When Nike MaxSight tinted contact lenses (CLs) were first introduced commercially in 2005, there rightfully were concerns.1 No one had previously tinted contact lenses in this way, and certainly not intended them for use by patients who needed sun and glare protection but who might not need optical correction. When MaxSight CLs were taken off the market in 2008 – because of contamination issues with the storage and cleaning solution, not the lenses themselves – over 2,500 eyecare practitioners throughout the US were actively prescribing and dispensing the lenses.
One recognized short-coming of MaxSight was that it was available only as 30-day replacement lenses. The technology to be able to tint other materials, such as those used for daily disposable CLs, did not exist. And that meant that any patients who intended to use the lenses on multiple days would need to clean, disinfect, and store them properly and safely. Nonetheless, in the few short years that MaxSight was available, there were no reports to the FDA about injuries, infections, or other adverse reactions when using the MaxSight lenses, even in light of the fact that about two-thirds of users were emmetropes or first-time CL wearers.
But the landscape changed in recent years. VizionFocus, working collaboratively with Performance Vision Technologies, Inc., (PVTI) developed a method of tinting an established and well-tolerated daily disposable CL material, ocufilcon D, that could maintain a shelf-life of 5 years and does not leach. Thus, combined with the same tint and filter characteristics as MaxSight – they block 100% of UV and over 99% of “blue” (up to 500 nm) – ALTIUS® Amber and Grey-Green Performance-Tinted Single-Use CLs came into being!
Of course, a couple of critics now were skeptical of the efficacy of ALTIUS® CLs, how they were cleared by the US FDA, and how they are marketed and dispensed.2 Make no mistake, ALTIUS® CLs went through rigorous and lengthy testing before receiving FDA clearance.3 The lens material provides for good comfort and handling, with no substantiated adverse effects reported to the FDA over its 20+ year history of use by other CL manufacturers. ALTIUS® CLs are being prescribed successfully for athletes, much in the same way that MaxSight was used, and now especially for those who participate in water sports, since the daily disposable modality does not require cleaning or storage. And – because of the unique light-filtering characteristics and total tint immersion – ALTIUS® CLs can be used to treat patients with light sensitivity due to migraine, concussion, mild to moderate traumatic brain injury, and other conditions.4 In addition, a NIH-sponsored study is investigating the use of ALTIUS® CLs for myopia management in 7-12 year-old subjects.5 Finally, ALTIUS® CLs are available in the US only by prescription and through a qualified eyecare practitioner.
Rest assured, ALTIUS® CLs are not merely “cosmetic” or “novelty” tints. They are designed for specific purposes and conditions. And, as all regular wearers will attest, they are safe and they work!
References
When we think about vision, most people assume that “perfect” means 20/20.
But step into the real world, on the field, on the water, or under bright lights and that definition quickly falls short. Because vision isn’t just about clarity. It’s about how efficiently your brain processes light, contrast, movement, and glare.
And that’s where things break down.
Athletes miss critical details in motion. Patients with light sensitivity experience discomfort or even migraines. Everyday activities become more challenging under harsh or changing lighting conditions.
The reality is simple:
Everything starts with what you're seeing versus what you think you’re seeing.
Dr. Alan Reichow
For decades, contact lenses have served one purpose: vision correction.
ALTIUS® changes that paradigm.
You can benefit from ALTIUS® even if you don’t use a vision correction. In fact, more than 75% of ALTIUS® Lenses are prescribed in plano (= zero power / non-correcting) a clear signal that patients and athletes are seeking something more:
✔ Better visual performance
✔ Greater comfort in bright conditions
✔ Relief from light sensitivity
Even individuals with “perfect” vision still struggle with:
These aren’t vision correction problems. They’re light management problems.
ALTIUS® confronts these challenges at the source: light itself. Using proprietary Light Architecture™ Technology, ALTIUS® lenses are engineered to:
The result?
A more efficient visual system that allows you to:
See Better. Feel Better. Perform Better.
Sources:
We are honored to be featured in the March 2026 edition of Vision Monday, and we extend our sincere thanks to Sarah McGoldrick for highlighting ALTIUS® and the work behind our mission.
