Minding the Most Critical of the Senses

Today’s consumers have many choices when it comes to over-the-counter eye and ear care products

By Kathie Canning

It’s well understood that humans have five basic senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. But those senses are not equal in importance.

Greek philosopher Aristotle recognized that reality many years ago. In his classical hierarchy of the senses, sight ranks as the most critical, followed by hearing.

Issues associated with the eyes or ears, therefore, can wreak havoc on quality of life. Fortunately, today’s consumers have many choices when it comes to over-the-counter eye care and ear care products.

More Moisture, Please

When it comes to eye-related issues, dry eye symptoms and dry eye syndrome are on the rise. The market for dry eye-relief products, therefore, continues to expand. Within this market, self-care is a consumer driver, said Susan Hanson, chief operating officer of The Relief Products , Reno, Nev.

“Consumers have developed a renewed focus on their health and wellness goals,” she said.

Approximately a third of contact wearers experience contact lens dryness, according to a 2019 study from Princeton, N.J.-based Multi-sponsor Surveys Inc.

And thanks to growing concerns about the potential negative side effects and long-term effects of allopathic remedies, many consumers are searching for natural dry eye-relief alternatives, Hanson added. TRP introduced the homeopathic Natural Eyes eye drops line to help these consumers. In addition to dry eye symptoms, the line addresses red eye, pink eye, styes and allergy symptoms.

“We at TRP have always believed in homeopathy to nurture our bodies, using what nature provides to help your eyes stay healthy naturally,” she explained. “Unlike many traditional eye drops on the market today, Natural Eyes is made without the use of chemicals such as vasoconstrictors.”

Preservative-free formulations also are in demand for dry-eye treatment, said Sean Clark, general manager, U.S. Vision Care for Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas. Alcon created a portfolio of preservative-free dry eye-relief products:

Systane Complete PF, Systane Hydration PF and Systane Ultra PF. In April, the company expanded the line to include a twin-pack of Systane Hydration PF. As Clark explained, the bottles’ Pure Flow technology, which features a one-way valve to keep contaminated liquid or air from re-entering, eliminates the need for preservatives. “As always, innovation is a consistent driver of industry growth,” he noted.

Product Picks

PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula mini soft gels with OCUSorb

SRP: $34.99 per 120-count bottle introduced PreserVision AREDS

Bausch + Lomb Corp.

Beyond Dry Eye Relief

Many of today’s consumers suffer from eye issues other than—or in addition to—dry eyes. For example, approximately a third of contact wearers experience contact lens dryness, according to a 2019 study from Princeton, N.J.-based Multi-sponsor Surveys Inc.

Bausch + Lomb Corp., Laval, Quebec, had these consumers in mind when it introduced its Biotrue Hydration Plus multipurpose solution. Formulated with “bio-inspired” ingredients, the solution keeps more moisture on contact lenses “so consumers can enjoy their lenses with all-day comfort,” said Joe Gordon, president, Global Consumer, Surgical and Vision Care.

Another eye care issue? Almost half of Americans—42%—have insufficient levels of vitamin D, a recent HealthMatch article states. Vitamin D is proven to support healthy cell function and is critical for protecting eye health, Gordon noted.

2 Formula mini soft gels with OCUSorb. The gels offer a composition of lutein and zeaxanthin, two important antioxidants that have been clinically shown to help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration progression. In addition, OCUSorb has been clinically shown to provide superior absorption of these nutrients into the body in comparison to the original PreserVision AREDS 2 mini soft gel formula. They contain the exact nutrient formula recommended by the National Eye Institute, the company said. Each daily dose (two soft gels) of PreserVision AREDS 2 vitamins provides 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, 400 IU/180 mg of vitamin E, 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin, 80 mg zinc and 2 mg copper (cupric oxide).

Sony OTC Hearing Aids

SRP: $999 for CRE-C10; $1,299 for CRE-E10

Sony Electronics, San Diego, launched OTC hearing aids for the U.S. market. Developed in partnership with WS Audiology, a specialist in hearing aid technology, the CRE-C10 and the CRE-E10 self-fitting OTC hearing aids utilize the Sony | Hearing Control App for setup and to intuitively adapt to each user’s speech and surroundings. The user-friendly app allows each device to communicate with the user’s smartphone, enabling personalized settings and control. The CRE-C10 has a sleek, discreet design and is virtually invisible when worn, the company said.