ACUVUE BRAND (ETAFILCON A) SOFT (HYDROPHILIC) CONTACT LENSES; CLEAR AND TINTED (VISIBILITY AND/OR COSMETIC) WITH UV BLOC
Applicant
Vistakon
Product Code
LPL · Ophthalmic
Decision Date
Feb 26, 2002
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 886.5925
Device Class
Class 2
Indications for Use
The ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses (spherical) are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and/or for the correction of refractive ametropia (myopia and hyperopia) in aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes who may have 1.00 D or less of astigmatism. The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) BIFOCAL Contact Lenses are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for the correction of distance and near vision in presbyopic, aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes who may have 0.75 D or less of astigmatism. The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) TORIC Contact Lenses are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for the correction of visual acuity in aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes that are hyperopic or myopic and may have 10.00 D or less of astigmatism. The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) TORIC BIFOCAL Contact Lenses are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for the correction of distance and near vision in presbyopic aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes who may have 10.00 D of astigmatism or less. ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) UV Blocking Contact Lenses help protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye. Eye Care Practitioners may prescribe the lens for either single-use disposable wear (See "Wearing Schedule").
Device Story
ACUVUE® Brand contact lenses (etafilcon A) are soft, hydrophilic lenses designed for daily wear; available in spherical, bifocal, and toric configurations; include UV-blocking properties; may feature cosmetic tints. Lenses are prescribed by eye care practitioners for refractive error correction or cosmetic use. This submission updates labeling to include a daily disposable wearing schedule, citing improved comfort for patients experiencing allergy-related itching and discomfort. Clinical research indicates 2 out of 3 patients report improved comfort when using the daily disposable schedule compared to longer replacement intervals. Lenses are worn directly on the eye; benefit includes vision correction, cosmetic enhancement, and potential reduction in allergy-associated discomfort.
Clinical Evidence
Clinical safety supported by data from previous submissions (K994324, K010114). Additional study conducted to support labeling modification for daily disposable wear. Results showed 2 out of 3 patients (approx. 67%) reported improved comfort regarding itching and mild discomfort associated with allergies during contact lens wear compared to replacement intervals greater than 2 weeks.
Technological Characteristics
Material: etafilcon A (hydrophilic polymer). Type: Soft contact lens. Features: UV blocker, spherical/bifocal/toric designs, optional cosmetic tint. Connectivity: None. Sterilization: Not specified in document.
Indications for Use
Indicated for daily wear in aphakic or non-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes for correction of refractive ametropia (myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia) and astigmatism (up to 10.00 D), and for cosmetic color alteration. Prescribed by eye care practitioners.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A soft (hydrophilic) contact lens is a device intended to be worn directly against the cornea and adjacent limbal and scleral areas of the eye to correct vision conditions or act as a therapeutic bandage. The device is made of various polymer materials the main polymer molecules of which absorb or attract a certain volume (percentage) of water.
Predicate Devices
ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) Contact Lenses (K994324)
Focus® DAILIES® (nefilcon A) ONE-DAY CONTACT LENSES (K003586)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
{0}------------------------------------------------
:
FEB 2 6 2002
| Name and<br>Address of<br>Submitter | VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.<br>7500 Centurion Parkway, Suite 100<br>Jacksonville, Florida 32256<br>Contact: James W. Parziale<br>Phone: (904) 443-1808<br>Date Prepared: November 28, 2001 |
|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Identification of<br>Device | Trade Name: ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact<br>lenses; clear and tinted (visibility and/or cosmetic) with UV blocker; for<br>daily wear Common or Usual Name: Soft (hydrophilic) Contact Lens (daily wear) Classification: Class II under 21 CFR 886.5925 |
| Predicate<br>Devices | The predicate devices are the:<br>ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) Contact Lenses clear<br>and visibility tinted with UV blocker cleared most recently via K994324<br>on February 23, 2000, and ACUVUE® 2 <i>COLOURS</i> Brand (etafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) Contact<br>Lens with UV blocker cleared most recently via K010114 on April 11,<br>2001. The additional indication is substantially equivalent to the labeling of:<br>CIBA Vision Corporation, Focus® DAILIES® (nefilcon A) ONE-DAY<br>CONTACT LENSES most recently cleared via K003586 on February 8,<br>2001. |
| Description of<br>Device | The device descriptions do not change from those cleared under K994324 and<br>K010114. |
| Intended Use | The ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses (spherical) are indicated for daily wear<br>to enhance or alter the apparent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint<br>and/or for the correction of refractive ametropia (myopia and hyperopia) in<br>aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes who may have 1.00 D<br>or less of astigmatism.<br>The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) BIFOCAL Contact<br>Lenses are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent color of |
