Acuvue Oasys vs. Acuvue 2
If you wear bi-weekly contacts, you've probably come across both Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2.
They’re both made by Johnson & Johnson, they’re both designed to be replaced every two weeks, and they can both correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. So, at first glance, they may seem pretty interchangeable.
However, they’re actually very different contacts.
The biggest difference is the material. Acuvue Oasys is a silicone hydrogel lens designed to allow significantly more oxygen to reach your eyes, while Acuvue 2 is an older hydrogel lens with a much higher water content.
Neither one is automatically going to feel better on your eyes, though. Contact lens comfort can depend entirely on your preferences, and you’ll need a prescription for the specific brand you wear.
Here’s how Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2 compare side by side.
Acuvue Oasys
Acuvue Oasys is a reusable contact lens made by Johnson & Johnson. With a daily-wear schedule, you wear the same pair for up to two weeks, removing, cleaning, and storing your contacts each night.
Acuvue Oasys is made from senofilcon A, a silicone hydrogel material with 38% water content.
One of the biggest features of Acuvue Oasys is Hydraclear Plus Technology. A wetting agent is incorporated into the lens material to help maintain a smooth, moist surface throughout the day.
It’s also a highly breathable contact lens. Acuvue Oasys has an oxygen transmissibility of 147 Dk/t at -3.00D, meaning quite a bit of oxygen can pass through the lens to reach your cornea.
Key Features of Acuvue Oasys
- Replacement schedule: Every 2 weeks with daily wear
- Material: Senofilcon A silicone hydrogel
- Water content: 38%
- Moisture technology: Hydraclear Plus Technology
- Oxygen transmissibility: 147 Dk/t at -3.00D
- Base curves: 8.4 mm and 8.8 mm
- Diameter: 14.0 mm
- UV protection: Class 1 UV blocker
Acuvue 2
Acuvue 2 is also a reusable contact lens made by Johnson & Johnson and can be replaced every two weeks with daily wear.
However, Acuvue 2 has been around a lot longer and uses a very different lens material.
Acuvue 2 is made from etafilcon A, a traditional hydrogel material with 58% water content. Unlike Acuvue Oasys, it is not a silicone hydrogel lens.
That difference becomes pretty obvious when you compare oxygen transmissibility. Acuvue 2 has an oxygen transmissibility of around 25.5 Dk/t at -3.00D, compared with 147 Dk/t for Acuvue Oasys.
Acuvue 2 does have the higher water content of the two, though, at 58% compared with 38% for Acuvue Oasys.
Key Features of Acuvue 2
- Replacement schedule: Every 2 weeks with daily wear
- Material: Etafilcon A hydrogel
- Water content: 58%
- Oxygen transmissibility: Approximately 25.5 Dk/t at -3.00D
- Base curves: 8.3 mm and 8.7 mm
- Diameter: 14.0 mm
- UV protection: Class 2 UV blocker
Acuvue Oasys vs. Acuvue 2
| Feature | Acuvue Oasys | Acuvue 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement schedule | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Material | Senofilcon A | Etafilcon A |
| Material type | Silicone hydrogel | Hydrogel |
| Water content | 38% | 58% |
| Moisture technology | Hydraclear Plus | Traditional hydrogel material |
| Oxygen transmissibility | 147 Dk/t | Approx. 25.5 Dk/t |
| UV protection | Class 1 | Class 2 |
| Base curves | 8.4 mm, 8.8 mm | 8.3 mm, 8.7 mm |
| Diameter | 14.0 mm | 14.0 mm |
Replacement Schedule
This is one area where Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2 are very similar.
Both can be worn as bi-weekly contacts, meaning you open a fresh pair and replace them two weeks later when following a daily-wear schedule.
You’ll also need to clean your contacts every night with fresh contact lens solution before storing them. You should never rinse or store reusable contacts in tap water.
Material
The material is probably the biggest difference between Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2.
Acuvue Oasys is made from senofilcon A, which is a silicone hydrogel material.
Acuvue 2 is made from etafilcon A, which is a traditional hydrogel material.
Silicone hydrogel materials allow considerably more oxygen to pass through the contact lens, which is why you see such a huge difference between their Dk/t numbers.
Acuvue Oasys has a Dk/t of 147 at -3.00D, while Acuvue 2 is around 25.5.
That doesn’t automatically tell you which contact will FEEL better, but it is a pretty significant difference between the two lenses.
Water Content
Here’s where the numbers basically flip.
Acuvue Oasys has a water content of 38%, while Acuvue 2 has a water content of 58%.
It would be really easy to look at those numbers and assume Acuvue 2 must be more moisturizing because it contains more water, but contact lenses don’t quite work like that. Higher water content does not automatically equal more comfortable contacts.
Lens material, your tear film, how quickly your tears evaporate, how the contact fits your eye, and how long you wear your contacts can all affect how dry or comfortable they feel.
Some people do really well in traditional hydrogel lenses with a higher water content. Other people may be more comfortable in a silicone hydrogel material.
