contact lens care and compliance

An Update on Two GP Lens Care Products

BY MICHAEL A. WARD, MMSC, FAAO

Two GP lens care solutions have recently been repackaged and relaunched, one with a different formulation and the other rebranded with altered distribution.

Updated Conditioning Solution

Bausch + Lomb has discontinued its Boston Original GP Conditioning formula and launched Boston Improved Formula Conditioning Solution, which has a slightly lower salt content, a slightly higher EDTA concentration, and modified lubricant and surfactant ingredients. The company claims that the new formula provides improved disinfection capability and lens wetting. Both formulas have the same preservative content of 0.006% chlorhexidine gluconate. The increased disinfection capability is achieved through combined changes in the formula's lubrication, tonicity, and EDTA concentration.

The packaging changes are minimal, but note that the word "Original" has been removed from the new formula (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Packaging difference between B+L's Boston Original GP Conditioning Solution and Boston Improved Formula Conditioning Solution.

B+L maintains the leading market share of GP lens care products, which include Boston Advance Cleaner and Boston Advance Comfort Formula Conditioning Solution, as well as the all-in-one Boston Simplus.

Rebranded GP MPS

Alcon's Unique pH (Figure 2) is an all-in-one multipurpose solution (MPS) for cleaning, conditioning, and disinfecting GP lenses. It had briefly been taken off the market, but it remains available—just not on store shelves. Unique pH is currently available only on the internet through Amazon.com and Drugstore.com.

Figure 2. Alcon's Unique pH is available through the internet.

The same product formulation has been repackaged and relabeled as Opti-Free GP Multipurpose solution (Figure 3), which is sold exclusively at Walmart. The product formulas are identical—only the name has changed. The Opti-Free GP Professional Pack (3oz size plus 2oz size plus lens case) is available to eyecare professionals to sell to their patients. The professional pack is available exclusively through authorized GP Lab Distributors.

Figure 3. Alcon's Opti-Free GP has the same formulation as Unique pH.

Alcon claims that with Unique pH/Opti-Free GP, the solution's lubricant/comfort effects work by automatically adjusting product viscosity in the eye for all-day lens wear comfort. CLS

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Mr. Ward is an instructor in ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine and Director, Emory Contact Lens Service.