| Intended Use,<br>continued | the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for the correction of distance and<br>near vision in presbyopic, aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased<br>eyes who may have 0.75 D or less of astigmatism. |
| | The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) TORIC Contact<br>Lenses are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent color of<br>the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for the correction of visual acuity in<br>aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes that are hyperopic or<br>myopic and may have 10.00 D or less of astigmatism. |
| | The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) TORIC BIFOCAL<br>Contact Lenses are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent<br>color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for the correction of distance<br>and near vision in presbyopic aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-<br>diseased eyes who may have 10.00 D of astigmatism or less. |
| | ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) UV Blocking Contact<br>Lenses help protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the<br>cornea and into the eye. |
| | Eye Care Practitioners may prescribe the lens for either single-use disposable<br>wear (See "Wearing Schedule"). |
| Reason For<br>510(k) | The reason for the 510(k) is to revise the "Wearing Schedule" section of<br>the Package Insert and the "Introduction" section of the Patient<br>Instruction Guide Disposable Daily Wear to include the following<br>statements: |
| | When worn on a daily disposable basis, ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft<br>(hydrophilic) Contact Lenses provide improved comfort for patients who<br>experience mild discomfort and itching associated with allergies during<br>contact lens wear compared to lenses replaced at intervals of greater than 2<br>weeks. |
| | Clinical research has shown that when worn on a daily disposable basis,<br>ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) Contact Lenses provided<br>improved comfort for 2 out of 3 patients who reported suffering from<br>itching and mild discomfort associated with allergies during contact lens<br>wear. |
| Technological<br>Characteristics | The technological characteristics do not change. They are the same as<br>previously submitted in K994324 and K010114. |
| Non-Clinical<br>Studies | Non-clinical studies (chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, shelf-life, and<br>leachability) on the lens material were not conducted since the lens material,<br>etafilcon A, does not change. |
| Clinical Studies | This 510(k) describes a labeling modification to the "Wearing Schedule"<br>section of the Package Insert and to the "Introduction" section of the<br>Patient Instruction Guide Disposable Daily Wear. There is no change in<br>lens material, the manufacturing process, nor the parameters and properties,<br>therefore, the clinical data previously submitted in K994324 and K010114<br>supports the clinical safety of the subject device. An additional study<br>supports the proposed labeling modification. |
| Conclusions | Additional safety studies were not conducted, therefore, the conclusions<br>drawn from studies previously submitted in K994324 and K010114 support<br>the non-clinical and clinical safety of the subject device. The additional<br>study supports the proposed labeling statement to be added to the<br>Package Insert and the Patient Instruction Guide Disposable Daily Wear. |
### 510(k) Summary
.
Continued on next page
{1}------------------------------------------------
## 510(k) Summary, continued
Continued on next page
{2}------------------------------------------------
# 510(k) Summary, Continued
{3}------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Image /page/3/Picture/1 description: The image shows a circular seal with the emblem of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The seal features the HHS logo, which consists of a stylized caduceus with three snakes intertwined around a staff. The text around the seal reads "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES".
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
FEB 2 6 2002
Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. c/o James W. Parziale 7500 Centurion Parkway, Suite 100 Jacksonville, FL 32256
Re: K013973
Trade/Device Name: ACUVUE® Band (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) Contact Lens for Daily Wear Regulation Number: 21 CFR 886.5925 Regulation Name: Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: LPL Dated: November 30, 2001 Received: December 3, 2001
Dear Mr. Parziale:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) notification of intent to market the device referenced we have and we have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the stated in the cherosare) to device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in chaonnent unit of the Provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. The general therefore, mander the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, confors provisions or use ice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (Premarket Approval), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations (1 charkst Approval), it they of Sale, of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical Devices: General regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic QS inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to mspections, the Food and Drag reasult in regulatory action. In addition, FDA may publish comply with the GMT regarating your device in the Federal Register. Please note: this response to your premarket notification submission does not affect any obligation you might response to your promations 542 of the Act for devices under the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions, or other Federal laws or regulations.
