At the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA)—the premier U.S. organization for neuro-optometric rehabilitation—ALTIUS® presented new clinical data on photophobia management. Rachel C. Ayars, ABO, NCLE (Director, ALTIUS®), Dr. Charles Shidlofsky, OD, FOVDR, FNAP, and Janice Nilsson, COMT, OSC, engaged directly with attending doctors during the poster presentation.
The data demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in light sensitivity symptoms—average patient scores dropped from 8.86 to 2.58 after one month of ALTIUS® use. The event validated ALTIUS® as a disruptive, clinically relevant innovation for patients with migraine, concussion, and light-triggered neurological conditions. It also created meaningful opportunities to connect with leading neuro-optometric physicians and reinforce ALTIUS®’ growing role in the medical management of photosensitivity.
The world of surfing is a thrilling blend of skill, strategy, and raw power. It's a sport that demands precision, focus, and the ability to react instantly to the ever-changing wave conditions. But for surfers to truly excel, their vision must be as sharp and dynamic as the waves they ride. That's where ALTIUS® steps in.
ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses are engineered with proprietary Light Architecture™ Technology—designed for both performance vision and light sensitivity. They offer groundbreaking solutions for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals seeking optimized visual comfort and clarity, whether or not they wear a vision correction. For surfers, ALTIUS® Lenses provide a distinct advantage by enhancing contrast, reducing glare, and filtering harsh light in high-exposure environments.
Surfing continues to rise in popularity, with participation in the U.S. reaching nearly four million surfers in 2023 1. As the sport surges, ALTIUS® is proud to ride that wave—partnering with USA Surfing to support athletes who demand the best from their vision in the most dynamic environments.
USA Surfing, the official ISA-recognized National Governing Body for surfing in the United States, embodies the spirit of innovation, dedication, and inclusivity. Their mission to empower future generations of champions and elevate surfing on the Olympic stage aligns perfectly with ALTIUS®’s commitment to peak human performance—making this sponsorship a powerful expression of shared vision and excellence.
ALTIUS® is proud to partner with USA Surfing—a community of elite athletes who redefine what’s possible on the waves. As the sport continues to evolve, ALTIUS® is dedicated to delivering best-in-class vision solutions that help surfers stay focused, adapt faster, and perform at their highest level.
Daily Disposable Solution
ALTIUS® Lenses are single-use offering fresh, clean lenses for each wear—a healthier and safer solution to maintain comfortable and clear vision on the surf. Unlike sunglasses, they won’t slip, be compromised by water splash, or obstruct peripheral vision.
Real-World Experience
Internal patient surveys and observational data indicate that ALTIUS® users experience improved visual comfort, reduced glare sensitivity, and better functional performance in challenging environments like water sports.
Pterygium—often referred to as “Surfer’s Eye”—is linked to prolonged UV exposure. ALTIUS® Lenses provide full UV protection and may help reduce the risk of developing this sun-related ocular condition, offering surfers both performance and potential long-term eye health benefits.
As Karl Citek, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dipl AAO, notes:
“Contact lenses can provide vision correction to individuals in situations where they cannot or should not wear spectacles or swim goggles. When participating in water activities, the best defense to exposure to excessive brightness, glare, and UV radiation is provided by a tinted contact lens with UV protection. Proper selection of contact lens type and subsequent hygiene and care are essential to allowing the lenses to function as intended to improve the wearer’s vision and, more importantly, to keep the wearer’s eyes safe.”
With ALTIUS®, surfers don’t have to choose between elite performance and potential long-term protection—they get both.
Protecting your eyes is just as vital as shielding your skin. Make ALTIUS® a staple in your surf gear for elite performance, eye protection, and elevated visual comfort in every wave you ride.
Interested to learn more about ALTIUS®?
Water exposure while wearing contact lenses may increase the risk of serious eye infections. Use at your own risk. Always consult your eye care professional before using lenses for water activities.
