FDA Greenlights Abiliti Lenses: A Game-Changer in Myopia Control

Myopia is no longer just about needing stronger glasses. It’s a progressive disease that poses the biggest eye health threat of the 21st Century, and it’s accelerating globally. Half of the world’s population is projected to be myopic by 2050, with nearly one billion people at risk of developing high myopia. This is where orthokeratology contact lenses enter the picture—and Johnson & Johnson Vision just achieved a major breakthrough.

The Abiliti Lenses: FDA’s First Ortho-K Approval for Myopia Management

After years of development and clinical validation, the FDA has approved ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Overnight Therapeutic Lenses—making them the first and only FDA-approved orthokeratology contact lens specifically designed for myopia management. This isn’t just another contact lens; it represents a fundamental shift in how we approach myopia control, especially in children.

What makes Abiliti lenses different? They work overnight. These specially designed lenses temporarily reshape the cornea while you sleep, correcting myopia through a process called ortho-k (orthokeratology). The lenses come in two designs: standard and toric (for astigmatism correction), allowing customization for different corneal shapes and refractive errors.

The Clinical Evidence Behind Abiliti Lenses

The approval wasn’t handed out lightly. Clinical studies have shown that ortho-k lenses can be both safe and effective for myopia management. Specifically, Abiliti lenses demonstrated the ability to reduce axial elongation—a key marker of myopia progression—by 0.28mm on average over a 2-year period. For children, this is significant. Young kids under 12 who develop myopia are most vulnerable to high myopia and increased risk of sight-threatening eye diseases later in life.

Smart Fitting Technology Built Into Abiliti Lenses

What impressed eye care professionals is the innovative fitting process behind Abiliti lenses. The system uses advanced corneal topography software that measures corneal shape and refractive error to guide accurate lens fitting. The result? Approximately 90% successful first-fit rates—meaning most patients get the right fit immediately. This isn’t just convenience; it’s precision medicine for eye health.

Why This Matters Now

The prevalence of myopia in children is skyrocketing, and traditional solutions—just increasing eyeglass prescriptions—do nothing to address the underlying disease progression. With Abiliti lenses, parents and eye care professionals now have a clinically proven option to actually manage myopia rather than simply correct it. This is a fundamental change in how we approach pediatric vision care.

Availability and Social Impact

Abiliti lenses became available in the U.S. by the end of 2021. Beyond the product itself, there’s a social component: each annual Abiliti purchase provides a free comprehensive eye health exam to a child in need through Sight for Kids—a joint program with Lions Clubs International Foundation.

The approval of Abiliti lenses marks a pivotal moment in eye health innovation. For the first time, there’s an FDA-approved ortho-k option backed by clinical evidence, smart fitting technology, and a track record of slowing myopia progression. For parents worried about their children’s vision and professionals on the front lines of a growing myopia epidemic, Abiliti lenses represent a meaningful new tool.