Acuvue Contact Lenses

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 Oasys - Oxygen permeable lenses, which continuously keep dry eyes moist and allow for a smooth fit.
• 1 Day Acuvue Oasys Max – the ultimate in all-day clarity and comfort, even in demanding, screen-heavy environments.

• LACREON® – Locks in moisture for a cushiony, hydrating feel throughout the day. 
• HydraLuxe® Technology – Mimics the natural tear film to reduce dryness and provide consistent comfort. 
• HYDRACLEAR® PLUS – Maintains a smooth, wettable surface to support hydration and clarity in reusable lenses. 
• TearStable™ Technology – Maintains hydration and stabilises the tear film, ideal for long screen days. 
• Blue light filtering – Filters high-energy blue-violet light for added comfort in modern environments. 
• Advanced UV protection – Offers the highest level of UV blocking available in a contact lens. 
• EYE-INSPIRED™ Design – All Acuvue lenses are developed with innovative, eye-inspired science for exceptional vision and eye health. 

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.

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.

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

2016: ACUVUE OASYS 1 Day with HydraLuxe Technology launched, followed by ACUVUE VITA, the brand’s first monthly lens. HydraLuxe Technology helps maintain moisture and reduce dryness for lasting comfort.

2022: ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1 Day launched with TearStable Technology, designed to lock in moisture and reduce evaporation, and an OptiBlue Light Filter that helps block blue violet light.

2023: ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1 Day Multifocal launched, featuring a Pupil Optimized Design that provides clear, comfortable vision for near, far and in between.

2025: ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1 Day for Astigmatism launched with a BLINK STABILISED Design that keeps vision steady during blinks and movement, while filtering blue violet light and offering UV protection.

Yes. Acuvue contact lenses are among the best contact lenses for dry eyes, with two technologies specifically designed for dryness. 1 Day Acuvue Moist uses LACREON Technology, which uses a moisture-rich wetting agent  to maintain hydration throughout the day. Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology mimics the natural tear film to reduce lens-related dryness, and is particularly popular with wearers who spend long hours on screens. Speak to your optician about which Acuvue lens best suits your prescription and wearing habits.

Several Acuvue lenses have been discontinued in recent years. Acuvue 2 two-weekly lenses were discontinued in April 2024: the closest current alternatives at Vision Direct are Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe Plus for a two-weekly replacement. 1-Day Acuvue TruEye was discontinued in 2022: the recommended daily replacement is Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology, which uses the same silicone hydrogel material class with significantly improved moisture technology. 1-Day Acuvue Moist is also a widely prescribed daily alternative at a lower price point. Any switch to a new lens requires a refitting with your optician, as base curve and diameter can differ between lens families.

Yes. Vision Direct stocks Acuvue multifocal contact lenses for presbyopia correction across both daily and two-weekly formats. 1 Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal is a daily disposable multifocal lens using LACREON Technology for all-day moisture, available in 30 and 90-pack options. For two-weekly presbyopia correction, a multifocal option is available at Vision Direct using HYDRACLEAR Plus Technology and Stereo Precision Technology to deliver seamless near-to-distance vision. Your optician will assess your add power and recommend the most appropriate lens for your prescription and lifestyle.

Each Acuvue lens family uses a different moisture technology, and the best one depends on your wearing habits and how demanding your days are on your eyes. Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day with TearStable Technology is the most advanced option, designed for the longest and most demanding wearing days. Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology mimics the natural tears of the eye, making it ideal for dry eye sufferers. Two-weekly Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe Plus suits wearers who prefer a longer replacement cycle with strong moisture performance. 1 Day Acuvue Moist with LACREON Technology is the most affordable moisture-focused daily option and one of the UK's most prescribed contact lenses. Your optician can trial all four to identify the best fit.

Yes. All Acuvue contact lenses incorporate UV-blocking technology, offering one of the highest levels of UV protection available in a soft contact lens. Class 1 UV-blocking lenses, block at least 99% of UVB and 96% of UVA radiation. Class 2 UV-blocking lenses, block at least 99% of UVB and 70% of UVA radiation. It's important to note that contact lenses don't cover the whole eye, they don't protect the whites of the eye or eyelids. UV-protective sunglasses should still be worn outdoors as a complement to UV-blocking contact lenses, not as a replacement for them.

Acuvue Oasys is Johnson & Johnson's premium silicone hydrogel contact lens family, available across daily, two-weekly, and specialist formats at Vision Direct. Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology is a daily disposable lens that mimics the natural tears of the eye , making it ideal for dry eye suffers  Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day is the most advanced daily contacts in the range, adding a blue-violet light filter and TearStable Technology for extensive comfort. Two-weekly Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe Plus is one of the UK's most widely prescribed lenses, offering high oxygen transmissibility and all-day comfort.

Yes. Acuvue has one of the broadest toric contact lens ranges available, covering daily, two-weekly, and specialist formats. Options include 1 Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism, Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism, Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism, and Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day for Astigmatism. All toric Acuvue lenses require a CYL and AXIS value on your contact lens prescription.

Both are daily disposable contact lenses from Johnson & Johnson but sit at different points in the Acuvue range. 1 Day Acuvue Moist uses LACREON Technology: a moisture-retaining wetting agent and is one of the most widely prescribed daily lenses in the UK, offering reliable comfort at a lower price point than Acuvue Oasys 1 Day.. Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology uses a silicone hydrogel material with higher oxygen transmissibility and a tear film-integrating technology designed for wearers who experience dryness or wear lenses for longer hours. In practice: 1 Day Acuvue Moist is a strong everyday daily for most wearers; Acuvue Oasys 1-Day is the better choice for demanding days, screen-heavy work, or wearers who find standard daily lenses uncomfortable towards the end of the day.