Our Best Recommended Contact Lenses
Contact lenses or contacts work like glasses i.e., they correct refractive errors. However, unlike glasses that rest on the nose and ears, contacts become part of a person’s visual system. Contacts sit directly in a person’s tear film and therein lies benefits.
Contact Lens Benefits: Contacts vs. Glasses
Contact lenses come with notable advantages over their counterparts. The main ones include:
- 180-degree of eye movement: Contacts offer an unobstructed field of view.
- Easier to play sports and do engaging daily activities: Contacts are also perfect for persons who lead active lifestyles i.e. those who play sports and engage in outdoor activities.
- Freedom without having to wear eyewear on your face: Contact lenses maintain a natural appearance. They are less noticeable than glasses while still offering clear vision.
- Overall comfort: Most people find contacts more comfortable to wear over extended periods.
- You can wear sunglasses: You can also wear sunglasses when you have contacts on.
Most of these benefits will be more evident if you get high-quality contacts custom-made to fit you perfectly. This can only be done by renowned experts like Optometrists at Kodak Lens Vision Centres. First, you need a comprehensive eye exam and contact lens fitting done to ensure you get the right type of contact to match your needs and lifestyle.
Different Kinds of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses can be categorized in several ways based on the type of material that makes them, the replacement schedule, and the underlying reason for wearing them (the refractive error they correct.)¹
Contact Lenses by Material
a. Soft Lenses
As the name suggests, these types of contact lenses are made using soft and flexible materials (plastics and silicone-hydrogels) that allow oxygen flow through the cornea. They also have other benefits like more comfort and easier adjustability (unlike their rigid counterparts).
b. Rigid Gas Permeable Contacts
RGP contacts are more rigid than soft contacts. This feature makes them more durable. They also have other benefits like better resistance to deposit buildup. The contacts can be worn for a long time if taken care of properly. However, they aren’t as comfortable as soft contact lenses.
Contact Lenses by Replacement Schedule
a. Extended Wear Contacts
As the name suggests, this type can be worn over a prolonged time: overnight or continuously for several nights/days depending on the outcome of a professional evaluation. These types of contacts are usually soft contacts made of flexible and soft materials.
b. Replacement Contacts or Disposable Contacts
This type of contact lens is meant to be replaced frequently, making them great for daily wear. These contacts are the healthiest for your eyes as they are only worn for 8-12 hours per day.
Contact Lenses by Specialisation
a. Orthokeratology Contact Lenses
These types of contacts are designed to correct vision by changing cornea curvature temporarily. Ortho-K contacts are commonly used for near-sightedness (myopia). The lenses are commonly worn at night and removed during the daytime. Their vision correction capabilities wear off when the lenses are removed, hence, they need to be worn as prescribed (every night) to maintain good vision when they are removed.
Important: Ortho-K lenses should only be obtained from highly trained and certified eye care professionals. Get Ortho-K contacts in the Greater Toronto Area.
b. Scleral Contacts
These types of contacts cover a larger area of the eye (the entire cornea). This makes them more comfortable. Scleral lenses also offer better vision among persons with corneal irregularities². They are commonly used by persons with refractive errors like myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia³.
c. Decorative Contact Lenses (Plano or Coloured Contacts)
This type is used for decorative purposes. They are also called colored contact lenses, fashion contact lenses, or cosmetic contact lenses given they are generally worn for aesthetic purposes as opposed to correcting vision. The contacts will change your eye color or make your eye look different⁴.
Other types of contacts include toric contact lenses commonly used for astigmatism (correcting irregular cornea curvature) and multifocal contact lenses used to correct farsightedness and near-sightedness.
Important: While decorative lenses may be worn for fun, you shouldn’t wear any type of contact lenses without a prescription or recommendation from your eye doctor. Most importantly, don’t use your current prescription for glasses to get contacts as they require a different prescription.
Also, you should only buy them from certified eyecare professionals such as Optometrists at Kodak Lens Vision Centres. Buying any type of contact lenses from beauty supply shops, flea markets, or street vendors can lead to or cause serious harm.
Best Contact Lens Brands We Recommend
While the best type of contact lens for you will depend on several factors including individual preferences and needs, the manufacturer should be among the most important factors to consider.
You must go for reputable contact brands known for quality. As leading Optometrists with relevant experience and knowledge of industry best practices, we recommend the four brands of contact lenses below:
1. Acuvue
Acuvue is a contacts brand by renowned multinational Johnson & Johnson. The contacts date back decades (introduced in 1987) and stand out for being among the top-selling contact lens brands globally. Acuvue contacts are known for variety, innovation, and comfort. The brand also boasts of being the best among astigmatism contact lenses.
2. Alcon
Alcon dates back to 1945. The brand is globally renowned for eye care products (from contact lenses to other surgical/vision care products like intraocular lenses and lens care solutions). Alcon stands out for variety, innovation, and quality.
3. Bausch + Lomb
This brand is almost two centuries old with the longest eye care history in this list. The brand stands out for its unmatched commitment to education and patient care. They also offer a wide range of contact lens options including silicone hydrogel lenses with increased breathability.
4. CooperVision
CooperVision contacts date back to 1980. The brand is renowned for focusing on quality and innovation. They also have a great variety of contacts including multifocals, daily wear contacts, extended range contacts and specialty lenses for keratoconus.
