Just Called Ciba Vision: ILLUSIONS Lenses are NOT being discontinued & No ship date

trinitygrace · #1 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 10:17 AM

So I placed my order for Illusions lenses back on Jan. 24 and since then there has been a huge delay on getting them out so I decided to call Ciba Vision directly and find out about when they would be shipped out. Last week I learned from different people on THIS SITE that they will be discontinued after these last orders finally ship out. When I called Ciba Vision today they said that was not true and they never heard that. Also, I was told by 2 of their representatives last week that the Illusion lenses will be shipped April 18 from Peurto Rico. The guy even told me where they were being shipped from! So today, when I called to confirm that they shipped I was told that no, it was the DURASOFT colored lenses that will be shipped THE WEEK OF April 18 and that Illusions was not mentioned. What in the hell is going on?! Excuse my language but I am just so aggravated right now that my lenses have not shipped out yet after 3 months of waiting and I keep getting the run around and keep getting wrong information!!!

If you want to call Ciba Vision directly and find out what is going on, theiur number is

1-800-875-3001.

trinitygrace · #2 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 10:18 AM

If anyone finds out any additional information (that is true) about where in the world my Illusions lenses are, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thank you!

Bondjamesbond · #3 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinitygrace

If anyone finds out any additional information (that is true) about where in the world my Illusions lenses are, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thank you!

Hi trinitygrace. I just sent an email to CibaVision to see what they say about the availability of Illusions contact lenses. Hopefully that will clear this up.

My latest theory is that some website posted a notice that they will no longer be selling Illusions, but CibaVision will still continue to make them. You'll just have to buy them someplace else.

Might I suggest Lens.com?

mpuma123 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 12:07 PM

Sorry if you feel my information is untrue.

I ordered my lenses from Vision Direct. They have now removed Illusions from their site. They told me it is because they are discontinued. I called Ciba Vision last week and was told the same. I just called Ciba Vision again and talked to someone else they said they have no knowledge of the lenses being discontinued. I called Vision Direct yet again and they said the lenses are definitely discontinued. I then called AC Lens and they said the same. So I called Ciba Vision yet a third time and now I am told they are not taking any new orders for the lenses but they have not officially been discontinued for good.

I guess whether or not they are discontinued for good is still to be seen but the lenses cannot be ordered from anyone at this time so it appears to be a matter of opinion if that is for good or temporary.

Also the 4-18 date is the date they gave me last week at Vision Direct and Ciba Vision.

Guinness · #5 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpuma123

Sorry if you feel my information is untrue.

I ordered my lenses from Vision Direct. They have now removed Illusions from their site. They told me it is because they are discontinued. I called Ciba Vision last week and was told the same. I just called Ciba Vision again and talked to someone else they said they have no knowledge of the lenses being discontinued. I called Vision Direct yet again and they said the lenses are definitely discontinued. I then called AC Lens and they said the same. So I called Ciba Vision yet a third time and now I am told they are not taking any new orders for the lenses but they have not officially been discontinued for good.

I guess whether or not they are discontinued for good is still to be seen but the lenses cannot be ordered from anyone at this time so it appears to be a matter of opinion if that is for good or temporary.

Also the 4-18 date is the date they gave me last week at Vision Direct and Ciba Vision.

I found this note on Lens.com written in attention-getting red text:

"We have been notified by the manufacturer, CIBA VISION, of a delay in manufacturing and delivery for Illusions. At this time CIBA VISION does not know when shipping of Illusions will resume. Please rest assured, this is a manufacturing issue. We will contact you as soon as we have a confirmed date for resumption of manufacturing. Do not cancel your order if you want to receive your contact lenses as soon as they are available. Your place in the order queue will be retained by your order. We will ship you your contact lenses as soon as we receive them from CIBA VISION."

So it sounds like they may have temporarily stopped making Illusions, but CIBAVision will start making them again as soon as possible.

trinitygrace · #6 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 03:16 PM

I am not okay with this ridiculously long delay. I'm so freakin close to canceling my order and ordering waicons.

Banditcat · #7 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinitygrace

I am not okay with this ridiculously long delay. I'm so freakin close to canceling my order and ordering waicons.

If CIBAVision has temporarily halted production of their lenses, then you don't seem to have a choice about buying a different brand. Why Waicon, though? Did your eye doctor recommend those for you given your present circumstances?

trinitygrace · #8 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 09:27 PM

With Waicon, I do not need a prescription because I'm ordering them out of the country. I am just frustrated because it's taking so long.

ftngirsh · #9 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinitygrace

With Waicon, I do not need a prescription because I'm ordering them out of the country. I am just frustrated because it's taking so long.