The feature captures a powerful conversation with our CEO, Dr. Alan Reichow, OD, MEd, FAAO, whose decades of research have helped shape the modern field of performance vision.
From early innovations that led to globally recognized sports vision technologies to the development of ALTIUS®, Dr. Reichow’s work has consistently focused on first and foremost optimizing the quality of the visual signal.
As he shared in the article:
“Vision, the guiding sense for most of human performance, is first and foremost dependent upon the quality of the visual signal leaving the eyes to the brain to better enable the most efficient and accurate visual information processing. It all begins with visual clarity and contrast.”
This philosophy continues to guide ALTIUS® today.
There is a growing understanding that managing light is essential not only for protecting the eye, but for optimizing how well the brain processes visual information. This is where ALTIUS® stands apart: delivering a solution that bridges clinical need and performance enhancement through advanced light filtration.
We are proud to contribute to a future where eye care professionals, athletes, and patients alike recognize that visual clarity and contrast are a fundamental driver of how we feel, function, and perform.
Read the article: ALTIUS VisionMonday | Pages 86 and 88
As another baseball season begins, players face one of the most visually demanding environments in sports. Bright midday sun. Low-angle afternoon glare. Stadium shadows cutting across the infield.
In baseball, milliseconds matter and so does visual clarity.
From tracking a 90+ mph fastball to judging spin on a breaking pitch, your visual system must process fine detail in ever-changing light conditions. That’s where ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Soft Contact Lenses CHANGE THE GAME. Even if you’ve never worn contact lenses, ALTIUS® were designed with every baseball player in mind, including those requiring no vision correction. ALTIUS® for Every Player.
Baseball is an extremely demanding dynamic, reactive sport that requires:
Research spanning over two decades shows that Performance-Tinted Soft Contact Lenses can dramatically improve visual performance in bright outdoor conditions*.
Early-season games create unique visual stress:
Standard sunglasses restrict peripheral vision, can fog, shift, and compromise performance during play. Clear lenses don’t filter harsh wavelengths that reduce visual clarity.
ALTIUS® Lenses were engineered specifically to solve these problems.
ALTIUS® Amber (50% Visible Light Transmission) is engineered for dynamic, reactive target tracking sports like baseball.
By reducing visual noise and filtering specific wavelengths, ALTIUS® enhances edge definition and contrast helping players with pitch recognition and seeing the ball’s seams, spin, and trajectory with greater precision. Outcome: University research with Collegiate baseball players demonstrated dramatic improvements in batting statistics.*
Trip Hannah
Tripp Hannah, a shortstop and pitcher from Yulee, Florida, is a top-ranked Class of 2026 prospect with a Perfect Game Grade of 10, placing him in the top 1% nationally. Signed with Oklahoma State for 2026–2027, he relentlessly pursues every competitive edge.
After adding ALTIUS® Amber to his game, Tripp shared:
"I have really good vision (but) I got the the point where I was struggling really bad, I couldn't see, especially during the daytime...I put them (ALTIUS) on and I walked outside and I instantly knew... the contrast was so easy to see. I wore them in a game and it was so much better right away."
Performance Vision Technologies, Inc. (PVTI) began 2026 by participating in one of the most important events in specialty eye care, The Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), alongside our esteemed distributor partner, ABB Optical Group. Representing ALTIUS® on site were Rachel Ayars, PVTI Sales Director, and Fernando Bolio, PVTI Chief Operating Officer, who connected directly with eye care professionals, sharing how ALTIUS® is transforming lives through better vision.
ALTIUS® was more than just an exhibitor. This year, our single-use soft contact lenses were the subject of powerful case-based poster presentations and live educational sessions. These moments highlighted the growing clinical relevance of Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses, particularly for patients seeking enhanced visual performance and those looking for relief from light sensitivity.
We were proud to see ALTIUS® featured in a compelling poster presentation by Dr. Anthony Mac, OD, MPH, FAAO, FSLS. This case-based study demonstrated the profound clinical value of Performance-Tinted Soft Contact Lenses for managing migraine-related light sensitivity, a condition that impacts millions and often lacks sufficient non-medicinal treatment options. ALTIUS® was included as part of Dr. Mac’s clinical evaluation, reinforcing its relevance in advanced light management for photophobic patients.