Tips for Safer Use:
Use of Single-Use Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses During Water Activities Karl Citek, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dipl AAO January 2024 https://altiusvision.com/wp-content/uploads/Water-Sports-and-ALTIUS-10Jan2024-1.pdf
“The migraine market is projected to grow steadily from $1.93 billion in 2024 to $1.97 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 2.2%. This growth is attributed to the rising prevalence of migraines, growing awareness of treatment options, government initiatives, increased alcohol consumption, and lifestyle changes” (The Business Research Company).
As an Eye Care Professional (ECP), you likely encounter patients struggling with migraines, many of whom experience photophobia—an extreme sensitivity to light. Traditional solutions like sunglasses or blue-light-filtering glasses provide partial relief but often fall short in addressing the full spectrum of visual discomfort. This presents an opportunity for ECPs to adopt more advanced, clinically supported solutions, such as ALTIUS® performance-tinted contact lenses.
A clinical study evaluated the effectiveness of ALTIUS® Grey-Green Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses for migraine sufferers with photophobia, revealing statistically significant improvements in light sensitivity, visual comfort, and daily function.
Key Findings from the ALTIUS® Migraine Study
Patient-Reported Symptom Improvements After One Month of ALTIUS® Wear:
The study confirmed that ALTIUS® effectively reduces visual discomfort triggered by light, enhances contrast sensitivity, and provides a non-invasive alternative to traditional migraine management strategies
Patients with migraine-related photophobia often face:
For ECPs, addressing these gaps is crucial. Providing a solution that not only blocks harmful UV but also improves visual comfort and clarity can significantly enhance patient outcomes.
ALTIUS is a single-use, soft-tinted contact lens engineered to filter light efficiently while maintaining optimal visual performance. Its core benefits include:
The demand for clinically proven, migraine-friendly optical solutions is rapidly growing. ECPs who integrate ALTIUS® into their practice will not only deliver life-changing relief for light-sensitive patients but also establish themselves as leaders in advanced, patient-centered eye care.
💡 Interested in offering ALTIUS in your practice? Contact us today to learn more!
References:
https://www.openpr.com/news/3853093/key-influencer-in-the-migraine-market-2025-rising-prevalence
By Rachel C. Ayars
In 2005, TIME Magazine recognized a groundbreaking innovation in vision technology: Nike MaxSight tinted contact lenses. Developed through a collaboration between Nike, Bausch + Lomb, and Dr. Alan Reichow's team, these lenses revolutionized sports vision. However, their 30-day replacement format limited their potential, particularly for athletes who needed enhanced vision only during specific conditions.
The technology evolved into ALTIUS® (Latin for "Higher"), making a crucial advancement: transitioning to a single-use daily disposable format. The proprietary Light Architecture™ technology delivers impressive specifications:
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Maggie Steffens knows firsthand the challenges of maintaining peak visual performance in demanding conditions. As a member of USA Women's Water Polo, she trains outdoors for nearly six hours daily, battling both intense sunlight and chlorine.
"Growing up in California & playing aquatic sports my whole life, I am constantly outside in the sun," Steffens explains. "Whether it was from the glare of the sun, trying to track a ball clearer, or simply playing the game with fuzzy eyes from the chlorine; the experience before Altius made training quite difficult and uncomfortable."
The impact of ALTIUS® on her game was immediate. "The ALTIUS® lenses are so moist & comfortable, they felt so natural from the very start," she shares. "It felt like I was putting on sunglasses, which was new at first, but now it's like they are a part of my body."
Beyond performance enhancement, Steffens discovered another benefit: migraine relief. "I get migraines and get them often due to sun exposure. I always have the green/grey lenses in the car or in my bag in case I feel a migraine coming on. These have been a huge help for me!"
Building on such success stories, Performance Vision Technologies Inc. is launching the ALTIUS® Athlete Network (AAN) in January 2025. This exclusive community elevates the brand's ambassador program, bringing together elite athletes who understand the importance of gaining every competitive advantage.
The network offers members premium product packages, early access to innovations, and opportunities to shape the future of athletic vision enhancement. Most importantly, AAN members become voices of transformation in athletics, sharing how enhanced vision technology can elevate performance and change lives.
