John Ferris

VAUGHAN, Ontario — Dry eyes, contact lens dryness, self- and pet-care and rising health consciousness among the general population continue to be key drivers of the eye care product market. John Ferris, executive vice president, Consumer, Bausch + Lomb, highlights eye care trends in 2023.

Sustainability
Many consumers are taking environmental sustainability into consideration when purchasing and using products today; however, consumers often do not realize that certain products can end up as part of the “forgotten waste stream.” Contact lenses and certain eye care and lens care materials are examples of materials that don’t typically get processed in standard recycling facilities due to their small size and the type of plastic used to manufacture them. As a result, they can end up in landfills or waterways, contributing to plastic pollution.
Ferris explains, “Bausch + Lomb’s unique ONE by ONE contact lens and Biotrue Eye Care Recycling programs are helping to address this concern and are making significant strides in ensuring more and more used contact lenses, eye care and lens care materials do not end up in our environment and instead become a variety of post-consumer products.”
As of April 2023, the programs have recycled a total of 65.8 million units, or 397,194 pounds, of these materials, which is the equivalent to the weight of 28 full grown African elephants.

Addressing Digital Eye Strain from Increased Screentime
Consumers are spending more time on screens than ever before. This is causing 70% of adults ages 18 to 49 to experience eye discomfort as a result of their digital device usage. This excessive screen time, which can lead to digital eye strain for people of all ages, can also result in dry and irritated eyes, blurred vision and eye fatigue.
To help combat dry eye symptoms, Ferris highlights that “Bausch + Lomb offers a number of products that provide consumers relief for their dry eyes, including Biotrue Hydration Boost lubricant eye drops, which help relieve these symptoms by providing instant moisture. They are preservative-free and pH-balanced to match healthy tears with naturally inspired ingredients that include an electrolyte, a component of natural tears, hyaluronan (HA), a moisturizer found naturally in tears, and an antioxidant to protect the HA against free radicals.”
Approximately one-third of the 45 million contact lens wearers in the United States experience contact lens dryness, largely due to digital eye strain. Ferris explains, “To help address the needs of contact lens wearers, Bausch + Lomb recently launched Biotrue Hydration Boost Rehydrating lens drops, the first and only preservative-free rehydrating drop in a multi-dose bottle that lubricates and rewets all types of soft contact lenses, including daily disposables, and rigid gas permeables. These new lens drops provide lenses with up to eight hours of moisture,† and are balanced to match the pH of healthy tears to provide users with a moisturizing benefit.”
He adds that “Bausch + Lomb’s Biotrue Hydration Plus Multi-Purpose Solution, which is formulated with bio-inspired ingredients, also provides more moisture on contact lenses5 so consumers can enjoy their lenses with all day comfort.”
Both Biotrue products include a combination of naturally inspired ingredients, such as an electrolyte (potassium) and an antioxidant (erythritol), that are informed by the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society’s DEWS II report).
Excessive screen time may also be contributing to the increase of myopia we’re seeing globally6. Ferris says, “Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is among the most common ocular disorders worldwide and is a leading cause of visual impairment in children7. Studies have predicted that the global prevalence of myopia will rise from 28% of the world’s population, or two billion people, in 2010 to 50% of the world’s population, or five billion people, in 20508. In fact, uncorrected myopia is a leading cause of blindness worldwide.”

Addressing Unmet Needs with Eye Vitamins
Approximately 42% of Americans have insufficient levels of Vitamin D, an antioxidant proven to support healthy cell function, which is key to protecting eye health. Additionally, daily stressors, including smart phones, sunlight and screens, can impact the eyes. As people age, the natural filter (macula) in the eyes may weaken and leave the eyes more vulnerable to stress.
Ferris says, “Bausch + Lomb now offers enhanced Ocuvite Adult 50+ eye vitamins with vitamin D to help replenish key nutrients that help protect the health of the eyes, particularly as people age.”

Addressing the Eye Health and Wellbeing of Pets
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), almost 23 million American households – nearly one in five nationwide – adopted a pet since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, with the vast majority of these households still owning that pet10. Just like humans need products to help address eye conditions and symptoms they experience, so do pets who have similar concerns.

Ferris explains, “In late 2022, Bausch + Lomb launched Project Watson health care products for dogs in the United States, a new line of products specifically formulated to help support dogs’ eyes, ears and overall wellbeing using high quality and naturally inspired ingredients. Building on our eye care expertise and history in surgical solutions for veterinarians, we created Project Watson in collaboration with veterinarians to help address the unmet health care needs of dogs.”

Self-Care
Ferris notes that self-care continues to be a growing trend because consumers are increasingly embracing wellness and are prioritizing self-care, and with more time at home over the last few years, consumers’ routines have expanded. He says, “In the eye care area specifically, this trend is evident in the success that LUMIFY redness reliever eye drops have had on shelf and online. LUMIFY eye drops, which reduce redness in one minute to help eyes look whiter and brighter, are the number one eye doctor recommended brand of redness reliever eye drops.”

Innovations on the Horizon
Ferris said 2023 continues to be a big year for innovations and future trends. He says, “Earlier this year, Bausch + Lomb launched PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula mini soft gels with OCUSorb. This product is the only AREDS 2 eye vitamin with the OCUSorb formulation. Offering a proprietary composition of lutein and zeaxanthin, OCUSorb has been clinically shown to provide superior absorption of these nutrients into the body as compared to the original PreserVision AREDS 2 mini soft gel formula.”

Ferris adds that during the second half of 2023, Bausch + Lomb looks forward to bringing even more new products to market, including LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS, a new line of specialty eye care products designed for the sensitive eye area that are designed to help consumers achieve beautiful, healthy-looking eyes without harsh, irritating ingredients.”