Dr. Mac’s work aligns with recent data showing that ALTIUS® Grey-Green Lenses can lead to:
Also showcased at GSLS was a novel application of ALTIUS® in trauma-informed care, presented by Scott Samples, FCLSA, NCLEM. His poster described how ALTIUS® Amber Lenses were used to manage post-injury photophobia in a patient with traumatic iridodialysis. Originally developed for sports performance, these lenses provided this patient with meaningful relief by filtering 100% UV and over 99% of blue light.
This case reminds us that ALTIUS® can extend beyond sports and migraine management, serving as an important tool in neuro-optometric rehabilitation. The edge-to-edge total tint immersion with uniform coverage across the entire cornea, completely eliminates all annoying and compromising peripheral light leakage inherent with tinted spectacle lenses. .
An article published on the Contact Lens Spectrum website highlighted a powerful lesson at the intersection of therapeutic and cosmetic contact lens care. Drs. Amanda Dieu and Shazib Haq (Oregon Health & Science University) provided an expert framework for treating patients with photophobia, ocular trauma, and disfiguring congenital conditions such as iris coloboma.
The article, based on their lecture, emphasized best practices like:
You can read the article on this session at Contact Lens Spectrum
What made GSLS 2026 truly special was the collective message: ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Single-Use Soft Contact Lenses, available in both corrective and non-corrective powers, are not a niche solution; they are a versatile tool that eye care practitioners can seamlessly integrate into both primary and specialty care.
ALTIUS for Everyone.
Ready to integrate ALTIUS® into your practice?
Email us at jenna.lopez@altiusvision.com
Or visit altiusvision.com to learn more.
It’s that time again, the year-end whirlwind. Between work, training, school, and festive chaos, it’s easy to feel like everything’s coming at you all at once. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to just survive the season, you can own it.
How?
You Set the Tone with ALTIUS®.
Before the to-do list kicks in, before the day gets away from you, start with a choice that helps you See Better, Feel Better, and Perform Better. Whether you’re braving the snow for your favorite game, prepping for a holiday race, or just trying to keep migraines in check through all the lights and noise, ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Single-Use Soft Contact Lenses give you a clear edge.
Whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, or scoring goals on a frosty field, snow can throw some serious glare your way. ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses, available whether you wear a vision correction or not, are built for that, blocking 100% UV and over 99% of Blue Light, and are engineered to manage both the Quantity (Brightness) and Quality (Color) of Light reaching the eye through proprietary Light Architecture. This reduces the “visual noise” caused by chromatic aberration and blue light overstimulation, while enhancing visual comfort, clarity, contrast, and target tracking, even in blinding white landscapes.
Cold temperatures don’t reduce the sun’s intensity. In fact, snow reflects up to 80% of light, amplifying glare and creating a visual environment that pushes your eyes to work overtime.
Winter isn’t about slowing down. It’s about rising to it.
ALTIUS® helps you go higher, find your provider
Unlike ordinary tinted spectacle lenses or adaptive photochromic eyewear, the Light Architecture™ of ALTIUS® is precision-engineered. With over 25 years of research and development, these innovative filters not only control the brightness through their total tint immersion, but also through their targeted biological and neurological impact. ALTIUS® Lenses are designed to manage the quality and quantity of light reaching the eye, reducing “visual noise” caused by chromatic aberration and blue light overstimulation, while enhancing clarity, contrast, and target tracking.
In other words: ALTIUS® performance-tinted single-use soft contact lenses don’t just block glare, it builds a better visual environment for your brain to perform.
Both ALTIUS® tints, Amber and Grey-Green, utilize FDA-cleared Light Architecture™, offering 100% UV absorption and blocking over 99% of blue light (<500 nm) through full 360° total tint immersion. This uniform and complete coverage eliminates peripheral light leakage, surface reflections, and distortion common with spectacles, ensuring uncompromised performance and protection across the entire visual field.
What distinguishes ALTIUS® Amber is its calibration for 50% visible light transmission (VLT), a balance that reduces excessive light without over-dimming the visual field.