What began as a sports innovation revealed an unexpected medical application. Recent research has identified that photophobia, commonly associated with migraines, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries, manifests in four specific ways:
The science behind ALTIUS®'s effectiveness lies in its interaction with intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (IPRGCs). These specialized cells, which regulate circadian rhythm and pupillary light reflex, are particularly sensitive to blue light wavelengths around 480 nm. By effectively blocking all violet and most blue light, ALTIUS® lenses provide targeted relief that goes beyond traditional tinted eyewear.
Clinical evidence has been remarkable. In recent studies of migraine patients:
The results are even more striking in pilot surveys:
But numbers tell only part of the story. "Anyone with severe migraines triggered by light could go to no migraines just by wearing contacts!" reports Brian, a software engineer. Eric, a personal fitness trainer dealing with visual snow syndrome, shares, "I put on the Grey-Green lenses and immediately I feel so much better... light translates to pain for me. When I put those lenses on, it really helps me to take that light and filter it in a way that calms things."
For Stephanie, a clinical pharmacist, ALTIUS® provides peace of mind: "I feel a sense of comfort if I should get a headache or migraine that I have an effective, non-medication means to bringing relief." David describes it poetically: "It turns the volume down, brightness, tone and color all reduced to comfortable levels. The weight gets lifted out of my brain. I feel lighter."
Now, ALTIUS® technology is being investigated for what could be its most significant application yet. Performance Vision Technologies Inc. (PVTI) has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry, studying a novel, wavelength-based intervention for controlling childhood myopia—a condition predicted to affect 40% of the global population by 2050.
"We are honored and excited to collaborate with such an internationally renowned research university for this important and potentially impactful project," says Dr. Alan W. Reichow, CEO of Performance Vision Technologies Inc. "Myopia is obviously a significant children's health issue in which our company, industry and eyecare professionals can partner to effectively address this expanding problem."
From enhancing athletic performance to transforming lives affected by photophobia and potentially revolutionizing myopia control, ALTIUS® stands as a testament to how innovation in one field can lead to unexpected breakthroughs in others. As research continues, this technology's journey from sports fields to medical breakthrough may only be beginning.
From Nike MaxSight to ALTIUS®: The Evolution of Performance Vision
For more information about ALTIUS® performance-tinted contact lenses and current research, visit altiusvision.com
When you think of elite performance in water polo, one name stands out: Maggie Steffens. A three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and a force to be reckoned with in the pool, Steffens has dominated the sport with her precision, speed, and strategic execution. But what if we told you that vision plays a critical role in her success?
At the International Sports Vision Association’s (ISVA) Sports Vision Combine, ALTIUS® Contact Lenses showcased how its cutting-edge performance-tinted single-use contact lenses are revolutionizing vision for high-performance athletes like Maggie. ISVA brings together experts in optometry, sports science, and elite athletics to advance the understanding of how vision impacts performance. This event is where innovation meets expertise, making it the perfect stage for ALTIUS® to highlight its game-changing technology.
In high-stakes competition, Vision is everything. Whether it’s tracking a fast-moving ball, anticipating an opponent’s move, or making a split-second decision, athletes rely on visual clarity, contrast, and quickness—three areas where ALTIUS® excels.
As a top-tier athlete, Maggie Steffens understands that every advantage counts. In water polo, vision isn’t just about seeing—it’s about reading the game, staying ahead of opponents, and making game-changing plays. ALTIUS® allow her to stay focused and perform at her best without the discomfort of harsh lighting.
"I use it [ALTIUS® Contact Lenses] a lot in my training and in competition. It definitely elevates my game, I didn't know what I was missing before these lenses" Maggie shares.
Beyond her performance in the pool, Maggie also turns to ALTIUS® Grey-Green Lenses for relief from light-triggered migraines. With over 99% blue light blockage, these lenses help reduce eye strain, minimize visual noise, and create a soothing effect—allowing her to recover faster and maintain her focus both in and out of competition.
“The second way I use it [ALTIUS® Contact Lenses] is in my day-to-day life. I unfortunately get a lot of migraines, I get migraines with aura, I am really sensitive to light so specially the Grey Green lenses have really helped me on a health side of life and navigate those migraines and headaches where otherwise I would be experiencing them probably weekly” Maggie shares.
