For years, eye care professionals have faced a familiar challenge: how best to manage patients who present with both astigmatism and presbyopia while still meeting expectations around comfort, convenience, and visual performance. Despite the prevalence of both conditions, daily disposable options combining toric and multifocal correction have remained notably absent from the market.
Astigmatism affects around half of patients in at least one eye, while presbyopia is expected to affect up to 2.1 billion people globally by 2030 as populations age (1, 2). Yet when these conditions coexist, contact lens choice narrows considerably. Research suggests that dissatisfaction linked to vision quality and comfort contributes to high dropout rates, with around one in four new wearers discontinuing contact lens use within the first year (3).
Against this backdrop, Johnson & Johnson Vision has announced the UK and Ireland launch of ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL for ASTIGMATISM, described as the first daily disposable multifocal toric lens available in these markets (4). The launch, effective from February 2026, signals a response to long-standing calls from clinicians for greater flexibility in managing this patient cohort.
According to manufacturer data, the lens is intended to support vision at multiple distances while maintaining rotational stability and comfort throughout the day (5). Clinical findings cited by the company report high first-fit success rates, with nearly 91 percent of patients fitted successfully with their first lens at the initial visit. Outcomes relating to clarity during daily activities and lens stability during blinking are also highlighted.
While such data will be scrutinized as the lens enters wider clinical use, the broader significance lies in what the launch represents. “Astigmatic patients with presbyopia have remained an underserved group,” said Mathilde Beau, Managing Director for Western Europe at Johnson & Johnson, noting that patient needs continue to evolve as visual demands increase and lifestyles become more digitally intensive.
From a practice perspective, fitting complexity has often been cited as a barrier when managing presbyopic astigmatism. To address this, Johnson & Johnson Vision has introduced updated fitting and demonstration tools alongside the lens. These include a combined astigmatism and multifocal digital fitting calculator, as well as an in-practice demonstration device designed to help illustrate the effects of astigmatic correction during patient consultations.
The lens is currently available in select UK and Irish practices, with a broader rollout planned for spring 2026. It will also be presented at 100% Optical (London, February 28-March 2, 2026), offering clinicians the opportunity to assess the clinical data and fitting approach in more detail.
ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL for ASTIGMATISM
References
- G Young et al., Eye & Contact Lens. 37, 20 (2011).
- M Markoulli et al., Contact Lens Anterior Eye. 47:102157 (2024).
- A Sulley et al., Contact Lens Anterior Eye. 40, 15 (2017).
- JJV Data on File 2025, World’s First and Only Daily Disposable Multifocal Toric Contact Lens.
- JJV Data on File, 2025: Subjective Standalone Claims for ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM.