This makes it ideal for dynamic, reactive sports like baseball, tennis, and football, where rapid target tracking and contrast recognition are essential. By reducing chromatic aberration by 53%, Amber minimizes “visual noise,” allowing for sharper image formation and faster visual processing.
ALTIUS® Grey-Green’s 38% visible light transmission (VLT) makes it ideally suited for outdoor environments with intense glare, such as on water, turf, or pavement. Athletes and active individuals benefit from enhanced visual comfort, improved contrast, and reduced visual fatigue in bright, high-glare settings.
Traditional spectacle tints such as FL-41 only partially block blue light and allow light to reach the eyes from around or behind the spectacle frame. On the other hand, ALTIUS® Grey-Green and Amber soft contact lenses block over 99% of blue light (<500 nm) and allow no light to enter the eye other than through the lenses.
Clinical surveys show that when worn during migraine attacks, ALTIUS® Grey-Green users report:
Reports from users who suffer from photophobia due to traumatic brain injury, concussion, and other conditions suggest similar favorable results when using either tint.
Both ALTIUS® Grey-Green and Amber spectral transmission profiles are meticulously tuned to the human visual system.
As shown in the above Figure ALTIUS® filters nearly all violet and blue wavelengths, including virtually all energy related to iPRGC Sensitivity, while selectively transmitting narrow-band green light (~550 nm). Burstein’s research identifies this wavelength as uniquely beneficial, it reduces cortical hyperexcitability and evokes calming emotional responses during migraine episodes.
By modulating these neural responses, ALTIUS® Light Architecture™ minimizes pain activation while supporting balanced visual and emotional perception, truly architecting light for neurological wellness.
Traditional flat or spectacle lenses leave the eye exposed to stray peripheral light, a limitation overcome through the evolutionary progression of curved, high-wrap designs pioneered by industry leaders from Nike MaxSight™ to today’s ALTIUS® Light Architecture™ system.
With complete corneal coverage, ALTIUS® achieves the ultimate in light management, merging optical precision with clinical protection, from performance vision to migraine management, post-concussion care and TBI recovery.
With availability in both corrective and non-corrective (Plano) powers, ALTIUS® is truly for EVERYONE.
ALTIUS® Light Architecture™ redefines how eye care practitioners and patients address photosensitivity.
Related information:
As demonstrated in Burstein et al.’s seminal Neurobiology of Photophobia (J Neuro-Ophthalmol, 2019), photophobia is not merely discomfort, it’s a neurological condition involving overstimulation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). These specialized retinal cells connect visual input to pain-processing centers in the thalamus, amplifying headache pain and emotional distress.
Use of ALTIUS® Single-Use Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses During Water Activities(2024)
Use of Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses in Patients with Photosensitivity (2024)
Every October, Prevent Blindness designates Contact Lens Safety Month to highlight an important message: contact lenses are medical devices, not accessories. With more than 45 million people in the U.S. wearing contact lenses, proper fitting, safe use, and daily hygiene are essential to protecting vision and eye health.
That’s where ALTIUS® performance-tinted single-use soft contact lenses bring peace of mind. Designed with both performance and protection in mind, they give wearers the visual clarity, comfort, and safety they need, every single day.
Improper use of contact lenses can put eyes at serious risk. Poorly fitted lenses or outdated prescriptions can injure the cornea, while exposure to water or improper cleaning may lead to painful infections such as Acanthamoeba keratitis. Even cosmetic or decorative lenses require a prescription and professional fitting.
The message is clear: healthy eyes depend on safe lenses compliance and professional guidance. That’s why speaking to an eye care specialist is always the first step.
Unlike planned-replacement lenses that require cleaning, disinfection and storage, ALTIUS® single-use daily disposable lenses deliver fresh, hygienic comfort every day, with no solutions, no surface build-up, and reduced infection risk.
But ALTIUS® goes further than safety. Built with Light Architecture™ Technology, they are clinically validated to:
ALTIUS® protects eyes from environmental stressors while enhancing the way users see and perform in daily life.
