Johnson & Johnson, a global contact lens manufacturer, is returning its popular ACUVUE contact lens brand to the South African market. In March, J&J had terminated sales and shipments of ACUVUE lenses to South Africa following an investigation. This withdrawal upset millions of South African ACUVUE wearers who struggled to adapt to other brands. Following widespread dissatisfaction and requests to return, J&J undertook a due diligence review and recently announced plans to commission ACUVUE's return through an exclusive distribution agreement with Moscon Optics.

1. GLOBAL GIANT ANNOUNCES
RETURN OF POPULAR OPTICAL BRAND TO SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET
Commission by The Darryl Fine Advertising Counsel
ACUVUE®
Brand Contact Lenses are world leaders in the soft disposable contact lens industry. The
overwhelming popularity of this product is due to its unique silicone hydrogel material, which
facilitates superior oxygen delivery to the eye, enhancing optical health; along with its superior UV
screening properties.
In March of this year, leading global contact lens manufacturers, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (J &
J), took the decision to terminate all sales and shipments of their ACUVUE®
products to South Africa,
following extensive investigations into the sustainability and viability of the corporation’s business
interests in the region.
This abrupt withdrawal of the product resulted in millions of South African ACUVUE® lens wearers
attempting to either source the brand internationally; or adapt to alternative local brands.
In a great number of cases, however, these users had been wearing J & J ACUVUE® lenses for
many years; and consequently found it extremely difficult and inconvenient attempting to adapt to
different brands, particularly due to the onerous and time consuming nature of the trial process
involved.
The resultant widespread dissatisfaction prompted a national outcry from South African J & J
ACUVUE®
lens wearers, as well as optometric providers, who simultaneously approached J & J
International to express their disappointment and concerns around the Group’s departure from the
South African market.
In response, and in recognition of the loyalty of their South African client base, J & J undertook to
conduct an extensive due diligence exercise into the viability of reinstating their ACUVUE®
products
back into the South African market.
Following this investigation, South African ACUVUE®
consumers will be delighted to learn that
Johnson & Johnson have very recently announced their intention to commission the brand’s return to
South Africa. The decision was formalized by their signing of an Exclusive Distribution Agreement
with leading optical distribution Group, Moscon Optics.
This much anticipated announcement is testimony to both Johnson & Johnson Vision Care’s
allegiance to customer satisfaction on a global level, as well as to the pervasive impact of
uncompromising consumer commitment to an immensely popular and prestigious brand.