Many people use contact lenses because they are nearly undetectable and can correct many vision problems. We asked eye doctors for the best contact lenses for different patients.
Meet the Experts
Dr. James Dello Russo has been a practicing optometrist for over twenty-two years and is the administrative director for the New Jersey Eye Center in Bergenfield, NJ.
Dr. Molly King is a residency-trained optometrist in Colorado. She currently works at a pediatric clinic and owns SimplEye, a telehealth service for patients with dry eye.
Dr. Rapoport is a cataract and refractive surgery board-certified and fellowship-trained ophthalmologist. She and her team at Manhattan Eye provide a customized approach and plan to each patient’s visual needs.
| Quick Look: | |
|---|---|
| Best Contacts for Dry Eyes - | Acuvue Oasys 1-Day |
| Best Weekly Contacts for Dry Eyes - | Acuvue Oasys |
| Best Contacts for Astigmatism - | Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism |
| Best Multifocal Contact Lenses - | Biofinity Multifocal |
| Best Daily Contact Lenses - | Acuvue Oasys 1-Day |
| Best Monthly Contact Lenses - | Alcon TOTAL 30 |
| Best Contact Lenses for Extended Wear - | Air Optix Night & Day Aqua |
| Best Contact Lenses for Sensitive Eyes - | Acuvue Oasys 1-Day |
Types of Contacts
There are two major categories of contact lenses:
- Soft lenses — worn by 90 percent of contact lens wearers
- Hard lenses — worn by people with abnormal corneas or specific ocular health conditions
Soft contact lenses are thin, flexible plastics (silicone hydrogel). The FDA considers them disposable, so they must be replaced after a certain time.
Hard contact lenses include two types of lens material — PMMA (conventional) lenses and RGP (rigid gas permeable) lenses. They are custom-made for each person and last longer than soft contacts.
What Is the Best Brand of Contact Lenses?
The best brand of contact lens depends on a person's needs. A lens fitting is the only way to determine the best brand for you. Dr. King says that eye doctors will consider:
- The fit of the lens
- Lens movement
- Lens material
- DK value (oxygen permeability)
These are the best brands of contact lenses we recommend:
- Acuvue
- Air Optix
- Alcon
- Bausch + Lomb
- Biofinity
- Dailies
*NOTE: Contact prescriptions and glasses prescriptions are different. Eyeglasses prescriptions can't be applied to contact lenses. Make sure you have a professional contact lens fitting exam from an eye doctor before purchasing lenses from online retailers.
Best Contact Lenses
These are the best contact lenses depending on different needs:
Best Contacts for Dry Eyes: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
Dr. King's top recommendation for people with dry eyes is the Acuvue Oasys 1-Day contact lenses. Its HydraLuxe Technology lets your tears hydrate the lens and your eye, keeping them moist all day.
Doctors recommend daily disposable lenses for people with dry eyes. Weekly and monthly lenses can accumulate protein, calcium, lipids, and other substances.
Best Contacts for Dry Eyes Runner Up: Acuvue Oasys
Not all prescriptions are available in daily disposable lenses. Acuvue Oasys lenses are discarded after 1 to 2 weeks. With proper care and maintenance, they can also be an effective choice for people with dry eyes.
Best Contacts for Astigmatism: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism
Dr. Rapoport's number one choice for people with astigmatism is Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism. Dry eyes are common among people with astigmatism. Their HydraLuxe technology allows tears to lubricate the lens just like they would wet your eye.
Best Multifocal Contact Lenses: Biofinity Multifocal
Multifocal contact lenses treat presbyopia (age-related farsightedness). Dr. Dello Russo chose Biofinity Multifocal lenses because they have the most prescriptions available. They are also available in a Multifocal Toric version for those with astigmatism.
Best Daily Contact Lenses: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
Once again, Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe technology tops this category.
Best Monthly Contact Lenses: Alcon TOTAL 30
According to Dr. Dello Russo, Alcon TOTAL 30s have top-tier ocular surface wettability. This is the ability to spread and maintain moisture over a surface, making the lenses one of the best monthly options for people.
Best Contact Lenses for Extended Wear: Air Optix Night & Day Aqua
Air Optix Night & Day Aqua contact lenses are FDA-approved to wear continuously for 30 days and nights. They allow more oxygen through the lens than any other soft contact lens on the market.
Best Contact Lenses for Sensitive Eyes: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day
Sensitive or dry eyes can benefit from daily disposable lenses. That's why Acuvue Oasys 1-Day lenses are many eye doctors' top choice for people with sensitive eyes.
In this article
Best Places to Buy Contacts
Best Overall
1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online.
Also Great
GlassesUSA has a huge selection of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses.
Best Places to Buy Glasses
Best Overall
Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices.
Also Great
Liingo Eyewear is another great option to buy glasses online.
Best on a Budget
EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6.