October is also recognized as Eye Injury Prevention Month, a reminder that vision protection goes beyond contact lens safety and extends into sports performance.
According to Prevent Blindness, more eye injuries occur from basketball than any other sport, followed by pools and water sports. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that nearly 90% of serious eye injuries can be prevented with proper protective eyewear, and even spectators are at risk from unexpected contact with balls or players.
Sports-related eye injuries can include corneal abrasions, retinal detachment, and traumatic cataracts, many of which can be avoided with the use of appropriate, certified eye protection.
ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted single-use soft contact lenses, oftentimes used in conjunction with protective clear eyewear, help athletes see better and perform better. They provide up to 62% reduced Visible Light Transmission (VLT) in bright environments, 100% UV protection, and 99%+ blue light filtration for clearer, more comfortable vision.
Whether it’s basketball under bright lights or water sports on reflective surfaces, ALTIUS® can help protect what matters most: your vision.
Contact Lens Safety Month is a reminder, but safe practices should be part of every day. The best contact lens is the one that not only enhances vision but also protects eye health.
ALTIUS® delivers both. By combining the safety of single-use disposables with performance-driven benefits, ALTIUS® empowers users to live, work, and play with confidence.
👉 Talk to your eye care specialist to learn if ALTIUS® is right for you.
As the days grow shorter and the air crisper, autumn brings a welcome relief from summer’s intensity. But while the temperatures cool, the risks to your eyes do not. In fact, the angle of the autumn sun can present a unique set of visual challenges; especially for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone with light sensitivity or a history of migraines.
Unlike summer when the sun is high overhead, the autumn sun sits lower in the sky. This lower solar angle causes sunlight to beam more horizontally, directly into the eyes, especially during morning and late afternoon hours. This shift in angle:
The low autumn sun doesn’t just strain your eyes - it can compromise your performance. In sports like beach volleyball, soccer, football, and golf, glare directly from the sun or off of reflective surfaces (like sand traps, the beach or water) can reduce visual clarity and delay reaction time. Tracking fast-moving balls, judging distances, or even making safe plays becomes more difficult; especially during late afternoon games.
Engineered with proprietary patents-pending Light Architecture™ technology, ALTIUS® single-use Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses are uniquely suited for autumn’s visual demands. Each lens offers:
From students spending long hours on digital screens, to weekend pickleball players, to migraine sufferers seeking light sensitivity relief, ALTIUS® Lenses are designed to protect, comfort, and perform.
In fact, in an internal patient survey, users reported:
With ALTIUS®, you get more than just protection. You gain a competitive edge, all-day visual comfort, and scientifically engineered relief for light-sensitive eyes.
Ready to see autumn differently? Ask your eye care professional about ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Soft Contact Lenses.
*Clinical data available upon request
In football, every position demands split-second reaction time and precise vision. Whether you’re a quarterback reading coverage, a receiver tracking the ball in glare and shadow, or a lineman reacting off the snap, comfortable and clear vision can be the difference between success or failure.
That’s where ALTIUS® AMBER Performance-Tinted Single-Use Soft Contact Lenses come in. Engineered to sharpen visual clarity, cut glare, and improve target tracking, they deliver an edge that athletes can feel immediately. ALTIUS® gives athletes the freedom to perform without distraction because they don’t fog, don’t distort, and don’t interfere with peripheral vision as sunglasses or visors do.
The American football, nicknamed the “Pigskin” dating back to its origins in the 1850’s, still retains the same low-contrast brown color, especially the pro-level ball that lacks the white stripes used in college and youth play, is arguably one of the hardest objects in sports to visually track. When seen against complex, ever-changing backgrounds like stadium seating, spectators, the turf, player uniforms, and bright sky or stadium lights, the ball can almost disappear. The improved contrast and clarity created by ALTIUS® helps the ball “pop” from the background, making it easier to locate, track, and catch.
At every level, athletes are realizing that Vision, the guiding sense to most of performance, can be protected, optimized, and trained. ALTIUS® is leading that shift. So if you’re noticing more athletes with that signature amber-red tint in their eyes, it’s not just a trend. It’s a sign of athletes protecting their vision, enhancing their performance, and gaining an edge that could change the game.