ALTIUS® Contact Lenses isn’t just for Olympians. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a dedicated competitor, or someone looking to elevate your visual experience, ALTIUS® brings next-level vision performance to everyone.
Experience the ALTIUS® Contact Lenses Effect—because in the game of life, seeing better means performing better.
Lake Oswego, OR. (January 3, 2024) –
To learn more information, go to AltiusVision.com, or visit info.abboptical.com/altius.
Performance Vision Technologies Inc, the manufacturer of ALTIUS® Advanced Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses, the second generation to Nike Maxsight, is pleased to announce its official launch in the United States and select international markets. In addition to performance enhancement, recent clinical feedback suggests that single-use ALTIUS® Lenses, filtering an industry-leading 100% UV and +99% Blue Light, offer benefits to patients experiencing light sensitivity-related medical and quality-of-life issues. ALTIUS® Lenses are currently worn by renowned athletes, including USA Gold Medal Olympians, NFL, and MLB players as well as patients suffering from migraines, certain ocular diseases and those recovering from concussions and traumatic brain injury. Given the diverse applications of ALTIUS® Lenses (Medical/Sports Vision) in collaboration with Eyecare professionals and their staff, ALTIUS® offers new options for enhanced patient eye care and creates new and lasting practice growth.
ALTIUS® Lenses are currently offered through a partnership with ABB OPTICAL Group.
PVTI has assembled a talented “Team” of experts, advisors and successful business partners to design, develop, research, manufacture and distribute ALTIUS®. This “Team’s” core mission is to deliver products that ensure the highest performance under any visual or environmental demand. With that in mind, PVTI will continue to innovate and bring to market additional performance-elevating ALTIUS® Tints. For more information, visit AltiusVision.com.
ABB Optical Group is a leading provider of optical products, services and business solutions in the eye care industry. ABB operates through three business pillars: ABB Contact Lens, ABB Labs and ABB Business Solutions. ABB is focused on the future of eye care professionals, helping them succeed by making practices more efficient and assisting providers to effectively navigate market changes. For more information, visit abboptical.com.
United States
Joshua Martinez
Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 619 415 7333
International
Fernando Bolio
Email: [email protected] Phone: +52 1 9991107668
Feel Better and Play Better - Emma Bruntil’s ALTIUS® Story
Emma Bruntil, a wrestler for Team USA, first experienced debilitating migraines in December 2022. As many migraines sufferers experience, the reason behind her migraines wasn’t fully clear. It could be the injuries she’s suffered in her sport, including a neck injury that resulted in an uptick in anxiety. But no doctor could give her a real diagnosis for the cause of her severe migraines.
The biggest trigger for her migraines? Bright lights.
Due to her sport, Emma would spend hours in an extremely bright lit gym practicing and competing, which became a huge problem for her migraines.. She found herself suffering worse and more frequent migraines as she was constantly under some kind of bright light - weight lifting, practicing, competing. The light caused her not only to fall prey to another migraine, but also pulled her focus from what she really wanted to be concentrating on - her sport.
Her doctor prescribed her some medicine that seemed to help, but didn’t fully resolve the issue.
The only thing that started to help was wearing sunglasses. The sunglasses helped to remove some of the bright light that triggered her migraines, but she couldn’t wear sunglasses during practice or competition.
And she noticed that wearing the sunglasses before competing gave her a disoriented feeling. When she had to take the sunglasses off, bright lights felt harsher and overwhelming. She needed another solution to let her feel better and perform to her best abilities.
That’s when Dr. Mike Saxerud suggested that Emma give ALTIUS lenses a try.
As Dr. Saxerud explains, “Before the Altius lenses, we were able to reduce her migraine symptoms and improve her visual responses with a variety of neuro-optometric and vision therapy techniques. However, the bright lights in the weight room and gym were the obstacles that kept us from continuing to progress. Once the Altius lenses were employed, we have seen tremendous improvements in her visual function and comfort that has allowed her to see more progression and get the extra edge needed to compete and win at the highest level.”