Wow, really? You don't need a prescription if you order contact lenses from outside what I presume is the United States? That may be convenient, but I would prefer to be on the safe side and order contact lenses with a valid prescription.

Banditcat · #10 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guinness

I found this note on Lens.com written in attention-getting red text:

"We have been notified by the manufacturer, CIBA VISION, of a delay in manufacturing and delivery for Illusions. At this time CIBA VISION does not know when shipping of Illusions will resume. Please rest assured, this is a manufacturing issue. We will contact you as soon as we have a confirmed date for resumption of manufacturing. Do not cancel your order if you want to receive your contact lenses as soon as they are available. Your place in the order queue will be retained by your order. We will ship you your contact lenses as soon as we receive them from CIBA VISION."

So it sounds like they may have temporarily stopped making Illusions, but CIBAVision will start making them again as soon as possible.

Here's an email that one of our members recently received from a representative of CIBA Vision: http://www.lens101.com/color-contact-lenses/127043-unfreaking-believable.html

Post #16

jaynestarry29 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-04-2011, 11:21 AM

Hi everyone!
I have been wearing illusions opaque for over 10 years.
i called ciba vision 3 diffrent times from feb-may and they said they are not yet "marked" as discontinued.
then when i spoke to my eye doctor,she said they will be discontinued along with all thier vial lenses such as durasoft 2 3 ect.
bummer..
not sure who to believe.
guess ciba vision will make an announcement soon

KITT · #12 (**permalink**) 05-04-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaynestarry29

Hi everyone!
I have been wearing illusions opaque for over 10 years.
i called ciba vision 3 diffrent times from feb-may and they said they are not yet "marked" as discontinued.
then when i spoke to my eye doctor,she said they will be discontinued along with all thier vial lenses such as durasoft 2 3 ect.
bummer..
not sure who to believe.
guess ciba vision will make an announcement soon

According the Lens.com, there's an note there in red letters about a delay in making and delivering Illusions. Lens.com goes on to say "at this time CIBA VISION does not know when shipping of Illusions will resume." So it seems to be a problem with CIBA Vision and not with Lens.com.

That still doesn't help you figure out when you're going to be able to order your contacts, does it?

togo2009 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinitygrace

So I placed my order for Illusions lenses back on Jan. 24 and since then there has been a huge delay on getting them out so I decided to call Ciba Vision directly and find out about when they would be shipped out. Last week I learned from different people on THIS SITE that they will be discontinued after these last orders finally ship out. When I called Ciba Vision today they said that was not true and they never heard that. Also, I was told by 2 of their representatives last week that the Illusion lenses will be shipped April 18 from Peurto Rico. The guy even told me where they were being shipped from! So today, when I called to confirm that they shipped I was told that no, it was the DURASOFT colored lenses that will be shipped THE WEEK OF April 18 and that Illusions was not mentioned. What in the hell is going on?! Excuse my language but I am just so aggravated right now that my lenses have not shipped out yet after 3 months of waiting and I keep getting the run around and keep getting wrong information!!!

If you want to call Ciba Vision directly and find out what is going on, theiur number is

1-800-875-3001.

The FDA forced Ciba Visoin's Puerto Rico factory to halt all orders. They have continuously been reprimanded by the FDA for violating QA issues regarding the labeling of contact lens vials and testing the buffer liquid inside the vials for level of sterileness etc. It took me forever to finally find out what in the heck was the reasoning behind the order delays...and the delays occur at the Ciba level. Therefore, no matter where you order your lenses from, everyone is getting the same run around.

I started thinking something was suspicious when no one could give me a reason for the back order delays, and for years I have been wearing these lenses from Ciba, and never have I ever experienced such an order delay. This got me thinking that there must be a FDA matter, and finally....WHALAAA...sure enough, there has been a breach in the Quality Assurance area of making contacts. Check out his link for yourselves.... (would not allow me to post) Wonder why? Google "A warning letter from FDA to Ciba Vision" in Dec. 2010, which led to the shutdown of manufacturing of contact lenses not long after. I placed my order on January 19, 2011, and the back orders started either at the end of Dec. or beginning of January 2011. I have no choice but to wait for my order, and am very disheartened by Ciba Vision's practices or lack thereof.

ALSO, I sent an email to Ciba Vision asking if the delay in my order was somehow related to the FDA inspection (of course I knew it was, but wanted them to confirm), and still have never received a response...hmm, some 3 weeks later. I have tried to call, but never actually get a person since phone lines are always so busy.

It took me forever to finally uncover the skinny behind the Ciba scandal, and must admit, they have done a great job keeping this on the down low. Not even the customer service reps would disclose this information until I brought it up.

Good luck to you....to all of us.