{4}------------------------------------------------
#### Page 2 - James W. Parziale
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your Section 510(k) I mis icter will and w you'll ought finding of substantial equivalence of your device to a legally prematics notification: "The slassification for your device and thus, permits your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801 and If you desire specific at 1100.10 for in vitro diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of additionally 21 Of 1 F F ac 6613. Additionally, for questions on the promotion and advertising of Compliance at (301) 591 1010. First of Compliance at (301) 594-4639. Also, please note the your dones, prease connecting by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). Other general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division Other general informational and Consumer Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsma/dsmamain.html
Sincerely yours,
A. Ralph Rosenthal
A. Ralph Rosenthal, M.D. Director Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
{5}------------------------------------------------
#### Indications Statement
510(k) Number (if known):
ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses; clear Device Name: and with tint (visibility and/or cosmetic) with UV blocker; for daily wear
Indications for Use:
The ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lens (spherical) are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter The ACO v OE - Brain over for lenses with cosmetic tint and/or for the correction of refractive ule apparent oolor of the vyeropia) in aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes who may have 1.00 D or less of astigmatism.
The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) BIFOCAL Contact Lenses are indicated The ACO VOL - Brand (variater the apparent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for the correction of distance and near vision in presbyopic, aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes who may have 0.75 D or less of astigmatism.
The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) TORIC Contact Lenses are indicated for THE TCO VOL "Brand (varent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic tint and for durry wour of visual acuity in aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes that are hyperopic or myopic and may have 10.00 D or less of astigmatism.
The ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) TORIC BIFOCAL Contact Lenses are indicated for daily wear to enhance or alter the apparent color of the eye for lenses with cosmetic thatouted for the correction of distance and near vision in presbyopic aphakic or not-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes who may have 10.00 D of astigmatism or less.
ACUVUE® Brand (etafilcon A) Soft (hydrophilic) UV Blocking Contact Lenses help protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.
Eye Care Practitioners may prescribe the lens for single-use disposable wear (See "Wearing Schedule").
> PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
Prescription Use
OR Over the Counter
(Division Sign-Off)
Division of Ophthalmic Ear,
Nose and Throat Devises
510(k) Number K013973
Predicate graph will load when search results are available.
Embedding visualization will load when search results are available.
PDF viewer will load when search results are available.
Loading panels...
Select an item from Submissions
Click any panel, subpart, regulation, product code, or device to see details here.
Section Matches
Results will appear here.
Product Code Matches
Results will appear here.
Special Control Matches
Results will appear here.
Loading collections...
Loading
My Alerts
You will receive email notifications based on the filters and frequency you set for each alert.
Sort by:
Create Alert
Search Filters
Agent Token
Create a read-only bearer token for Claude, ChatGPT, or other agents that can call HTTP APIs.
Copy this now. It will not be shown again.
Connected apps
Apps you authorized through browser sign-in. Disconnecting revokes their access immediately.
Learn the FDA Browser
Two short videos show you everything — or skip straight to the written tutorial if you'd rather read. You can reopen this any time from the Tutorial button in the top bar.
Part 1 — Search, results, and everyday workflows 16 min
Part 2 — Embeddings: the galaxy map 3 min
1. Search: exact and fuzzy
Type a phrase like "coronary artery calcification" into the search box. You get two kinds of results. Exact results match the literal phrase — prefix searches work ("coronary artery calcificati") but suffix searches do not. Fuzzy results match on the meaning and intent of your phrase rather than the exact words, and are sorted by relevance score. Hover over the Exact or Fuzzy badge on any row to see exactly why it matched.
Use the checkboxes above the results to narrow: SaMD keeps only software-only devices, AI / ML keeps only devices with AI.
Exact vs. fuzzy search: what's the difference?
Exact matches on the literal phrase (prefix search works, suffix does not). Fuzzy matches on the meaning and intent of the phrase rather than the exact words. Hover over the badge on any row to see why it matched.
You search "coronary artery calcification" and want only software devices with AI. What two filters do you apply?
Narrow by SaMD (software-only devices), then narrow by AI/ML (devices with AI).
2. The results table
Scroll right in the results table. The intended use is extracted for you — no need to open the PDF. The device story gives a high-level snapshot of what the device does and how it's used. The AI Performance sub-table shows each output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, and development/test dataset descriptions — the same format Innolitics uses for regulatory strategy outputs, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. It is AI-generated but has been very reliable in practice.
Where do you find a device's intended use without opening the PDF?
Scroll right in the search results table. The intended use column is extracted for you; no need to dig into the 510(k) summary PDF.