She got a sample of our Amber lenses. As someone who had never worn contact lenses or needed any vision correction, inserting and removing the lenses did have a slight learning curve. Because our lenses are soft with a vivid tint, the process was easier than she expected. She adapted quickly to wearing them. Her first time wearing them in competition resulted in her feeling better than she had in a long time. In fact, she won that tournament, out scoring her opponents 32-2.
Emma continued to wear the Amber lenses during her training and competitions, when she knew she would be faced with bright lights that could cause a migraine. She found that her light sensitivity wasn’t the only thing that ALTIUS helped with.
The anxiety that she started having after her neck injury improved significantly. She felt the overall calming effect that many experience when wearing ALTIUS lenses. When our eyes are less stressed, our mind tends to find better focus and release the anxiety caused by visual noise and disturbance.
Her wrestling also improved. She competed against an opponent that had previously beaten her 3 of the 4 times. Wearing the Amber lenses, Emma beat her opponent in 2 of the 3 matches, taking the win. She felt more confident and controlled, which helped her focus on technique and responding quickly to her opponent’s moves.
At one point in the match, her opponent ripped one of the lenses out her eye. Eye injuries are quite common in wrestling, but because she was wearing the ALTIUS lenses, Emma’s eyes were protected from the bright lights AND her opponent’s fingers.
With less visual distraction, her mind was able to concentrate on the activity at hand, and her body responded with a quicker reaction time. Her opponent in the Final X competition, which determines the Senior World Team, had previously received points on her by hitting her single leg. While wearing the ALTIUS Amber lenses, her competitor didn’t get one leg hit.
The Amber lenses also provide a fun intimidation factor for the combat sport of wrestling. The bright orange tint of the lenses are hard to miss, and Emma has heard plenty of comments about her eyes with the lenses on - most of which are very positive with people mentioning how cool it looks, like she’s a vampire. ALTIUS lenses may not be cosmetic lenses, but they do change the look of your eyes, which is a fun additional bonus for competitive sports.
Living in Colorado, Emma takes advantage of the many outdoor activities and wears the Grey-Green lenses to protect her eyes and her brain from any exposure to the bright lights.
We’re excited to follow Emma on her journey as she prepares for Senior Worlds and for the 2024 Olympics.
68 kg1st - Emma Bruntil, Titan Mercury
You might have just heard about ALTIUS® performance tinted contact lenses, but we’ve been in the making for a long time! Perhaps you’ve heard of a product called Nike MaxSight? MaxSight found success in athlete performance vision in the early 2000’s.
Remember seeing these lenses on your favorite athletes? Well, they’re back and better than ever! Let’s dive into the history of ALTIUS and how we went from MaxSight to where we are today.
It all started back in 1990 when ALTIUS Founder, CEO, and Chief Science Officer Dr. Alan Reichow, OD, MEd, FAAO, and colleagues at Pacific University College of Optometry began research on eye glare black. That’s the smear of black you’ll find athletes wear under or around their eyes. Their research showed Eye Glare Black can help to improve an athlete’s vision by reducing the sun’s glare reflected off skin. Turns out, there is an even better option.
Dr. Al and colleagues continued research on sports performance vision for another 8 years before embarking on creating performance tinted contact lenses, a potential solution for the ultimate in performance eyewear. Dr. Al, with his partners at Paragon Vision Sciences, determined the ideal tints to include in a contact lens which absorbed harmful UV, virtually all harsh Blue Light, and transmitted right Quantity (Visible Light Transmission) and Quality (Spectral Transmission Curves) for maximal visual comfort, clarity and quickness.
All that means is that they think they engineered the right tints for athletes to see the game better AND protect their eyes. Over the next several years, they started testing the tints on athletes at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
In 2000, longtime Pacific University baseball coach, Greg Bradley, became the first coach to try the lenses that were called SportsSight. His immediate reaction…
“I’ve never seen the ball and seams that distinctly before. You can put those lenses on all my players.” And they did!
