Air Optix Night & Day Aqua Patient Instructions

Material and packaging

Air Optix Night & Day Aqua soft contact lenses contain 76% lotrafilcon A and 24% water, delivering an oxygen transmission of 174 Dk/t.

Air Optix Night & Day Aqua are packaged in individual blister packs containing isotonic, phosphate-buffered saline and are steam sterilized. Use only if pack and printed foil are intact.

Intended use

Vision Correction

Air Optix Night & Day Aqua are intended for the optical correction of vision in persons with non-diseased eyes with minimal astigmatism that does not interfere with vision. Air Optix Night & Day Aqua may be worn for daily wear or extended wear for up to 30 nights and days of continuous wear as recommended by your eye care professional. AIR OPTIX NIGHT & DAY are intended for monthly replacement.

Therapeutic Use

Air Optix Night & Day Aqua are also intended for therapeutic use as a bandage to protect the cornea, to relieve corneal pain, and to aid corneal healing in the treatment of acute or chronic ocular pathologies such as bullous keratopathy, corneal erosions, entropion, corneal oedema, and corneal dystrophies as well as post-surgical conditions resulting from cataract extraction and corneal surgery. Air Optix Night & Day Aqua for therapeutic use can also provide optical correction during healing if required.

Recommended wear and replacement schedule

In the interests of maintaining the health and safety of your eyes, the wearing schedule should be determined by your eye care professional.

• Air Optix Night & Day Aqua have been developed to be worn on a continuous wear basis for up to 30 nights and days, and then discarded. After one night without lens wear, start the next wearing period with a fresh new lens. Since individual responses to contact lenses vary, your eye care professional may recommend that you wear your lenses for shorter continuous wear periods. Not everyone can reach the maximum wear time of 30 continuous nights and days.

• If for any reason you have to remove and reinsert your Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses before the scheduled replacement date, follow the lens care recommendations of your eye care professional before reinsertion.

• FOR THERAPEUTIC USE, close professional supervision is necessary. Air Optix Night & Day Aqua can be worn on a continuous wear basis for up to 30 nights and days or for shorter periods as directed by the eye care professional. Your eye care professional will provide specific instructions regarding lens removal and insertion.

• The lenses must be discarded after one month of wear.

Handling your Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses

Your eye care professional should provide you with detailed contact lens insertion and removal instructions.

Always wash and dry your hands before handling lenses. Gently shake the blister pack before opening. Peel back the foil lid. Pour the Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lens into the palm of your hand or if necessary, gently slide the lens out of the container using your forefinger. Ensure the lens is not inside out and that you have the appropriate lens for that eye. Inspect your lenses prior to insertion, do not insert if damaged.

When removing your lens make sure that your hands are completely dry. Blink fully several times, then while looking up, slide the lens down onto the white part of the eye. Remove the lens by gently pinching it between the thumb and forefinger. If the lens is difficult to remove, do not pinch the eye tissue. Apply a lubricating and rewetting drop and try again after several minutes.

Never use tweezers, suction cups, sharp objects or your finger nails to remove your lenses from the lens container or your eyes.

FOR THERAPEUTIC USE, your eye care professional may instruct you NOT to insert or remove your lenses by yourself. Under these circumstances, your eye care professional will insert and remove your lenses for you.

Taking care of your Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses

When Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses are dispensed, your eye care professional will recommend procedures and products for taking care of your lenses. Upon waking or before going to sleep, you may wish to refresh your eyes with a sterile rinsing solution. If occasional dryness occurs, it may be relieved by the use of lubricating and wetting drops. For wearing schedules of less than 30 nights and days, lenses must be cleaned and disinfected before reinsertion.

• Do not use heat, or any product designed for hard or rigid gas-permeable lenses.

When not to wear lenses

Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses should not be worn in conjunction with certain health or environmental conditions. Conditions that may prevent or interfere with safe contact lens wear include:

• Allergy, inflammation, infection or irritation in or around the eye or eyelids.

• Periods of poor health, such as during severe colds or influenza.