What does the AI Performance sub-table show, and why is it useful?
Output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, development dataset description, and test dataset description. It's the same format we use for regulatory strategy output and Fast 510(k) input, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. AI-generated but reliable in practice.
3. Judging fuzzy relevance
Fuzzy results trail off in relevance as you scroll. Use three signals to decide how far down to go: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether your target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, you're past the relevant zone. A top hit with a low score (~0.4) and a stretched explanation is a hint the closest predicates are far away — the project may be headed for De Novo. Note the fuzzy search is a pattern match: it doesn't handle negation ("not") well, and hardware devices can appear — filter by SaMD/AI ML to cut them.
How do you judge how far down fuzzy search results to go?
Use the relevancy signals: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether the target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, results are trailing off in relevancy.
4. Device detail page: chat and citations
Click a device name to open its detail page: device facts on the left, a chat window on the right. Ask something like "Describe the training data". The answer carries little citation bubbles — click one to jump to the highlighted passage in the source PDF, so you can verify every AI answer against the document. There's also a Download PDF button for sharing.
How do you verify an AI chat answer on the device detail page?
Click the citation bubbles to jump to the relevant highlight in the source document.
Reading rule for every project: how many summaries do you read in full?
At least the three most relevant 510(k) or De Novo summaries, in full. After that, use targeted chat questions to confirm your memory quickly. The tool supports this professional habit — it doesn't replace it.
5. Side-by-side comparison
Select multiple rows in the results table (aim for under ~10), then open the PDF Viewer tab. Ask one question — it goes to all selected devices in parallel, each with citations. This is the fastest way to compare and contrast devices: training data, PCCP scope, how they handled adding new scanners, and so on.
What does the side-by-side PDF viewer mode do?
Select multiple devices, open the PDF viewer tab, and ask one question (e.g., "Describe the training data"). It queries all selected devices simultaneously with citations, so you can compare and contrast quickly.
6. Collections
With rows selected, go to the Collections tab and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). Reload that selection any time — before a client call, pull up the collection and ask questions across all of its devices at once.
How do you save a set of selected devices for later use?
Select the rows, go to the Collections tab, and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). You can reload the selection anytime and carry it into the PDF viewer and other tabs that support selections.
7. Product codes and the regulations tree
Click a product code in the results to jump to it in the regulations tree — identification text, sibling product codes, and devices you can open in a PDF viewer on the right. Click a regulation number to see its identification, special controls, and related product codes. You can also search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree. Always read the special controls if any exist for your device — it broadens your search and sharpens pre-kickoff research.
What can you do from the regulations tree view?
Browse product codes and regulation numbers, read the identification text and special controls, browse sibling product codes, open device PDFs on the right, and search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree.
8. Chart view
Click Show Chart and segment by regulation number (or product code) to see which regulations dominate your result set. Clicking a regulation takes you into the regulations tree. Great for spotting that most matches are, say, hardware laparoscopic devices — a cue to go back and filter.
How do you see which regulations dominate a search result set?
Click "Show Chart" and segment by Regulation Number. Clicking a regulation takes you to the regulations tree.
9. The predicate graph
Open the Predicates tab for a family-tree view of predicate relationships. Click a node to trace its parents and children; selections from search carry over pre-selected. Commonly predicated devices are worth reading — a lot of people predicated them for a reason. The visual lineage is also handy on client calls, e.g. to show how a predicate family evolved and justify why your predicate still holds.
In the predicate graph, why are commonly predicated devices worth reading?
A lot of people predicated them for a reason. Clicking a node traces parents and children, and selections from search carry over pre-selected.
10. Embeddings: the galaxy map
The Embeddings tab plots every matching document in a 2-D "galaxy map" where semantically similar devices cluster together. Hover or click clusters to explore, and let AI label the clusters for you. Embeddings beat product codes for grouping: two devices can carry different product codes (LLZ vs. QIH) yet do the same thing — the embedding captures the meaning of the intended use and device story. This is also exactly how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) works under the hood, and it makes a great visual on client calls.
Try it yourself
Head to the search page and work through a few of these AI/ML fuzzy searches to build intuition: perivascular fat on CT · aortic valve calcification opportunistic screening on noncontrast CT · breast cancer prediction on digital pathology slides · autism detection · gestational age prediction · a hearing aid that can also detect a pulse · foundation model based analysis of ECG · large language models · penetration test. Watch how the relevance scores, intended use, and AI Performance tables tell you when results stop being meaningful.