Togo2009

Ordersixtysix · #14 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by togo2009

The FDA forced Ciba Visoin's Puerto Rico factory to halt all orders. They have continuously been reprimanded by the FDA for violating QA issues regarding the labeling of contact lens vials and testing the buffer liquid inside the vials for level of sterileness etc. It took me forever to finally find out what in the heck was the reasoning behind the order delays...and the delays occur at the Ciba level. Therefore, no matter where you order your lenses from, everyone is getting the same run around.

I started thinking something was suspicious when no one could give me a reason for the back order delays, and for years I have been wearing these lenses from Ciba, and never have I ever experienced such an order delay. This got me thinking that there must be a FDA matter, and finally....WHALAAA...sure enough, there has been a breach in the Quality Assurance area of making contacts. Check out his link for yourselves.... (would not allow me to post) Wonder why? Google "A warning letter from FDA to Ciba Vision" in Dec. 2010, which led to the shutdown of manufacturing of contact lenses not long after. I placed my order on January 19, 2011, and the back orders started either at the end of Dec. or beginning of January 2011. I have no choice but to wait for my order, and am very disheartened by Ciba Vision's practices or lack thereof.

ALSO, I sent an email to Ciba Vision asking if the delay in my order was somehow related to the FDA inspection (of course I knew it was, but wanted them to confirm), and still have never received a response...hmm, some 3 weeks later. I have tried to call, but never actually get a person since phone lines are always so busy.

It took me forever to finally uncover the skinny behind the Ciba scandal, and must admit, they have done a great job keeping this on the down low. Not even the customer service reps would disclose this information until I brought it up.

Good luck to you....to all of us.

Togo2009

Thanks for giving us that information, Togo2009. Are you from the country of Togo by any chance? I know a guy from Togo. He's a good guy.

Anyway, you have to have a minimum number of posts in order to put a website URL up. It helps to reduce the amount of spam on this site. That's so people don't sign up for lens.com just so they can say "Hey everybody! Buy Viagra at www.buy1viagra.com!"
Most spammers don't have the patience (or the brains) to come up with a number of posts that at least sound legitimate before they try to sell their stuff, so it's a good filter.

So does anyone have any numbers on how many contact lenses come from that factory in Puerto Rico?

I found that information you mentioned. It's right here: http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm246387.htm

Bondjamesbond · #15 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ordersixtysix

Thanks for giving us that information, Togo2009. Are you from the country of Togo by any chance? I know a guy from Togo. He's a good guy.

Anyway, you have to have a minimum number of posts in order to put a website URL up. It helps to reduce the amount of spam on this site. That's so people don't sign up for lens.com just so they can say "Hey everybody! Buy Viagra at www.buy1viagra.com!"
Most spammers don't have the patience (or the brains) to come up with a number of posts that at least sound legitimate before they try to sell their stuff, so it's a good filter.

So does anyone have any numbers on how many contact lenses come from that factory in Puerto Rico?

I found that information you mentioned. It's right here: http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm246387.htm

Here's a part of the letter that's on that page:

During an inspection of your firm located at El Jibaro Industrial Park Lots 1 & 2, Route 173, Km 1.1, Cidra, Puerto Rico conducted from 07/21/10 through 09/02/10, an investigator from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures Class II and Class III soft contact lenses. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. § 321(h), these products are devices because they are intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or are intended to affect the structure or function of the body.

This inspection found that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act (21 U.S.C. § 351(h)), in that the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements of the Quality System (QS) regulation found at Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 820.

I think I would have made the letter a little easier to read by customizing it slightly, rather than try to cover every conceivable eventuality. How about this:

During an inspection of your firm located at El Jibaro Industrial Park Lots 1 & 2, Route 173, Km 1.1, Cidra, Puerto Rico conducted from 07/21/10 through 09/02/10, an investigator from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures Class II and Class III soft contact lenses. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, these products are devices because they are intended to affect the structure or function of the body.

This inspection found that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act, in that the methods used in their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements of the Quality System (QS) regulation found at Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 820.

togo2009 · #16 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bondjamesbond

Here's a part of the letter that's on that page:

During an inspection of your firm located at El Jibaro Industrial Park Lots 1 & 2, Route 173, Km 1.1, Cidra, Puerto Rico conducted from 07/21/10 through 09/02/10, an investigator from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures Class II and Class III soft contact lenses. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. § 321(h), these products are devices because they are intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or are intended to affect the structure or function of the body.

This inspection found that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act (21 U.S.C. § 351(h)), in that the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements of the Quality System (QS) regulation found at Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 820.

