by I consider myself a true contact lens aficionado. I’ve been wearing contacts for over 30 years. I go way back to the days of those irascible, eye-scratching “hard lenses” you had to “squint” out of your eye at night like a tiddledywink. Cleaning them by plugging them into a wall socket for overnight sterilization was a hassle. The later weekly cleaning regimen with little, dissolvable, pills was a nightmare to manage when you really couldn’t see anything without your contacts.
I could never wear hard contact lenses for longer than eight hours, so that meant I really had to plan out my days and nights for “prime seeing” because taking them out was such a hassle and I didn’t see as well with my glasses as I did with my contact lenses.
When I was able to move to soft lenses 20 year ago, my life changed. I could see all day long. My eyes tend to be gritty with protein-rich tears, so I had to be vigilant about cleaning the lenses each night.
When One Day — Wear ‘Em a Day and Throw ‘Em Away — contact lenses arrived on the scene, and in my prescription, I finally felt as if my eyesight had been rightfully restored. I wore 1-Day Acuvue Moist lenses for probably a decade and I was incredibly happy.
Then, two year ago, I changed lenses to the new “AquaComfort Plus” Dailies from Ciba Vision. My doctor thought those lenses would be more comfortable for me because they were a little thinner than the Moist. I generally enjoyed the AquaComfort Plus lenses even though I would get a stray light flare in my left eye under certain lighting conditions. I happily wore the AquaComfort Pluses until my distance vision began to worsen just a bit. My prescription had been lowered to optimize my “immediate surround” environment — but reading anything more than 30 feet away was getting a little blurry and taxing.
Now that I’m spending more time again in the classroom — and in and around Manhattan — I need to see my students, and I need to read street signs and people’s faces from afar. I returned to my doctor to ask about multi-focal contact lenses. She wasn’t a fan of multi-focal lenses because, she said, too many of her patients complained about poor distance vision — just the thing I was trying to correct.
My doctor suggested we instead try Monovision. She’d prescribe one eye for reading and the other eye for distance. She said my brain would quickly adjust to the task at hand and her success rate for fitting Monovision in her patients was well over 80 percent. She prefers Monovision for patients like me because she can prescribe precisely the right strength for each eye without having to split the baby for both eyes. With Monovision, I would still have the ability to judge depth and estimate distance, I’d just be using one eye at a time for local reading or faraway looking.
I happily agreed to try Monovision. We tested several combinations, and, surprisingly, my stronger right eye is reading, and my “bad” left eye is for distance viewing. I know my dominant eye is my right eye, so having to reverse my prescriptive thinking was a challenge.
I asked if there were any new contact lenses that might work better for me than the AquaComfort Plus, and my doctor said there was a new Acuvue “TruEye” lens that was brought out to compete with the AquaComfort Plus. She said her patients liked it and half of her staff were wearing TruEye. I decided to go back to the Acuvue brand and try the new TruEye, too.
I love the TruEye lenses. They cover more of my eye than the AquaComfort Plus and that means I don’t get those annoying radiant lens flare. I can wear TruEye lenses all day long and my eyes don’t dry out. Monovision is a perfect fit for me. I can finally see everything again all around me and far away, too. It is such a great feeling to put in a fresh pair of lenses every day. It’s like having a whole new set of crisp eyes every single day.
Sounds great, David — I will recommend them to my contact wearing friends!
Great, Gordon! I know they will be super happy!
Thanks for sharing your experience, I wear glasses but I wanted to buy contact lenses to use them in places were I cannot use my glasses and heard about the Trueye but decided to read some reviews before I buy them. Now I think I am going to get them.
Let us know what you think of the TruEye lenses. I’ve been wearing them since the review and they are thin and easily wearable up to 15 hours a day. With my previous contacts I could only manage about 10 hours before they started to feel dry and irritate.
Awesome dude. I totally relate to your contact wearing experiences! the whole ‘prime time vision’ thing.
Going to buy TruEye now 🙂 it’s all about health!
I agree that the trueyes are very good but the monovision solution to me seems unacceptable since you are forcing your less dominante eye to exist in a world of distance blurr just to give you reading ability. No way. Besides this your distance vision is not as sharp.
I ditched the reading lens in disgust and opted for two distance lenses. I use reading glasses for close up work.
My next plan is to try acuvue oasys for presbiopia.