Over the next few years, the team continued to study the lenses and the experience of the Pacific University baseball team using them. This garnered some local media attention… which sparked the interest of a very large local company.
This began a partnership between the team at SportsSight, Nike, and Bausch + Lomb. SportsSight became MaxSight… a vision performance solution for anyone, even those not needing any vision correction.
In 2005, MaxSight was officially launched at the American Optometry Association Annual Convention in Dallas, Texas. MaxSight was a monthly replacement lens, which meant that it required proper cleaning, disinfection and storage between uses. It didn’t take long for eye care professionals to see the value in this product.
In fact, MaxSight made such a big splash that it was recognized by TIME magazine as “One of the Most Amazing Inventions of 2005.”
Interestingly, in spite of the “Hassle Factors” of Maxsight, over 60% of MaxSight users were those that did not require vision correction, and had never worn contact lenses before.
Despite great success, outstanding testimonies, and media coverage, MaxSight came to an early end. Due to a contact lens solution contamination issue at Bausch + Lomb, completely unrelated to MaxSight, Nike didn’t feel comfortable continuing the product. There was too much risk in the endeavor to continue.
But that didn’t stop the team that would become ALTIUS, which means “Higher” in Latin.
With continued demand for performance tinted contact lenses, and all the science behind it, the team knew this product could stay alive… and get better! So, the team embarked on a new mission to create a single-use disposable lens that would be far easier and safer for users.
After almost a decade of research and development, the new and improved ALTIUS brand was created, with a product that would provide all the amazing benefits of MaxSight with even more convenience, protection, and visual clarity. It was designed with a much improved lens material and with parameters that provided improved ease of handling and comfort when applied to the eye, especially important with all the first time contact lens users who had no vision correction need.
Today, we’re proud to continue the mission of providing the best in vision performance for athletes and anyone that wants to See Better, Feel Better, and Play Better!
The ALTIUS team continues to conduct research on the lenses, including how they can support relief from photosensitivity often associated with migraines, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries. With a growing focus by eye care practitioners on these conditions, ALTIUS is gaining use as a new and improved solution to light sensitivity symptoms.
Stay connected with us as we continue to evolve and try ALTIUS for yourself!
Check out our provider page to find an eye care professional close to you, or contact us for more information on how you can benefit from using ALTIUS.
Our lenses are designed to provide greater visual performance, but they may also be a great recovery tool for anyone experiencing photosensitivity as a symptom of migraines, concussions, or traumatic brain injuries. Photosensitivity, and the lack of adequate options to treat it, often makes recovery from injuries like these more difficult. When we heard the inspiring story of Michael Hull, and how he found relief with ALTIUS®, we knew we had to share it.
Michael Hull is a husband and father to two young girls. To celebrate the momentous occasion of turning 40, he decided to start racing in Ironman competitions. He had done some extreme endurance training before jumping into this. He had already completed a dozen half marathons and 3 full marathons. But, the Ironman was the next level of challenge for him.
He completed two Olympic distance triathlons and a half Ironman, which includes a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. He’s currently training for the full Ironman - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a full marathon run of 26.2 miles.
Not only was Michael consistently improving his time and enjoying the training and competition of the races, but his girls also loved it. It became a family event, everyone supporting dad as he challenged himself in these extreme endurance races.
Everything changed on February 8, 2023. Just like any other day, Michael got up early before work to train. It wasn’t an intense session for him, just a relatively easy (for him) 90-minute bike ride. Well, that bike ride would be anything but easy.
Moving at high speed, he hit an unexpected bump that launched him off his bike. The accident resulted in a severely broken clavicle, which sent him into surgery shortly after. The doctors considered that he may have also had a concussion, but the immediate concern in those first few days was fixing the severely broken bone.
As his clavicle healed, Michael went back to life as usual - mostly. He went back to work. He spent time with his family. However, one week after the crash he was faced with unbearable pain in his head. Suddenly, he couldn’t look at screens. The sound of his young daughters walking around the house felt like thunder in his head. His head was heavy and doing most things became almost impossible.
