Question 1

What are Acuvue's key products?

Accepted Answer

There are 3 brand families that Acuvue contact lenses fall under, including:

• 1 Day Acuvue - Convenient daily disposable contact lenses that are ideal for a hassle-free eye care routine, promising comfort throughout the day.

• Acuvue 2 - Designed to minimise eye irritation, these lenses are multi-faceted and easily removable, with a smooth front surface and slight tint.

• Acuvue Oasys - Oxygen permeable lenses, which continuously keep dry eyes moist and allow for a smooth fit.

Question 2

What are the benefits of Acuvue technologies?

Accepted Answer

• LACREON™ - Inspired by the effect of your tears in maintaining moisture in your eyes, this technology nourishes the eyes with moisture, creating a cushioning effect.

• HydraMax™- A type of technology found within the monthly contact lenses that features an uncoated silicone hydrogel to keep the eyes incredibly hydrated and comfortable.

• HydraLuxe™ - Created to alleviate dryness and friction through the revolutionary design of breathable hydrated silicone and tear-like molecules, this technology provides a pleasant fit.

• Hydraclear Plus™ - This technology reduces dryness and locks in moisture, guaranteeing a fresh feeling all day long.

• Stereo Precision™ - A technology that works with your eyes' natural function to provide balanced vision, regardless of the distance or lighting conditions.

Question 3

Did you know?

Accepted Answer

Johnson & Johnson developed the world's first disposable soft contact lens in 1987. It was an Acuvue lens that utilised the company's etafilcon A materials.

Question 4

Who are Acuvue?

Accepted Answer

1950s - 1980: Frontier Contact Lens Company, led by optometrist Seymour Marco, developed a new, more comfortable contact lens material known as etafilcon A. This water-loving, or hydrophilic type of soft hydrogel became the material used in several Acuvue contact lenses, including 1 Day Acuvue Moist; one of the most popular contact lens brands worn today.

1981: Frontier Contact Lenses was sold to Johnson & Johnson who renamed the company Vistakon, and they then overhauled the production processes, so that their super comfy contacts could be brought to a wider audience.

1987: Acuvue brand contact lenses were released in 1987, the world's first disposable soft contact lenses available to a big audience.

1995: Johnson & Johnson launches 1 Day Acuvue, the first daily disposable contact lenses. They're made with ultra-breathable materials that make it possible for those with dry eyes to enjoy healthy vision.

1997: Johnson & Johnson adds UV (ultraviolet) protection to all of its disposable Acuvue contact lenses.

1998: Acuvue Bifocal lenses for presbyopia are released, helping those with age-related macular degeneration.

2005: Acuvue Oasys two-weekly lenses are released, with the technology Hydraclear Plus™ for a more moisturised, comfortable feel.

2006: 1 Day Acuvue Moist contact lenses are available for the first time, bringing extra comfort and convenience to daily contact lens wearers.

2008: 1 Day Acuvue Trueye contact lenses are released, with Hydraclear™ 1 Technology for unparalleled comfort.

2014: Acuvue's first coloured contact lenses become available in the UK, 1 Day Acuvue Define. They're designed to subtly enhance the colour of your iris without looking unnatural.

2015: 1 Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal are released, providing an alternative to reading glasses for patients with presbyopia.

Question 5

Does Vision Direct stock opticians’ own brand lenses?

Accepted Answer

Many high street opticians offer their own brand contact lenses that are just rebranded and repackaged products from popular contact lens brands and manufacturers, such as Alcon, Biofinity, and CooperVision.

We stock the exact same lenses at competitive rates as well as delivery in 2-3 days, knowledgeable customer service, and a 365-day replacement guarantee and a price match promise. The only differences between the lenses we stock, and the high street is the name on the box are the packaging and most importantly the cost. See all opticians’ contact lens brand equivalents here.

Question 6

How often should I have my eyes tested?

Accepted Answer

Opticians recommend that everyone receives an eye test at least every two years. Contact lens wearers need to attend an additional check-up to ensure their lenses still meet their prescription; this is usually every 12-24 months depending on the recommendation of your optician.

Question 7

What details should my prescription include?

Accepted Answer

Learning how to read your contact lens prescription might be daunting at first. All contact lens prescriptions include a least three values: base curve, diameter, and power. However, for toric or multifocal lenses additional values will be added to the prescription, usually no more than four.

The specifications you can expect to see are as follows:

Base Curve (BC): The curvature of the lens in millimetres usually between 8.3 and 9.0.

Diameter (D): The diameter of the contact lens. This number ranges from between 13.8 to 14.5.

Power (PWR/SPH): Is a + or - figure followed by a number e.g. -4.50 or +0.25. This represents the level of visual correction needed, and whether your lenses correct long-sightedness (plus/+ powers) or short-sightedness (minus/- powers). For some contact lenses, the power may also be 0.00, plano or displayed with this symbol ∞ which is for non-prescription use e.g. coloured contact lenses.

If you have astigmatism or wear multifocal contact lenses you can read out full guide on how to read your contact lens prescription.