Im hoping these lenses live up to their hype and give me full binocular vision and depth of field whilst not compromising either distance or close up clarity.
This is 2013 after all.
Good luck with your plan, David. We will be interested to know how it works out for you.
I just had a visual exam this week. The doctor gave me an even more severe “monovision” so I can read my iPhone and also see far away without needing to wear glasses. So far, it’s working out better than I thought.
My eye surgeon also told me she recently had permanent Lasik surgery to give her permanent monovision. She’s thrilled with the results.
Not sure if you ever used the “Regular” Acuvue, which they have now pulled off the market altogether. That was their best product. TruEye is dry, and my vision is hurting. Moist isn’t worth the paper it’s packaged in. TruEye, which is pretty much the only daily contact lens option, is a terrible product.
I stand by my original review. My wife and I love our TruEye contacts and we’ve been wearing them since I wrote the review — all day and every single day. No problems. Clear vision. Winner!
Sure, different strokes and all. But I doubt you have ever used the original (now discontinued) Acuvue. That was a workhorse. Wouldn’t dry through the entire day and until 11pm in the night or so. TruEye is done by about 4pm in the day. Crap “innovation”.
I’ve worn contacts for over 30 years and started with hard lenses in the early 1980’s, so yes, I’ve worn all the Acuvue derivatives and about ten other brands as well.
I just got back from the eye doctor this afternoon. He suggested I try the Accuvue Moist because I wanted to switch to daily wear. But he sent me home with several pairs of the Trueye. I didn’t realize they were different until I started to look online to buy a box. I’ve also worn contacts for twenty years and started to have trouble with the solutions.
So now I don’t know what to do because these contacts are so comfortable, and my vision is so sharp. The trueyes are a bit pricier, but I’m thinking why bother trying the moist if these are so good.
So since you’ve worn the moist before, what is your opinion? I know this is just your opinion and I’m not planning on holding you responsible for any decision I make! I just really want to know what you think.
For me, the TruEye contacts are 100% better than the Moist. TruEyes are thinner and you can wear them longer without getting itchy eyes. One of my eyes is much worse at distance than the other, so that lens is always thicker than the other and that eye tends to get dryer and more irritated. Finally, with the TrueEye, both eyes behave, look, see, and feel equal. Big Love!
I will say that, in a box of 30, expect at least one malformed, bummer, of a lens — for either eye — you’ll have to toss. Don’t even try to wear it because it will bother you all day. Just recognize the problem, and you will, and just open a new lens.
Thanks so much for the quick reply.
I’ve hd to throw away a dozen Acuvue Oasis lenses this year because they come out of the box malformed. I never remember it being like that years ago.
Anyway, I was already thinking I’d just spend a few extra bucks and get he Trueye so this definitely helps. My doctor was prescribing the Moist because they were cheaper, not necessarily better. The reviews I’ve read are better for the Trueye than the Moist for the most part so I’ll start with a box of the Trueye and see. Had he sent me home with the Moist in the first place, I wouldn’t have even questioned it.
Thanks again!
Great! Let us know what you think once they’re in your eyes. That will tell all! I knew the TruEyes were for me the second I put them in at the MD’s office. They’re thin and a little flimsy, so experience helps a lot — which you have — and I’ve never seen a TruEye come out of the package “inside out.” You know what I mean, and that’s a wonderful thing. The TruEyes are rounder and seem to cover more of your eye and if they happen to go inside out, again, you instantly know — unlike Oasis and Moist where I’d wear one inside out all day long and wonder why I had such a headache after.
See that’s how I felt. The minute I put these in I knew they were amazing.
Yes, that’s a wonderful feeling!
I would like to know what you and D. Boles mean by “malformed” lenses. I have been using the Acuvue Oasys one day lenses for several years (and am quite surprised that no one has mentioned them), and have found that sometimes a lens comes out of the box looking a little strange b/c it has little ripples along the edge, BUT once I put it into my eye it assumes the perfect shape and I have no problems with it for the entire day. I am upset that Acuvue is discontinuing that lens but is keeping their Moist lens, which I won’t buy b/c most people think they’re awful. I must say that David’s comment to just throw away a “malformed” lens does not sit well with me at all. More than one time and I would demand a replacement from the company. It’s just not acceptable to me to pay for 30 lenses and not get 30 lenses. BTW, using those great Oasys one day lenses actually enabled me to sleep in them for one night without a problem, they were that good.