When his head started to hurt, the rest of his body went into stress. His low resting heart rate jumped up from low 50s to the 90s. He put his head in his pillow, wore sunglasses, eye covers, ear covers, you name it. He limited his time on devices because he just couldn’t handle the pain. It became difficult to work, and just to live his life.
The problem with concussions is that they’re a hidden injury, but often much more difficult than any other physical injury in terms of recovery. There aren’t a lot of options for treatment and they can go unnoticed and undiagnosed. For Michael, it was clear he was suffering from symptoms of a concussion from his accident. But, how could he find relief?
That’s when Dr. Kathy Weise came in. Dr. Weise is a professor and highly respected clinical and research optometrist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After prescribing ALTIUS lenses for many of her athletic patients for performance, as well as for photosensitivity related to migraines and concussions, she hoped that these lenses could provide the healing support Michael needed.
He had already started seeing an orthopedic doctor for concussion protocols, but nothing was giving him the relief he desperately needed - until he put on the ATLIUS lenses. He tried covering his eyes with sunglasses, but the light leakage that inevitably happens with sunglasses doesn't allow for a full relief from light. With ALTIUS lenses, your eyes are completely covered with the protective lenses that filter out all of the UV, and block out the harsh blue light that may have been the triggers for the pain and irritation that Michael was experiencing.
Now, Michael was not a contact lens wearer. Wearing contact lenses was foreign to him, but he was willing to try anything to feel better. He describes the feeling of the lenses as instant relief. It felt like a security blanket. Finally, he could feel the release of the pressure in his head. He could see, he could drive a car, he felt calm for the first time in weeks.
In addition to the feeling of relief Michael experienced, Dr. Weise likes the ALTIUS lenses for another reason. As an unexpected benefit, the grey-green or amber ALTIUS lenses are more visible on the eye than clear contact lenses. While the ALTIUS lenses provide protection and relief for the user, they are also readily apparent to others around them. As Dr. Weise explains, because concussions are invisible injuries, friends and family of a person who has had a concussion aren’t always aware of the extent of debilitating symptoms the sufferer is experiencing. There may be feelings of brain fog, light sensitivity, fatigue, headache, and dizziness. However, since there is no cast, sling, or splint for a person’s concussed head, many others fail to recognize a person who is trying to heal his or her injured brain. The amber or grey-green coloring provides a visible indicator to others that the concussed person requires treatment to aid in concussion recovery.
For 3 weeks straight, Michael wore the daily disposable lenses. He wore them to work, he wore them around the house, he wore them until right before he fell asleep at night. He tried not wearing them, and immediately felt the pain in his head resurge. He’d feel nauseous, and the headache and heaviness in his head would return. It was clear that these lenses were exactly what he needed to feel normal again and allow his head to heal.
After those 3 weeks, Michael returned to life as normal. Even though he no longer felt like he needed the lenses for relief from his concussion symptoms, he did continue to wear the lenses for other reasons. When describing the accident itself, he believes it could have been avoided if he had the proper visual clarity. If he had been able to see the bumps, with the visual sharpness that ALTIUS lenses provide, he could have better handled them and avoided the crash.
Now, Michael wears the lenses to play golf, so he can see the green and avoid wearing sunglasses that can get in the way of his play. Despite having some anxiety about getting back on his bike, he finally returned to his Ironman training wearing his lenses. That security blanket helped him feel better about getting back to what he once loved, trusting that his visual clarity would be significantly improved and could help him prevent a similar accident in the future.
On May 21, 2023 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Michael made his comeback, competing in his first half Ironman since his accident. He wore the amber ALTIUS lenses for the competition and found they helped him find the edge he needed to not only finish strong at 5 hours and 26 minutes, but set a PR by 10 minutes!
“The lens made the biggest difference on the run as I was not squinting the whole time. I feel this allowed me to keep my heart rate under control a little better. Not to mention my head didn’t hurt. I just can’t run in glasses as I sweat so much. Second best was how amazing they were on the ride. There were a lot of shadows on the road and they did not bother me at all. I seriously can’t thank you guys enough and none of this would have been possible without ALTIUS.”
We look forward to following Michael on his journey as he continues to compete and crush his goals!
