During the Christmas/New Year's travel period, long-distance travel grows as much as 23 percent compared to the rest of the year, and about 9 out of 10 holiday travelers use personal vehicles -- such as a car -- to make their trips (1). For the more than 36 million contact lens wearers in the United States, hours spent behind the wheel of a car or flying can add up to eyes that feel tired and dry. In a survey of more than 2,000 current and former contact lens wearers, more than half cited travel (28% - car; 23% - plane) as the situation that most often triggered discomfort while wearing their current lenses. When driving, people focus on the road and blink less frequently. This state of concentration causes eyes to blink about three times less than normal, according to studies. "For contact lens wearers, long, non-blinking phases may cause the surface of their contact lenses to dry quickly, which can lead to discomfort and a loss of visual clarity," says Michael Slusky, OD, a Chicago-based optometrist. Sunny, dry, or windy conditions, and the use of air conditioning, also can quickly cause contact lenses to become dry and uncomfortable. Air travel can also cause discomfort to the eyes of contact lens wearers. Pressurized cabins dehydrate the air and rob the eyes of moisture needed for comfortable lens wear. As a result, many passengers often use rewetting drops or take out their contacts in favor of glasses during the flight. Reading on the flight, though a good way to pass the time, can exacerbate the situation since reading also reduces the blink rate, which in turn may lead to eye discomfort and a loss of visual clarity. New Option for Contact Lens Wearers VISTAKON(R), a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. has launched ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR(TM) PLUS, a breakthrough for contact lens wearers when their eyes feel tired and dry in these and other challenging environments, such as long hours of computer use or everyday exposure to heated or air conditioned surroundings. They are daily wear contact lenses that feature an improved formulation of the unique HYDRACLEAR(TM) technology that combines high-performance base materials with a moisture-rich wetting agent. ACUVUE OASYS contact lenses block greater than 96 percent of UVA rays and 99 percent of UVB rays, meeting the highest UV- blocking standards for contact lenses. * In a clinical study with more than 190 contact lens wearers, patients wearing ACUVUE OASYS reported consistently clear, crisp vision and noted that their eyes remained fresh and moist, even in challenging environments. Three- in-four (75 percent) study participants also noted that they did not need rewetting drops while wearing ACUVUE OASYS. ACUVUE OASYS Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR PLUS are indicated for daily wear vision correction. As with all contact lenses, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may also experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. For further information, call 1-800-843-2020 or visit http://www.acuvue.com . Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. The VISTAKON division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. specializes in disposable contact lens brands, including ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR(TM), ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM) Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM for people with astigmatism, ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR(TM) PLUS, ACUVUE(R) Brand and ACUVUE(R) 2 Brand Contact Lenses; 1-DAY ACUVUE(R) Brand Contact Lenses; ACUVUE(R) Brand BIFOCAL Contact Lenses; ACUVUE(R) Brand TORIC, and ACUVUE(R) 2 COLOURS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses. ACUVUE(R), ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM), HYDRACLEAR(TM), ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM), ACUVUE(R) 2 COLOURS(TM) and VISTAKON(R) are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. * WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV- Blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV- Blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information. (1) National Household Travel Survey, U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2001/2002

Source: PR Newswire