• The use of some medications, including eye medications.

• Excessively dry or dusty environments that make contact lens wear uncomfortable.

• Water sports without the use of goggles.

• Inadequate tear film (dry eyes).

Consult with your eye care professional specifically regarding these or other conditions.

FOR THERAPEUTIC USE, your eye care professional may prescribe Air Optix Night & Day Aqua to aid in the healing process of certain corneal conditions.

Possible Problems

With Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses your eyes should look well, feel comfortable, and your vision should be clear. Although contact lenses provide many benefits to the wearer, it is possible that problems can occur. Check your eyes every day for the following conditions:

• Feeling of something in the eye

• Uncomfortable lens

• Eye redness

• Sensitivity to light

• Burning, stinging, itching or watering eyes

• Reduced sharpness of vision

• Rainbows or halos around lights

• Increased eye secretions

• Severe or persistent dry eyes

These symptoms, if ignored, can lead to more serious complications.

DURING THERAPEUTIC USE, an adverse effect may be due to the original disease or injury or may be due to the effects of wearing a contact lens. Your eye care professional should discuss the possibility that the existing disease or condition might become worse when a soft contact lens for therapeutic use is used to treat an already diseased or damaged eye.

What to do if a problem occurs

When lenses are being used for vision correction in healthy eyes, if any of the above signs or symptoms occur, you should immediately remove the lens. If the condition stops after lens removal, you should examine the lens for problems.

• If a Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lens has dirt, an eyelash or other spots on it, thoroughly clean, rinse and disinfect it before reinsertion. If the condition returns upon reinsertion, the lens should be discarded and a new lens placed on the eye.

• If the lens is torn, it should be discarded and replaced by a new lens.

• If dryness persists, consult your eye care professional.

IF THE CONDITION DOES NOT STOP AFTER THE LENS HAS BEEN REMOVED, OR RETURNS AFTER INSERTION OF A NEW LENS, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THE LENS AND CONTACT YOUR  EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL. PROMPT ATTENTION IS NECESSARY OR SERIOUS EYE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING CORNEAL ULCERS, CAN DEVELOP. LOSS OF VISION OR SCARRING OF THE CORNEA MAY RESULT.

• If a Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lens sticks (stops moving), apply several drops of a lubricating solution and wait until the lens begins to move freely on the eye before attempting to remove it. If the lens continues to stick, IMMEDIATELY consult your eye care professional.

DURING THERAPEUTIC USE, if problems occur or worsen, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL and follow the directions provided.

If you smoke

Smoking increases the risk of serious problems with contact lens wear, especially when lenses are worn overnight. If you smoke, be sure to inform your eye care professional.

Additional information

• The risk of microbial keratitis has been shown to be greater among users of extended wear contact lenses than among users of daily wear contact lenses. The long-term risk of microbial keratitis has not been determined for this lens.

• Possible problems may be reduced by recognising the signs and following the advice under "What to do if a Problem Occurs".

• FOR THERAPEUTIC USE, medications necessary for treatment should be used with caution under close supervision by your eye care professional.

Important things to remember

• Check your eyes regularly to ensure they look well, feel comfortable and your vision is clear.

• You should never exceed the prescribed wearing schedule, even if your lenses still feel comfortable.

• It is recommended that contact lens wearers visit their eye care professional regularly as directed.

• Do not use Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses after the expiration date.

• Know the correct lens power for each eye.

• Be careful while using soaps, lotions, creams, cosmetics or deodorants as they can all cause irritation if they come in contact with your lenses.

• Avoid spraying aerosols such as hair spray near your eyes while wearing your lenses as they may cause irritation.

• Consult your eye care professional about wearing lenses during sporting activities including swimming.

• Remove your lenses when exposed to noxious or irritating vapours.

• Never allow Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses to come into contact with nonsterile water (including tap water) as microbial contamination can occur, which may lead to permanent eye damage.

• Inform your employer that you wear contact lenses, especially if your job involves using eye protection equipment.