Safilens blows out its first 20 birthday candles.

Twenty years of research, development and sales vitality have positioned the Italian company among the top players in the contact lens arena in Italy and ensure it an ever-increasing share of the international market.

Established in early 2001, in partnership with the Safilo Group, in the spring of 2012 the company was acquired by Bruno Farmaceutici S.p.A., a merger designed to offer patients unique lens solutions that combined performance and comfort. Based on research, technology and the development of contact lenses, the merger leveraged innovation as the means of acquiring visibility in domestic and international markets.

A first 20 years made up of milestones. In 2005, Safilens patented the first contact lenses with hyaluronic acid release, the Safe-Gel line of contacts, and then solutions, which – thanks to the burgeoning interest elicited – paved the way to international markets, and to FDA approval in the United States.

In 2011, the highly advanced fusion technology™ was introduced that incorporates a co-polymer made of Tamarind-Seed Polysaccharides (TSP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) – the two natural polymers most used in the treatment of dry eye – into the contacts, thus ensuring optimal eye hydration and lubrication during their use.

The essence of this corporate blending of pharmaceuticals and contact lens technology was expressed in the Open 30 Project, the first Safilens silicone lens based on the patented fusion technology™.

These contact lenses offer one of the most advanced monthly contact lens management systems currently available in the marketplace. And, they were developed along with the company’s Open Reload solution and patented Sonic Wave Generator that ensures a thoroughly clean, disinfected and regenerated lens every day for the utmost in hygiene and wearer safety.

In 2015, Safilens developed and introduced the EDOF afocal lens design – initially in the daily fusion 1day presbyo version, and then in the weekly and monthly products – an easy, effective and immediate boon for presbyopes. The same concept was then employed in the less-stress-accommodation version for the use of video terminals and excessive proximal activity, making Safilens the first company in the world to introduce a fourth segment in the daily contact lens market.

“Research and development of Safilens products originates, as always, with close observation of lifestyles, continuous feedback from opticians, constant updating on materials, design and active ingredients, and with the desire to provide medical devices that improve the wearer’s experience and quality of life,” explained Safilens General Manager, Daniele Bazzocchi.

2020 was a noteworthy year, rife with challenges that – due to the global Coronavirus public health crisis – necessitated that Safilens management rise to the call to swiftly adapt its production and sales to support optical shops.

Enter the Len$Coin: a reloadable prepaid card that allows the purchase of a number of Safilens products at advantageous terms and conditions without quantity limitations on individual products, and can be used several times with transactions deducted from the total available.

In a year that had devastating effects on the world’s social, economic and healthcare systems, Safilens also engaged in solidarity activities for the common good. From March 22nd to April 15th, it promoted an initiative to benefit law enforcement, healthcare workers and emergency responders.

Participating optical shops distributed two-month’s-worth of daily contact lenses gratis to members of these groups engaged on the front lines in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 300 partner shops across Italy provided over 10,000 packages of contact lenses for myopathy/hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia valued at nearly €280,000.

In early 2020, Safilens further expanded its internationalization efforts by partnering with the Dutch company, Oté. As the result of a mutually advantageous working relationship begun 10 years ago between their respective R&D departments for the development of innovative products, the partnership aims to combine the two companies’ manufacturing experience and sales structures through the formulation of new contact lens solutions and ensures the distribution of Oté products in Italy by Safilens and the inclusion of Oté’s solution portfolio in the product line of every company.

Thus, Safilens strengthens its position in international markets, where its products are distributed in 35 countries, thanks in part to the Safilens UK subsidiaries and Safilens Adria for the Balkans.

What does 2021 have in store for us?

The launch of a groundbreaking new product that goes well beyond the simply corrective function of the lens; it embodies the Safilens mission and its dynamic, independent and innovative DNA.