Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses

Silicone hydrogel contact lenses combine silicone with hydrogel to allow significantly more oxygen to pass through to the cornea than traditional hydrogel lenses. The cornea relies on oxygen from the atmosphere, so higher oxygen transmissibility supports corneal health and reduces the risk of problems associated with lens wear. Most modern soft contact lenses, including Acuvue Oasys, Air Optix, Biofinity, Dailies Total1, and MyDay, are made from silicone hydrogel. They're available across daily, two-weekly, and monthly replacement schedules.

The primary advantage of silicone hydrogel over conventional hydrogel is significantly higher oxygen transmissibility, which supports corneal health during longer wearing periods. Silicone hydrogel lenses are generally recommended for full-day wear, particularly for wearers who spend extended hours on screens or in air-conditioned environments. Some wearers with specific sensitivities do better on conventional hydrogel lenses, as silicone can attract lipid deposits more readily. Your optician will recommend the best material for your eyes and lifestyle.

The majority of toric and multifocal lenses at Vision Direct are silicone hydrogel. For astigmatism, silicone hydrogel toric options include Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism, Air Optix plus HydraGlyde Astigmatism, Biofinity Toric, MyDay Toric, and Clariti 1 Day Toric. For presbyopia, multifocal silicone hydrogel options include Acuvue Oasys Multifocal, Biofinity Multifocal, Dailies Total1 Multifocal, and Air Optix plus HydraGlyde Multifocal. Your optician will confirm which product fits your full prescription.

Silicone hydrogel alone doesn't prevent dry eyes, but many modern silicone hydrogel lenses incorporate moisture technologies that improve all-day comfort for dry eye sufferers. Acuvue Oasys 1-Day uses HydraLuxe Technology designed to support the natural tear film. Total30 monthly lenses use Alcon's Totally Soft material to maintain high water content throughout the day. Dailies Total1 has a Water Gradient surface layer approaching 100% water, making it one of the most comfortable options for dry eye wearers.