OSAKA, Japan, June 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that Bausch + Lomb (Rochester, New York) received approval of enVista™, the first glistening-free, single-piece hydrophobic acrylic Intraocular Lens ("IOL") from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on June 20, 2012.
The enVista lens received CE Mark approval in the European Union in September 2011 and is currently pending approvals worldwide. Full commercial release of the enVista IOL in the U.S. is planned upon FDA clearance of its supporting insertion system.
About enVista IOL
The enVista lens is manufactured using a glistening-free, foldable hydrophobic acrylic IOL material developed by Advanced Vision Science, Inc (California, "AVS"), a consolidated subsidiary of Santen. The AVS material was designed to provide excellent mechanical characteristics and clarity. The AVS material has been marketed by Santen in Japan since 2008 as the Eternity IOL.
License Agreement for AVS material
On March 3, 2009, Advanced Vision Science and Bausch + Lomb entered into a worldwide license agreement granting Bausch + Lomb the right for the development, manufacturing and marketing of its foldable hydrophobic acrylic IOL material in all geographic regions except Japan.
About Santen
Founded in 1890, Santen is a global company headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Santen researches, develops and markets ophthalmic products for physicians worldwide. Among prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, Santen holds the top share within the Japanese market and is one of the leading ophthalmic companies worldwide. For more information, visit www.santen.com.
About Advanced Vision Science (AVS)
AVS is an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Its core businesses are research and development, manufacturing and marketing of medical devices including IOL and lens materials.
About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb is one of the best-known and most respected healthcare companies in the world. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, NY, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.bausch.com.