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Released 02/29/2008

CIBA VISION Introduces AIR OPTIX™ for ASTIGMATISM Breathable

Breakthrough Design Offers 95 Percent First Fit Success and Consistent, Stable Vision

Duluth, GA, Feb. 29, 2008 – CIBA VISION is proud to introduce AIR OPTIX™ for ASTIGMATISM, an innovative silicone hydrogel lens that provides outstanding performance and excellent stability, achieving 95 percent first lens fit success, and the highest oxygen transmissibility of any available soft toric lens.

The AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM Precision Balance 8 | 4™ lens design features a wide optic zone to provide excellent visual acuityⁱ, and ensures the lens fitting characteristics and axis orientation are consistent from patient to patient. Additionally, 99 percent of AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM lenses have acceptable or optimal fit at dispensingi and stabilize on the eye in just 30 secondsⁱⁱ.

“The breakthrough Precision Balance 8 | 4lens design of AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM lenses delivers a high rate of first-fit success, which means reduced chair time for eye care professionals and improved practice growth potential,” said Rick Weisbarth, O.D., F.A.A.O. and VP, Global Head Professional Development and Partnerships. “Most importantly, this lens offers eye care professionals an opportunity to truly satisfy the unmet vision and comfort needs of their astigmatic patients, increasing patient satisfaction and truly improving lives.”
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The thickest points of the AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM lens are at the 8 and 4 o’clock positions. This minimizes interaction with the lower lid for excellent comfort and is designed to allow the lens to adopt a stable position for consistently clear vision. Along with the constant contoured edge, this design provides outstanding stable vision and comfort throughout the wearing schedule.

“Most astigmatic patients aren’t getting what they need from their toric contact lenses and as a consequence, the dropout rate for astigmatics is nearly twice that of spherical wearers,” said Steven Bennett, O.D., F.A.A.O., an independent eye care professional in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “When I upgrade my patients to AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM, their vision problems resolve and they find a new level of comfort and lens performance, which is great for them, and for my practice in terms of referrals.”

In clinical studies, patients indicated a preference for AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM, compared to ACUVUE® ADVANCE™ for Astigmatism, PureVision® Toric, SofLens® 66 Toric and Biomedics® Toric*^iii,iv,v,vi. Data also show that eye care professionals prefer AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM compared to ACUVUE ADVANCE for Astigmatism for visual acuity, success rate, maintaining long-term health and stabilizing quickly.

AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM offers a Dk/t of 108 @ -3.00D and transmits up to seven times more oxygen than the leading low Dk/t hydrogel toric lenses†, so that eyes can stay healthy-looking and comfortable, no matter how long lenses are worn each day. The lenses feature a low amount of prism in the wide optic zone to reduce thickness and maximize Dk/t^vii. AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM lenses also feature CIBA VISION’s patented, permanent, biocompatible plasma surface treatment that helps resist deposits and maintain excellent wettability to contribute to healthy lens wear.

“CIBA VISION is partnering with eye care professionals by focusing our innovation efforts to develop contact lenses that meet the needs of even the most challenging-to-fit patients,” said Francesco Balestrieri, president of CIBA VISION, North America. “Our silicone hydrogel lenses are now available in sphere, toric and even made-to-order spherical powers, so that more patients can enjoy the healthy vision benefits that silicone hydrogel technology provides.”

AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM will roll out to U.S. eye care professionals over the next several months. With the launch of this lens, CIBA VISION is introducing the AIR OPTIX brand name in the U.S. with a recommended monthly replacement schedule to encourage patient compliance. In the future, new CIBA VISION silicone hydrogel product innovations will launch under the AIR OPTIX brand name and monthly placement schedule.

AIR OPTIX for Astigmatism Parameters
AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM lenses are made of lotrafilcon B, and have a Dk/t of 108 @ -3.00D. Launch parameters are from plano to -6.00D in 0.25D steps, with cylinder powers of -0.75 and -1.25 and axes around-the-clock in 10° steps. These parameters will be expanded in the near future to include plus powers, high-minus powers and additional cylinder powers. The lenses have a diameter of 14.5 mm and a base curve of 8.7 mm, and feature a blue handling tint. AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM lenses are approved for daily wear and up to 6 nights of extended wear, and are recommended for monthly replacement.

About CIBA VISION
With a focus on innovation, quality and strong partnerships with eye care practitioners, CIBA VISION is a global leader in the research, development and manufacturing of contact lenses and lens care products. CIBA VISION shares eye care practitioners' passion for healthy vision and dedication to improving the quality of patients’ lives around the world. With worldwide headquarters in Atlanta CIBA VISION is the eye care unit of Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS). For more information, visit the CIBA VISION web site at www.cibavision.com.

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i CIBA VISION data on file, 2005.
ii CIBA VISION data on file, 2006.
iii CIBA VISION data on file, 2006.
iv CIBA VISION, data on file, 2006.
v CIBA VISION, data on file, 2006.
vi CIBA VISION, data on file, 2006.
vii CIBA VISION data on file, 2005.

ACUVUE is a registered trademark and ADVANCE is a trademark of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. PureVision and SofLens66 are trademarks of Bausch & Lomb, Inc. Biomedics is a registered trademark of Coopervision, Inc.

* Among those with a preference at four weeks p≤ 0.005.
†AIR OPTIX for ASTIGMATISM Dk/t=108 @-3.00 -1.25x180. SofLens66 Toric Dk/t=16 @ -3.00
-1.25x180.