It has still been my experience that in each three-month box, there’s at least one ripple-edge bad contact lens. I can’t wear a damaged lens like that because it doesn’t sit right in the eye. It’s easier to just chalk it up to mass manufacturing and toss it for a new one than to complain about getting back $2 or a replacement lens.
Hi David,
It will be my first time travelling to a cold country next month. Will acuvue trueye help to combat
the dry weather and itchiness of the eyes?
That’s hard to say because everyone’s eyes are different. I would tend to think the TruEye would be a benefit in that sort of environment, but the only way to really know is to try it out!
I have had problems with the TruEye in the cold. They tend to get a dry blurry spot on them that usually won’t go away even after cleaning with saline solution. I think the eye tries to compensate by getting more watery which just makes it worse. The only way to fix it is to open another lens and even then the problem will reoccur in the cold. I have worn these lenses for nearly 2 years, this is my second winter with them, and this problem only exists in the cold. I don’t know if this happens for everyone or if I’m just the unlucky one who has it.
However, the comfort of the lenses other than that by far exceeds the difficulty in the cold. I’m willing to toss out a lens here and there to not be in constant pain from dry, irritated eyes.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hmm… I switched to Trueye recently after using Moist more regularly, which seems to be not that moist or breathable enough to last for a work day, which it either fell out mid-day or irritate my eyes at the end of the day(due to dryness). I am happy to say that trueye remains moist for long hours! I do wish they would come up with trueye for astigmatism (anyone have any other alterative I can try out?)
I have been told that the Tru eye are good for those whose eyes dry out due to lack of oxygen and the Acuvue moist are good for those whose eyes dry out due to lack of moisture.
How you find out which you are I have no idea, I just asked the optician who recently tested me and they didn’t know.
Hi David, I am wondering if you previously wore TruEye Nara B and have had to transition to the TruEye Nara A formula. I have previously worn NaraB and I’m going to reorder mine now and see that the discontinuation of that formula is complete and the only TruEye contact I have the option to order now is Nara A.
I have seen many negative reviews of NaraA from former NaraB wearers and am concerned about purchasing NaraA. If you made the transition, did you find that your eyes accepted the NaraA with the same comfort and clear vision that you found from NaraB? If you had discomfort similar to what I’ve read from other reviews, have you switched to a different contact, and if so, which one?
Thanks in advance to David or anyone else who can help provide perspective.
I’m not sure what you mean about the difference. How does one know which version they’re using? I’ve never been asked, nor told, about Nara B or Nara A by my doctor.
thanks for this blog. well i have been wearing Johnson 1-day acuve moist for quite some time and i do oder and buy them online. so 2 weeks ago i realised i had almost none left and i was going on a trip so i had to pick from the optician. she recommended TruEye. However, since i started using it, i get irritation, like i have sand in my eyes and the vision is way blurred as if i have no lenses on. my eyes got checked and my diopter was different, but this was even before i switched to true eye, so i was perfectly wearing acuve moist and even for long periods without a problem. my Q is, is there anybody also with this sandy and blurred vision. i just got two packs of the 180 lenses box and i feel so frustrated..
I had the same experience but going the opposite way. I was wearing trueye successfully and switched to moist. I couldn’t stand them. I had that sand in my eye feeling and had to take them out early in the evenings. I switched back to the trueye within days. They are different in some way. Either the solution they float in or the material they are made of. Whatever it is I suggest you wear the ones that are comfortable.
Interested to know what monovison make/type you use. I am on 1-Day Acuvue Moist and about to try TruEye. Have been trying to use 1-Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal but just can’t get used to them – the distance is not good. Looking at alternatives.
This summer, I switched to TOTAL 1 daily contacts from Alcon. They have two distinct advantages over the TrueEye. First, they give me sharper focusing power and, second, they are moister — in that I don’t have to use rewetting drops during the day! The TOTAL 1 costs about $10 more per box, per 3-month supply, but that’s nothing in the overall average of being able to see better all day.
Monovision means I use one eye for reading and the other eye for distance — I’ve never tried a multifocal lens — my eye doctor doesn’t like them because she says they are inaccurate and difficult to use. She prefers monovision if her clients can handle the method. She had her eyes surgically modified to be permanently “Monovisioned” and she offered me the same solution. I’m sticking with the lenses for now. SMILE!
