Johnson and Johnson’s Vision Care unit has gained FDA approval for its Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen, a drug-eluting contact lens that could replace eyedrops for contact lens wearers suffering from allergic eye itch. The lens contains 19 mcg of ketotifen, an antihistamine, and has been shown to reduce itchy allergy eyes as quickly as three minutes after insertion, lasting up to 12 hours. The product was greenlit for use by the Japanese Ministry of Health almost a year ago. Companies have spent 60 years trying to develop medication-releasing contact lenses, but many have failed. Johnson and Johnson’s Brian Pall said the next breakthrough will be how to enhance, correct and restore people’s vision.

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