I think I would have made the letter a little easier to read by customizing it slightly, rather than try to cover every conceivable eventuality. How about this:

During an inspection of your firm located at El Jibaro Industrial Park Lots 1 & 2, Route 173, Km 1.1, Cidra, Puerto Rico conducted from 07/21/10 through 09/02/10, an investigator from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures Class II and Class III soft contact lenses. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, these products are devices because they are intended to affect the structure or function of the body.

This inspection found that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act, in that the methods used in their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements of the Quality System (QS) regulation found at Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 820.

Thanks for posting the information, since I was not able to. Ciba has done quite a job keeping this under wraps, and I think everyone has a right to know what is going down.

NYGiants · #17 (**permalink**) 05-13-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by togo2009

Thanks for posting the information, since I was not able to. Ciba has done quite a job keeping this under wraps, and I think everyone has a right to know what is going down.

I don't know if it's fair to say "Ciba has done quite a job keeping this under wraps." I was able to find the same information as above with just a simple Internet search. I didn't need any special passwords or anything, nor did I have to pay anything to get the information, I just searched for about five minutes. If I needed something kept under wraps, I probably wouldn't post the relevant information on the Internet, or allow anyone else to do it.

togo2009 · #18 (**permalink**) 05-13-2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYGiants

I don't know if it's fair to say "Ciba has done quite a job keeping this under wraps." I was able to find the same information as above with just a simple Internet search. I didn't need any special passwords or anything, nor did I have to pay anything to get the information, I just searched for about five minutes. If I needed something kept under wraps, I probably wouldn't post the relevant information on the Internet, or allow anyone else to do it.

I am sure our discussion helped you with the keywords you used. I am intelligent enough to know what exactly to type in. So, what do you want an atta-boy pat??? So, here is your atta-boy. Move on....

So, if you found so much information so quickly (no thanks to the discussion at hand, why did you not inform us earlier than when I first posted????).

And, what do you mean...regarding passwords, paying for information, and I found the Ciba Vision by inputting FDA and Ciba Vision figuring out, on my own without payment of passwords, that something must have been going down.

A little word of advice: Your attitude and arrogance is quite obvious in your email response, and is quite a turn off in the discussion board forums...ours and those you will post to in the future. None of us sign on to be ostracized by some anonomyous jackarse with Napoleon Syndrome (short man complex). So, how does it feel? Google that without passwords, and what exactly are you paying for all the time on the internet??? It's not hard to figure out.....

PeriBrown · #19 (**permalink**) 05-16-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by togo2009

I am sure our discussion helped you with the keywords you used. I am intelligent enough to know what exactly to type in. So, what do you want an atta-boy pat??? So, here is your atta-boy. Move on....

So, if you found so much information so quickly (no thanks to the discussion at hand, why did you not inform us earlier than when I first posted????).

And, what do you mean...regarding passwords, paying for information, and I found the Ciba Vision by inputting FDA and Ciba Vision figuring out, on my own without payment of passwords, that something must have been going down.

A little word of advice: Your attitude and arrogance is quite obvious in your email response, and is quite a turn off in the discussion board forums...ours and those you will post to in the future. None of us sign on to be ostracized by some anonomyous jackarse with Napoleon Syndrome (short man complex). So, how does it feel? Google that without passwords, and what exactly are you paying for all the time on the internet??? It's not hard to figure out.....

You said that "Ciba has done quite a job keeping this under wraps" implying that they were trying to hide information. The information was not "under wraps." NYGiants found documentation by the US Food and Drug Administration that an inspection of the factory in Puerto Rico revealed that their product was "adulterated" in an unspecified way and that they were not manufactured, packed, stored, or installed properly according to Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. That information was not "under wraps" but available for anyone with an Internet connection to see.

I did a search of the CIBAVision website for the phrase "Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) " but I didn't find anything. I would expect the "spin doctors" to address this, but so far they've been silent. So in this respect, you're right, togo2009. However, if CIBAVision tried to keep this information from being published on the FDA website, they failed.

KITT · #20 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by togo2009

I am sure our discussion helped you with the keywords you used. I am intelligent enough to know what exactly to type in. So, what do you want an atta-boy pat??? So, here is your atta-boy. Move on....

One might ask the same question as to why you joined this thread in the first place.
Why are you attacking NYGiants? You concluded your first posting by saying "It took me forever to finally uncover the skinny behind the Ciba scandal, and must admit, they have done a great job keeping this on the down low. Not even the customer service reps would disclose this information until I brought it up."

Translation: "Good thing you've got someone Extremely Clever like me who can find out what the Real Truth is, even though the Big Bad Corporation tried to hide this Ciba scandal from me. I guess my super geniusness was just too much for them. I even got past the Evil Customer Service Reps. "

A pat on the back for you, sir.