If you ask your eye doctor what the top contact lenses on the market are, there’s a good chance they’ll say Acuvue Oasys 1-Day or Bausch + Lomb Infuse. These are both high-end or more luxurious contacts.
Finding the right contact lenses for your eyes is not as simple as you may think. It’s important to know that there are a lot of options out on the market, and that not every contact lens is the same. Talking with your eye doctor about what you’re looking for in a contact lens is an important first step toward finding your ideal lens.
If you’re looking for superior comfort, superior vision, and not necessarily a cost-conscious lens, you’ll want to read this comparison.
As an eye care provider and a contact lens wearer myself, I have had a lot of experience with trying tons of different types of contact lenses on myself and with patients.
Below is my comprehensive review of the Bausch + Lomb Infuse and the Acuvue Oasys 1-Day lens. It is important to mention that everyone will have a different experience with trialing lenses since everyone has unique eyes and visual demands. This is just my personal experience with the lenses and yours may differ, which is okay!
Bausch + Lomb Infuse Overview
Bausch + Lomb Infuse is a daily disposable silicone hydrogel soft contact lens that has been available on the market since August 2020.
This lens boasts that it is the only lens on the market with ProBalance Technology that maintains ocular surface homeostasis, thus reducing dry eye symptoms for patients. The developers for this lens say that they took information from the latest industry report on dry eye disease, the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society DEWS II report, and selected the ingredients for the lenses based on this study.
This lens is unlike other silicone hydrogel lenses on the market because it used a brand new lens material – Kalifilcon A. This material has a high water content for improved comfort, a low modulus to reduce the impact of the lens on the eye, and high oxygen transmissibility to keep the eyes healthy.
This lens provides Class 2 UV protection and also provides spherical aberration control.
This lens does NOT currently come in an astigmatism/toric prescription which is a downfall when comparing it to the Acuvue Oasys 1 Day lens which does come in astigmatism/toric options.
These lenses are NOT approved for overnight wear, as there are currently no daily disposable lenses approved for such wear.
The Cost of Bausch + Lomb Infuse 90 Pack
The cost for a 90 pack of lenses ranges from $90-110. You can use the price comparison page for Bausch + Lomb Infuse to see the current prices different stores offer.
Pros and Cons of Bausch + Lomb Infuse 90 Pack
PROS:
- Newer lens
- “Superior” research-based lens technology
- Similar in price to Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
- Eligible for an annual rebate
CONS:
- Not for astigmatism/toric patients
- Class 2 UV protection (versus Class 1)
Acuvue Oasys 1–Day Overview
Acuvue Oasys 1 Day with HydraLuxe was released in 2016 from Johnson & Johnson Vision.
The HydraLuxe technology incorporated into the lenses features a tear-inspired design that mimics the natural properties of human tears. The lens provides Class 1 (the best class) UV protection and boasts that it is superior to other daily disposable lenses in reducing dry eye symptoms from digital strain.
This lens is available for toric/astigmatism prescriptions. The lens is made out of a silicone hydrogel material that allows for superior oxygen transmission. These lenses are NOT approved for overnight wear, and there are currently no daily disposable lenses approved for such wear. The non-daily disposable option of this lens, however, is FDA approved for extended/overnight wear.
How Much Does Acuvue Oasys 1-Day Cost
The cost for a 90 pack of spherical lenses (not astigmatism) ranges from $92-105. You can use the price comparison page for Acuvue Oasys 1 Day 90 Pack to see the current prices different stores offer.
Pros and Cons of Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
PROS:
- Similar in price to Bausch + Lomb Infuse
- Available in an astigmatism/toric prescription
- UV Class 1 Protection
- Eligible for annual rebate
CONS:
- An older lens technology
- No option for presbyopia/multifocal
Are Bausch and Lomb Infuse or Acuvue Oasys 1 Day Better Contacts?
In my experience wearing both of these lenses, I will be honest with you and say that I did not notice a difference between these two lenses.
My eyes felt good comfort upon initial insertion at the beginning of the day, as well as at the end of the day after many hours of wear. My eyes did not feel dry in either lens, and I did not find one material to be more breathable than the other.
In my personal experience, I do not find one lens being “better” for dry eyes over the other, but like I said earlier, I do not think I have very picky eyes when it comes to contact lenses.
Some of my patients in the past have had different experiences, however. I can think of a couple of patients who switched over from Acuvue Oasys 1 Days into Infuse, and said that they preferred Infuse over the Oasys due to the comfort of the lens and the less dryness they experienced.
Was this because of the superior lens technology that Infuse boasts? Or was this just a placebo effect from simply changing patients into a newer lens material? I am not sure, but as long as the patient is happier, I am happier!
Are Acuvue Oasys 1 Day or Bausch + Lomb Infuse Contacts More Comfortable?
As mentioned above, I did not find any improved comfort in one lens brand over the other. However, I have had a couple of patients who said that Infuse was more comfortable compared to Acuvue Oasys 1 Day. As of now, there are no official studies comparing the two brands, so much of the comparison is based on personal preference with patients’ experiences.
How To Determine Which Contact Lens Is Right For You
In order to determine what contact lens is right for you, it’s important to consider what you want out of your contact lenses and relay that to your eye doctor. Are you looking for comfort, superior vision, the latest lens technologies, convenience, affordability, etc? Once you determine what you’re looking for, your eye doctor will work with you to determine a starting lens.
If you’re looking for superior vision, and maybe you have an astigmatism, then a toric lens might be best for you.
If you’re looking for ease of insertion, maybe try a tinted lens, like both Bausch + Lomb Infuse or Acuvue Oasys 1 Day, as the slightly blue-tinted lens can be easy to find if you drop the lens with insertion.
If you’re looking for an affordable lens, consider a lens with an older lens technology such as Bausch + Lomb BioTrue OneDay or 1-Day Acuvue Moist.
At the end of the day, it’s just important to know what you want from your contacts and work closely with your eye doctor to determine a few starting lenses. Letting your eyes trial a couple of different brands is the best way to determine which is right for you!
Dr. Olivia Burger, O.D. is an optometrist who graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She is pursuing a 1-year residency at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry in Vision Science in Primary Care / Contact Lens. Her optometric areas of interest include private practice, contact lenses, and optometric service organizations such as VOSH. In her free time, she enjoys live music and is a freelance concert photographer.