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
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.
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.
At Performance Vision Technologies, Inc, (PVTI), developers of ALTIUS®, we believe that better vision doesn’t just change how you see, it transforms how you live. Whether you're an elite athlete, someone recovering from a concussion, navigating life with migraine-related light sensitivity, or simply trying to enjoy the outdoors without discomfort, ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Single-Use Soft Contact Lenses are designed to support your lifestyle.
With over 2 decades of supportive clinical research, and engineered with FDA-cleared, patents-pending Light Architecture™ technology, ALTIUS® delivers a personalized approach to vision care, providing powerful light filtration, enhanced contrast, and a new level of clarity in bright, high-glare environments. It’s more than just vision correction, it’s a mindset shift. From high-performance sports to everyday relief, ALTIUS® is for everyone.
Here’s how real wearers describe their experiences. Each story is a testament to the life-changing potential of ALTIUS®.
“I didn’t know what I was missing before these lenses.”
Maggie Steffens – 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, Water Polo
Even at the top of her game, Maggie found a new level of visual performance with ALTIUS®. The clarity, contrast, and visual comfort of our tints are not just for the photosensitive, they’re for anyone looking to elevate their experience in bright or dynamic environments.
What Can ALTIUS® Do for Athletes? Whether you’re an elite competitor or an active enthusiast, ALTIUS® lenses are engineered to elevate your vision and your performance. With two precision-tinted options, we help athletes at every level unlock sharper contrast, reduced glare, and a new standard of visual clarity.
"After a debilitating injury I suffered on my bike, I struggled with extreme light sensitivity and the only relief to light sensitivity was to stay in a dark room. ALTIUS lenses changed everything. Once I was introduced to ALTIUS lenses I could get out of the dark room without fear of headaches. These lenses are a game-changer, they gave me the ability to recover from my concussion. After 3 weeks I was able to get back out into sunlight with no pain. I still wear them when training and racing my triathlons. A bonus that I found through this experience is that they are also great for my golf game. I am forever grateful to ALTIUS.”
Michael Hull – Ironman Triathlete, Post-Concussion Recovery
Recovering from a concussion often means avoiding light entirely. For Michael, that isolation ended with ALTIUS®. The lenses blocked the triggering wavelengths and allowed him to gradually reintroduce light exposure, ultimately restoring his ability to train, race, and even golf.
What Can ALTIUS® Do for post-concussion recovery?
"For the first time in years, I can work on my laptop without a migraine kicking in. I’m not dizzy, I’m not foggy, I can stay outside and feel… normal."
"With ALTIUS®, I don’t have to choose between seeing clearly and feeling okay."
"I feel like it stopped the migraine in its tracks."
— Sarah (F)
For Sarah, Visual Snow Syndrome wasn’t just visual “static.” It came with a surge of overlapping symptoms, including brain fog, dizziness, double vision, and migraines. Bright screens, classroom lights, and white headlights all pushed her over the edge.
But with ALTIUS®, the chaos began to fade.
“The light is not as strong of a trigger when I’m outside or working on the computer,” she explains. “I can be outside/on screen for hours vs. up to an hour.”
She alternates between ALTIUS® Amber Lenses indoors and ALTIUS® Grey-Green Lenses outdoors, each restoring balance to parts of her day that once overwhelmed her. She can now train dogs in the sun, finish online coursework, and tolerate extended screen time without symptoms building. Her migraine frequency has dropped. The fog has lifted.
One turning point came during a family gathering. “Easter with the family was a big one,” Sarah recalls. “I felt a migraine coming on, put in the contacts and was able to function and enjoy the family event. I feel like it stopped the migraine in its tracks.”
She encourages others with light sensitivity to give ALTIUS® a try:
“If you have migraines, try them. It won’t hurt to find out if they can make a big difference for you.”
What Can ALTIUS® Do for Patients with Visual Snow and Migraine?
Find your relief. Find a provider
With both Amber and Grey-Green tints available, ALTIUS® Lenses are engineered to meet the unique demands of your environment, your activities, and your visual challenges. Whether you’re chasing a championship, managing migraine sensitivity, or simply seeking improved clarity and comfort on bright days, ALTIUS® addresses how you live and perform.
And it’s not just for those who require vision correction. In fact, more than 70% of all ALTIUS® lenses sold are Plano (zero power), showing that even individuals who have never worn a vision correction or contact lensesy are choosing ALTIUS® for its unmatched protection, comfort and performance benefits.
ALTIUS® for Everyone.
Every day, millions silently endure a condition that’s often invisible to others but profoundly affects daily life. Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is a neurologically driven symptom that can cause debilitating discomfort. It frequently accompanies conditions such as migraine, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-concussion syndrome. For those affected, even everyday lighting can trigger significant pain and discomfort. Patents-pending ALTIUS® Performance-Tinted Single-Use Contact Lenses provide a non-medicinal solution to alleviate light sensitivity by filtering the harshest part of visible light and providing comfortable vision.
More than one billion people worldwide live with migraine, It is one of the leading causes of disability across the globe. Yet despite its scale, migraine and its debilitating symptoms, including light sensitivity (photophobia), often go unrecognized and misunderstood. This June, in honor of Migraine and Headache Awareness Month (MHAM), ALTIUS® proudly joins the call to “Make the Invisible Visible.” It’s time to elevate the voices of those affected by photophobia and bring their daily challenges and strength into the light.
Light sensitivity isn’t just a visual issue, it’s a quality-of-life issue. For those affected, everyday environments can become overwhelming. It can:
For many, the solution becomes avoidance, retreating from daily life because their eyes, and their nervous system, simply can’t tolerate the light.
For individuals affected by photophobia, ALTIUS® Grey-Green Performance-Tinted Contact Lenses provide a scientifically informed, non-medicinal solution for managing photophobia. In an internal patient survey, users reported:
Engineered with our proprietary Light Architecture™ technology, ALTIUS® lenses target the specific wavelengths that overstimulate intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs)—key players in brightness regulation and light-triggered pain. By blocking 100% of UV and over 99% of blue light, ALTIUS® lenses reduce visual overstimulation while providing enhanced contrast for crisp, comfortable visual performance.
This June, during Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, we invite you to help bring light sensitivity and the millions affected by it into the light. ALTIUS® isn’t just a contact lens—it’s a tool for reclaiming comfort, restoring clarity, and elevating quality of life.
Whether you’re navigating migraines, recovering from a concussion, or living with chronic photophobia, know this: non-pharmaceutical relief from light sensitivity is possible.
Together, we’re a community. Together, we make it visible.
“I have noticed [ALTIUS] helps with light sensitivity so I can do things sometimes for longer and things I couldn’t enjoy doing on bright days. [ALTIUS] helps to improve my quality of life and to be able to do these things without having to avoid or close my eyes”
— Amy
"I don't wear them daily now, only as needed mostly for headaches or migraine attacks. 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, usually weekly (1-3 days)"
— Stephanie, Clinical Pharmacist
“I felt a migraine coming on, put in the contacts and was able to enjoy a family event. It felt like it stopped the migraine in its tracks.”
— Sarah, Student
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 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
