"* In August, Bausch & Lomb Inc. agreed to pay $1.7 million to settle a multi-state investigation in which attorneys general accused it of fraud. According to the states, the company sold the very same disposable contact lenses under three different model names, purporting to have different characteristics, for prices varying from
$2.50 to $23 a pair. Said a New York investigator, "The lenses are the exact same physically--the only difference was their instructions for use."
David, here's the story behind the story - about 2 years ago, maybe more, Consumer Reports nailed down the fact that B & L's extended wear disposable lenses (wear 'em for several days or a week & toss) were identical to the extended wear NON-disposable lenses that are worn for several days and then cleaned and sterilized for additional wear, as with conventional daily wear soft lenses.
Consumer Reports was tipped off by an opthomologist or optometrist as to what B & L was doing, if I recall correctly. CR then contacted B & L and got verification from B & L that in fact the 2 lenses, sold for different purposes and at substantially different price points, were identical - not similar but identical. Only the packaging and the pricing were different, not to mention the instructions and promotion.
The so-called disposable extended wear lenses are the Seequence IIs - I know because once I read that I tried them and they are indeed the same as the extended wear lenses. So now I wear them for up to a week, remove the protein buildup and clean and sterilize and rewear. Thus what had been a significant expense for soft lenses (either the conventional extended wear or disposable extended wear) are now inexpensive extended wear lenses. With care 6 pair will last a year - even longer but I do toss them after a number of weeks' wear.
Dee Jay |
