Even if you don't wear contact lenses or need vision correction, the all-new ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions might still be something you need or want. Not sure why, keeping reading, and find out why Time Magazine recognized this contact lens as one of the best innovations in eye care in 2018.

The all-new Acuvue Oasys with Transitions contact lens will be the most exciting product lunch in the eye care industry this year and will likely be the best selling contact lens in our clinic this summer. After 10 years of research and development between Johnson & Johnson Vision Care and Transitions Optical, it’s finally here.

ACUVUE estimates that nearly 2 out of 3 people are bothered by light sensitivity, whether it's at work or while playing sports outside. This first-of-its-kind contact lens is going to offer our patients an alternative to traditional options.

How Does the New ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Contact lens work?

Similar to how Transitions eyeglass lenses work the new ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions contact lens is designed to react seamlessly to the light intensity in your environment. The contact lens automatically darkens and lightens based on the light your eyes are being exposed to.

But unlike traditional Transitions eyeglass lenses that react to UV light exposure, the ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions contact lens also reacts to high energy visible (HEV) radiation.

In the past, other manufacturers have tried to produce a contact lens that acted like a sunglass to help improve athletic performance and improve visual comfort. The drawback though was that these other contact lenses were static in how much light they would block and would not adjust to their environment. The result was that none of them took off, and they were seen more as a novelty item as opposed to a viable contact lens alternative for light sensitivity.

The benefit of the ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions contact lens is that it is constantly adjusting the environment, so the performance and vision are there on a cloudy or sunny day.

How Fast Does the New ACUVUE OASYS with Transition Lens work?

The company claims that they will Transition from the clear inactive state to dark active state in about 60 seconds. They then claim that it will and fade back to clear in about 90 seconds.

During our initial trials with the product, we can confirm that the contact lenses do transition into their darkened activated state within the 60 second time period (check out the video below), but we didn't find that they cleared that quickly, and instead found that it took about 4-5 minutes to return back to their clear inactivated state.

So how much light does the new ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions contact lenses block out?

Even in the clear inactivated state, the manufacturer claims that it will block approximately 16% of the light, and when fully activated it will block up to 77%. The actual amount of light absorbed, however, will depend on lens thickness which is controlled by a patient’s prescription parameters and the environment.

ACUVUE BRAND contact lenses are well known for incorporating UV protection into their products as a standard feature. This feature is probably more critical in this type of contact lens because the built-in light block properties will prevent the pupil from fully constricting, the body’s natural way to limit UV exposure. Increased UV light exposure can increase a person's risk of developing cataracts and other eye disorders.

It's also why ACUVUE clearly states in all their product literature that this lens is not designed to completely limit a person’s need for sunglasses or UV-absorbing lenses.

Where we think it can be an alternative is in situations where people are less likely to wear sun protection but would still benefit from it from both a visual comfort standpoint and from an ocular health standpoint. We really see this product having a substantial role in patients who participate in sports like golf, soccer, baseball, tennis, football, track and field, and long-distance running.

The ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions has the following built-in UV protection:

• 99% of UVB (range 280num to 315nm)

• 90% of UVA (range 316 to 380nm)

• The contact lens also has light-absorbing properties in the visible light range of 380num to 780num which activates the photochromatic features and is why the lens naturally blocks 16% of the light in its inactivated state.

I just want them. Where Can I Try and Buy the new ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Contact Lenses?

Stonewire Optometry in Kingsway Mall was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the few optometry clinics in the Edmonton area to get early access to this first-of-its-kind contact lens. This week our optometrists and staff were able to try out the contact lens before the release to the public, and we have to admit that we were thoroughly impressed.

ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Product Parameters & Cost:

Product Name: ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions
Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson
Base Curve: 8.4
Lens Diameter: 14.0mm
Replacement Schedule: 2-Weeks
Rx Range: -12.00D to +6.00D
Rx Range for Astigmatism: Not Available
Lens Packaging: 6-Lenses Per Box
Cost Per 6-ct Box: $59.99*

How Do You Clean The New ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Contact Lenses?

Thankfully, there are no different cleaning steps when compared to a regular 2-week disposable style contact lens.

The standard rub and rinse technique with a quality multipurpose contact lens solution recommended by your optometrist are all that is required to keep this lens feeling fresh and clean throughout their 2-week life cycle.