Comfort
If you’re comparing Acuvue Oasys vs. Acuvue 2 because you want to know which one is more comfortable, unfortunately there isn’t one answer that applies to everyone.
Acuvue Oasys uses Hydraclear Plus Technology, which incorporates a wetting agent into the lens material. Johnson & Johnson specifically positions the lens around maintaining moisture and comfort, including while using digital devices.
Acuvue 2 doesn’t use Hydraclear Plus Technology, but its etafilcon A material has a considerably higher water content.
You may put Acuvue Oasys in and barely notice them all day while Acuvue 2 feels dry, or you could have the complete opposite experience.
Most people prefer Acuvue Oasys for comfort, but there are also millions of people who love their Acuvue 2 lenses - so it totally depends on YOU!
Oxygen Transmissibility
This is one of the clearest differences between the two contacts. Acuvue Oasys has an oxygen transmissibility of 147 Dk/t at -3.00D. Acuvue 2 is around 25.5 Dk/t at the same power.
That means Acuvue Oasys allows substantially more oxygen to pass through the lens. Your cornea doesn't have its own blood vessels supplying it with oxygen, so allowing oxygen to reach the surface of your eye is an important part of contact lens design.
This is one of the major advantages silicone hydrogel materials have over older traditional hydrogel materials.
UV Protection
Both Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2 include built-in UV protection, but Acuvue Oasys provides the higher classification.
Acuvue Oasys has a Class 1 UV blocker, while Acuvue 2 has a Class 2 UV blocker. Manufacturer specifications list Acuvue Oasys as blocking more than 99.9% of UVB and approximately 96% of UVA radiation.
Acuvue 2 also provides UV protection, although the exact percentages reported can vary slightly by market and specification method.
Neither contact replaces sunglasses, though. Contacts only cover part of your eye, so you still want sunglasses protecting the rest of your eyes and the surrounding skin when you're outside.
Base Curve and Fit
Another thing you may notice when comparing your boxes is that Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2 don't have exactly the same base curves.
Acuvue Oasys is available in 8.4 mm and 8.8 mm base curves, while Acuvue 2 is available in 8.3 mm and 8.7 mm base curves. Both have a diameter of 14.0 mm.
A 0.1 mm difference may not SOUND huge, but the material, shape, base curve, and overall lens design change the way a contact sits and moves on your eye.
That’s why you shouldn’t switch from Acuvue 2 to Acuvue Oasys, or vice versa, without talking to your eye doctor first.
Which Lens Should You Choose?
Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2 are both two-week contacts from the same manufacturer, but they're from very different generations of contact lens technology.
Acuvue Oasys uses a silicone hydrogel material, has much higher oxygen transmissibility, includes Hydraclear Plus Technology, and provides Class 1 UV protection.
Acuvue 2 uses a traditional hydrogel material and has a much higher water content at 58%. It also has slightly different base curve options and Class 2 UV protection.
Those differences can definitely matter, but they still can't tell you exactly which contact is going to feel better on YOUR eyes.
If you're currently wearing one and thinking about switching to the other, talk to your eye doctor. Contact lens prescriptions are brand-specific, and your eye doctor will want to make sure the new lens fits your eyes correctly before you order it.
FAQ
Is Acuvue Oasys the same as Acuvue 2?
No. They are both reusable contacts made by Johnson & Johnson, but they use different materials. Acuvue Oasys is made from senofilcon A silicone hydrogel, while Acuvue 2 is made from etafilcon A hydrogel. They also have different water contents, oxygen transmissibility, base curves, and UV protection.
Is Acuvue Oasys newer than Acuvue 2?
Yes. Acuvue 2 is an older hydrogel lens, while Acuvue Oasys uses newer silicone hydrogel technology.
Is Acuvue Oasys more breathable than Acuvue 2?
Yes. Acuvue Oasys has an oxygen transmissibility of 147 Dk/t at -3.00D, compared with approximately 25.5 Dk/t for Acuvue 2. This is largely because Acuvue Oasys uses a silicone hydrogel material.
Which has more water, Acuvue Oasys or Acuvue 2?
Acuvue 2 has the higher water content. Acuvue 2 contains 58% water, while Acuvue Oasys contains 38%. Higher water content does not necessarily mean a contact will feel more comfortable or less dry, though.
Are Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2 monthly contacts?
No. Both can be worn on a two-week replacement schedule with daily wear. Follow the exact wear and replacement schedule prescribed by your eye doctor.
Can I switch from Acuvue 2 to Acuvue Oasys?
Not on your own. Even if your sphere power stays exactly the same, Acuvue Oasys and Acuvue 2 use different materials and have different base curves and lens designs. Contact lenses are prescription medical devices, so your eye doctor should fit and prescribe the specific brand you wear.
Does Acuvue Oasys have better UV protection than Acuvue 2?
Acuvue Oasys has the higher UV-blocking classification. It has a Class 1 UV blocker, while Acuvue 2 has a Class 2 UV blocker. Neither replaces UV-blocking sunglasses because contacts don't cover your entire eye or the surrounding area.