Safigel’s Hyaluronate-Gel Daily Contact Lens Now Available in United States

A new contact lens from Safigel that slowly releases a common eye drop lubricant — sodium hyaluronate — now is available in the United States for daily wear.

Company promotional material says the lens “replenishes the pre- and post-lens tear film, maximizing lens comfort throughout the longest wearing times.”

Safigel lenses received FDA marketing approval in December 2009 for three versions (only the daily disposable version known as Safigel 1 Day currently is available):

• Daily disposable soft lens.
• Daily disposable toric for astigmatism, caused by an irregularly shaped eye surface.
• Daily disposable multifocal for people with presbyopia.

All lenses are water soluble (hydrophilic) and are made of a material known as methafilcon A, associated with high water content and stability.

A company official told Contact Lens Headlines that eye care practitioners can obtain sample kits directly from Safigel while agreements with distributors are being finalized.

Optician journal says the company originally was formed in 2001 in Gorizia, Italy as Safegel.