I explained I was on the steroid eye drops for 7 days last Fall (ALT surgery to lower eye pressure in left eye Oct. 31, 2011), and I had been reading all over the Internet about problems just like mine after being changed over to these lenses, he finally said that what I had described was identical to lense intollerance due to the problem of keeping them moist and lubricated evenly while in the eye. He even said the problem is that most folks can wear them a month or two without noticing any problems, and then, as with me, it is like someone flips a light switch to the on position, and all of a suddent the inflammation has worsened to the point you have severe eyelid conditions noted as Blepharitis, Ocular Rosacea and MGD. I contacted the manufacturer, and when I responded to their stupid question form, they replied they had called my doctor's office and had been told the contacts had not caused my problem, but thanks for expressing my concerns. Now I'm really pissed off. I know what my doctor told me, and I am not a liar, and I know there are thousands of complaints all over the Internet about these lenses. The manufacturer even had the gall to tell me they are exactly like the Focus Night & Day. Well, I've looked up the materials and percentages of silicone, water, etc. in Focus Night & Day and these new Air Optix lenses, and they are different. Of course, did I really expect Ciba Vision to admit in writing they agreed with all us who are having problems with these lenses? Not really, but to be so arrogant about it makes me want to get a Class Action suit against these idiots. Why did the FDA approve these toxic pieces of silicone anyway - $$$$ from Ciba Vision? I've read on this site that some folks think it is the laser engraved "OK" in the lenses, and there may have been a batch that had this problem, but that is only one of many problems with these lenses.
Well, I just took out another painful Ciba 30 day/night lens. About a year ago, Ciba changed to Air Optix and ever since, I've had nothing but problems. I had one entire box of bad lenses, mostly left eye, sometimes the right. I am so mad now. I thought my eyes just needed a rest, but when I put the new lens I had just opened, it hurt my eye again. The thing is I have to leave it out for a couple of days before my eye feels good again only to put it in, and it suddenly starts burning and itching and hurting. I searched on google and found these posts and printed them out so that my optometrist can't play dumb. My old one played dumb. Oh no, never heard of anyone with this problem. He acted like I was trying to get free lenses. I've been using them for 6 years with ZERO prblems. They even lasted past 30 days. Now in about 2 weeks, the vision goes blurry. So either they hurt or the vision on a lens goes. I will never buy these again. I'm done. I'd rather wear dailies then go through this any more.
Well, I just took out another painful Ciba 30 day/night lens. About a year ago, Ciba changed to Air Optix and ever since, I've had nothing but problems. I had one entire box of bad lenses, mostly left eye, sometimes the right. I am so mad now. I thought my eyes just needed a rest, but when I put the new lens I had just opened, it hurt my eye again. The thing is I have to leave it out for a couple of days before my eye feels good again only to put it in, and it suddenly starts burning and itching and hurting. I searched on google and found these posts and printed them out so that my optometrist can't play dumb. My old one played dumb. Oh no, never heard of anyone with this problem. He acted like I was trying to get free lenses. I've been using them for 6 years with ZERO prblems. They even lasted past 30 days. Now in about 2 weeks, the vision goes blurry. So either they hurt or the vision on a lens goes. I will never buy these again. I'm done. I'd rather wear dailies then go through this any more.
love mine, started wearing them in june sleep in them all the time never a problem.. wore b&l lenses for years and they were always uncomfortable, tear easily
This is very odd... I am new to Night & Day and found that the newer version with the OK imprint actually works better for me than the old version. But in any case, both versions irritated my eyes in the long run... it just took longer for the irritation to set in with the newer version. It's been a nightmare trying to pinpoint the problem and find a solution. My eye doctor thought I was crazy (the jerk literally thought I was imagining the symptoms) but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. I've been dealing with this issue since I got these contacts in August. I give up- I'm going back to my old contacts and hoping CIBA picks up the tab. The $200 I spent on the horrid Night & Day brand was enough.
I am another disatisfied wearer of the Air Optic version of Night and Day lenses and can say ditto to all the bad reviews. I ran out of lenses for my right eye and had to settle for a B&L remove before sleep replacement. I noticed that when I looked close at the Air Optic lense next to a B&L lense it looked dry while the B&L lense looked like a mini jellyfish. Since I had to remove the B&L lense at night I also removed the A/O lense and compared them every day. I was afraid of tearing the dry, wimpy looking A/O lense as opposed to the wet and slippery B&L lense. It appears as if the coating on the A/O lense repels liquid similiar to an old raincoat or canvas tent. I see that Ciba still calls them "Focus" but their web site contains a statement that disclaims the brand name usage. They post reviews that all say they are the best lenses but when you read the reviews they all have the name as "Focus" and not the crappy A/O"s. I guess it will cover their ass in court some day. Sad to see the step down in quality especially in an important medical field.
they're still giving these horrible things out.
i just had a sample of them given to me and had same problems as all of you.
why weren't they recalled?
I too have had EXACTLY the same issues. I have been using the 'old' Focus Night & Day lenses since about 1995. This year I was given the new "improved" Air-optix lenses. Suddenly, I go from being able to wear them for a month to a maximum of three days before the pain becomes unbearable. One night in these "improved" Air Optix lenses and I wake up with gluey eyes. I've NEVER had any problems in the past (in fact my Optometrist hated how long I could wear the old lenses with no obvious side effects).
I have now swapped to another brand of lens. All good again.
Obviously CIBA didn't do their homework on these FAULTY lenses.
It is March 16, 2013, and I just KNEW that when I googled "air optic sucks" that I would not be the only one!!! These contacts have been killing my eyes over the past 3 years or so. I can't wait to talk to my eye doc and my health insurance company. Come to think of it, I may talk to an attorney too.
I'm not sure the problem is just the air optix night and day, as I'm experiencing the same with the air optix aqua.
I changed from the standard air optix because I experienced dry eyes and 2 eye infections, but the aqua version is no better as I've had a serious upper eye lid infection.
I've been using contact lenses since 1998 and the only time I had problems before was with the B&L solution that was withdrawn from sale.
Can anyone advise a good lens for extended wear?
so, it's Oct. 1, 2014 and I just saw these posts. Is anyone still having problems? Are the old night and day contacts available through ciba? My doctor says I need a new eye exam and of course will charge. nevermind that I can see fine with my old glasses he prescribed. I have gone through 4 pair of contacts thinking it was me and just had to through them away because they were irritating my eyes so much. Does anyone have a good number for Ciba? the number at the beginning says there's trouble and to call later. It sounds like an answering machine.
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