Hi, Thanks for the response and will take a look at Total 1 Daily. What prescription do you have for each eye?
I’m not sure of my prescription and it doesn’t matter when it comes to monovision.
and what is your reading glass prescription if you were just using glasses? Which eye do you put the contact lens in for reading i.e. is it the dominant eye and which method do you use to find the dominant eye? Most use e.g. make a circle with thumb and first finger and centre over over distant object then close each eye to see if object moves (the eye that makes it jump is the dominant eye) but some contact lens manufacturers use the blur test method e.g. Acuvue!! I get a different result for each test!
You have to sit down with your eye doctor and find out which eye works better for monovision. I was surprised when my weakest distance eye worked better for distance vision and my “best eye” that I use for seeing most everything, was the one I use for monovision reading.
By prescription I mean what does it say on the lens capsule (the bit you peel off when opening to get lens out)? It will have e.g. DIA 14.1, Base Curve (BC) 8.5 and the bit I’m interested in is the Power (Sph) anything from -12.00 to +6.00. What do you have for each eye? I know your prescription will be nothing like mine but just interested in the differences. For contacts are currently +0.75 in both eyes and keen to try the monovison as multifocal just doesn’t work for me.
The biometric you are asking me to share is not something I want publicly recorded.
I have now tried the Total 1 and agree they have sharper focus than the Trueye which was sharper/same as Acuvue. The Total 1 also keeps that sharpness of focus throughout the day. I may have finally found the best lens. After few days will try the monovision/reading lens combinations to see if I can cope with that.
Great! I’m glad you are able to get sharper vision. You don’t know what you’re missing until you’re able to see what you’re missing!
How long did it take you (your brain) to get used to monvision (reading in one eye and distance in the other)?
I was fine with it within 20 seconds.
My eye doctor wants people to try monovision for at least a week before giving up.
My eye doctor also said 99% of people give up after three days.
Hmm Very interesting posts! I’ve worn the original Acuvue lens for over 25 years until they discontinued them over a year ago and this has started a nightmare for me! My optometrist also retired so I’ve had to switch several times because finding an optometrist these days who doesn’t treat you like a number and is willing to “find” the right lenses without charging me for it is rare. The optometrist I am with now has let me try over 8 lenses now. I am currently trying the TruEye in the 8.4 bc Narafilicon A and it feels dryer and like grit right now after 16 hours. I am very nearsighted and I wear contacts for sharp distance with bifocals for up close. I started with Air Optix which I wore over the past year until it gave me problems with lots of protein issues and giant papilloma in my eyelids so for two months I had to use special eyedrops for antihistamine and steroid treatment. I finally improved and need to search for new lenses. I just haven’t found the best lens yet, and I’ve tried the Alcon family dailies (Total 1), the Acuvue family dailies and Oasys 2 week disposables. I need thin lenses the Acuvue provides. I have the Biotrue lens to try this week and am getting Cooper Vision lens next week to try. Then I need to make a decision. So far, the TruEye is the leader, but I will need to wear the 9.0 bc which didn’t seem to dry my eyes as much, but it is blurry for close-up vision. I can’t wear multifocal lens because I require distance acuity with my commuting drive to work and my eye doctor has said if one multifocal doesn’t work then another brand won’t either, and I can’t stand the monovision. I have cataracts developing and an issue with floaters which started last year. As a side note, I didn’t know the Oasys can’t be cleaned with peroxide Clear Care, caused both lenses to ripple around the edges like they melted after the 3rd attempt to clean a blurry lens. I only wore them for 5 days before having grit feeling and irritation so I tried to deep clean them. But like you, I am finding the dailies are so much nicer to just throw out and start fresh in the morning without the hassle of cleaning! This is the trend most contact makers are headed toward. I just don’t know if I can wear silicon hydrogels or silicon-based lens and that is what every lens is made of, some kind of variant of silicon. The Air Optix attracted so much of my face powder, tiny lint, anything in the air. So I will see if these new lenses from Cooper and Biotrue will work better for me, otherwise it’ll be the TruEye. I can let you know what works out for my eyes.
Thank you for sharing your fascinating and detailed experiences!