Our Recommended Contact Lenses
Acuvue
1. Acuvue OASYS MAX 1-Day
The Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day contacts combine two new technologies: TearStable Technology & OptiBlue Light Filter. TearStable optimizes wetting agent distribution and prolongs tear film stability. The technology also delivers a lower evaporation rate. OptiBlue offers the highest blue-violet light filtering in the industry (60%) and reduces light scatter, halos, and starbursts. Get these contacts and enjoy better clarity (95%) and lower tiredness when using digital devices.
2. Acuvue OASYS MAX Multifocal 1-Day
These contacts combine three powerful technologies to tackle more presbyopic needs. They help the aging eye cope with declining near vision. There are the only Acuvue Oasys 1-Day contacts available for astigmatism. The contacts feature TearStable technology and are optimized for vision at any distance (far, near and immediate). They can correct near-sightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Alcon
1. Dailies Total 1
These disposable lenses stand out for comfort. The lens feels like nothing since only a gentle moisture cushioning touches the eye. This is attributable to water gradient technology. SmarTears technology stabilizes the tear film’s lipid layer. The contacts also stand out for their exceptional breathability and comfort even among persons who experience dryness with other contacts. The lenses are recommendable to presbyopic patients who struggle to focus on nearby objects due to aging.
2. Dailies Total 1 Multifocal
We recommend these contacts for clear uninterrupted vision from near, distant, or intermediate objects. These contacts feature Alcon’s Precision Profile Design that improves near vision without compromising distance. The contacts feel like nothing and are recommendable for correcting presbyopia.
Bausch + Lomb
1. Bausch and Lomb Ultra One Day
If you are searching for the best daily replacement or daily disposable contacts made of silicone hydrogel, look no further! The contacts offer all-day comfort aided by ComfortFeel and MoistureSeal technologies. As the leading silicone hydrogel disposable contacts brand, you can count on the high moisture retention (96%) that guarantees all-day comfort (16 hours of continuous wear). These contacts can be used by contact lens wearers with near-sightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism (up to 5.00 diopters).
2. Bausch and Lomb ULTRA ONE DAY Multifocal Lenses
These Bausch and Lomb disposable contact lenses stand out in all the above aspects such as ComfortFeel and MoistureSeal technologies. What’s more, they are ideal for treating astigmatism (mild, severe, or moderate) as well as farsightedness, near-sightedness, and presbyopia.
CooperVision
1. MyDay
These disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses stand out for offering everything from uncompromised comfort to easy lens insertion/removal and high breathability. They also offer UVB and UVA protection. They feature technologies like Smart Silicone that offer uncompromised comfort. These contacts are ideal for correcting near-sightedness and farsightedness.
2. MyDay Multifocal
These contacts are recommended among patients with presbyopia who still wish to enjoy the premium performance and the freedom offered by 1-day contacts. Enjoy clear vision and comfort while keeping your eyes white and clear all day long. The contacts have Binocular Progressive System technology – a multifocal system offering clear vision at any distance regardless of how advanced a patient’s presbyopia is.
Our Recommended Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
We recommend the following contacts for astigmatism:
- Acuvue Oasys 1 Day for Astigmatism
- Dailies Total 1 for Astigmatism
- MyDay 1 Day Toric
- Ultra for Astigmatism
Are Contact Lenses or Eyeglasses Better for Astigmatism?
Both will work depending on the level of astigmatism and the type of lens in question:
- Moderate astigmatism can be corrected with ease using a pair of glasses.
- Soft or RGP contact lenses can also work great with mild astigmatism.
- For moderate astigmatism, toric lenses are required.
- Generally, hard lenses will perform better than their softer counterparts. However, advancements in design have improved comfort and effectiveness making soft lenses equally capable.
- For severe astigmatism that is progressive, special hybrid contact lenses can be used.
In a nutshell, contacts can be as effective as glasses when dealing with astigmatism. Here’s more on eyeglasses for astigmatism.
Do Eyeglasses Have Any Benefits?
While contacts have their pros over eyeglasses, what are the main benefits of eyeglasses?
- Less dry eyes
- Less eye irritation
- Eye protection
- Offers better UV protection
- Offers high energy blue light protection
- Adds style and fashion
How To Get a Contact Prescription
As mentioned, you shouldn’t get contacts without first getting a comprehensive contact lens exam. This ensures you undergo a thorough examination of your visual needs and overall eye health, helping you get the perfect contact lens prescription for you.
Scheduling a comprehensive eye exam is the first step to getting the correct contact lens prescription. If you reside in the Greater Toronto Area, simply head over to any Kodak Lens Vision Centre in Ajax, North York, Rexdale, Etobicoke, Scarborough Riverdale, or Toronto.
We have experienced Optometrists ready to conduct comprehensive eye tests, prescribe and fit contact lenses, help you select the best lenses and even provide more information about your prescription, handling and caring for contact lenses. Call NOW: 647-952-1099. Explore our wide selection of contact lenses and eyeglasses as well as receive some specialty eye services at Kodak Lens Vision Centres.
Final Thoughts
Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses for a variety of eye conditions. There are different types of contacts mainly based on the modality including material, wear time, and vision correction purpose.
To avoid risks that come with wearing the wrong/cheap contact lenses (irritation, discomfort, allergies, infections, etc.), you should get a comprehensive eye test and buy contact lenses from licensed eye professionals like Kodak Lens Vision Centres.
Contact us to receive the best contact lens recommendations (daily contacts, monthly contacts, soft contact lens, and more,) get assistance on contact lens fitting and advice on the perfect contacts for you based on factors like your vision and personal preferences. After getting expert advice, we also have convenient ways to order such as our webstores.