ACUVUE OASYS® vs. ACUVUE VITA®

With ACUVUE OASYS^® (introduced in 2005) and ACUVUE VITA^® (introduced in 2016), we are comparing 2 popular non-daily-replaceable contact lenses from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

What's the Same?

Before we dive into differences, let's quickly look at the features the ACUVUE OASYS^® and the ACUVUE VITA^® share.

Material

ACUVUE OASYS^® and ACUVUE VITA^® are silicone hydrogel based contact lenses using a material called Senofilcon. This material is capable of letting a high level of oxygen through to the eye, which helps your eyes feel fresh even at the end of the day. The Oxygen Transmissibility parameter (also called Dk/t parameter) is identical for both lenses and with 147 Dk/t as high as other newer silicone hydrogel lenses in the market.

UV Blocking

The FDA classifies lenses into Class 1 and Class 2 lenses, based on their ability to block a certain level of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Both lenses are classified as Class 1 lenses, which means they are able to filter out more than 99% of UVB light and more than 90% of UVB light.

Tinting and Inside-out Mark

No difference here. ACUVUE OASYS^® and ACUVUE VITA^® are slightly blue-tinted contact lenses that don’t change the natural color of your eyes but help you to see them in the blister package or your small lens case. And, both lenses have a 1-2-3 mark printed on the side of the lens to indicate whether the lens is turned inside out.

Prescription Parameters

With an identical diopter range, patients are covered if their prescription is between -12.00D and +8.00D.

What's Different?

While OASYS must be replaced every 2 weeks, VITA can be enjoyed up to a month before it needs to be tossed. This comes as a surprise, as the base material is the same, except for VITA using a newer version of Senofilcon. While this might be the main difference it also uses a different hydration technology called HydraMax while OASYS is using a Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) based wetting agent as part of the HYDRACLEAR® PLUS technology.

Let's have a quick look at the 2 product families. You'll notice that OASYS is currently available for all 3 major vision correction types. VITA doesn't offer a version for Presbyopia, so if you are looking for a multi-focal lens, you are out of luck with the VITA.

Product Families

ACUVUE OASYS® Family	ACUVUE VITA® Family
	ACUVUE VITA® for Presbyopia is not available yet

Replacement Schedule and Modality

ACUVUE OASYS^® is a bi-weekly replaceable lens, so you typically buy a box of 6 or 12 lenses per eye and you are covered for a 3 month period or half a year. With ACUVUE VITA^® you are looking at a monthly replaceable lens, so your lenses last for an entire month. Different than with daily lenses, you also need to purchase the appropriate cleaning solution and getting used to a rigid cleaning routine. Not everyone's favorite thing to do.

Packaging and Pricing

ACUVUE OASYS^® and ACUVUE VITA^® can be purchased in various box-sizes, containing 6,12 or 24 lenses. Assuming that you will have a different prescription for each eye, you would typically buy multiples of 2 boxes, and hence would be covered for 3 months, 6 months or a full year. It is worth to check volume discounts, especially when buying online, as prices can vary upon ordering multiple boxes or when signing up for ‘auto-refill’. Our spec sheet is also providing a ‘daily cost’ calculation and the price difference (while not huge) is a bit in favor of ACUVUE VITA^®.

ACUVUE OASYS^® vs. ACUVUE VITA^®: Specs Compared

	ACUVUE OASYS®	ACUVUE® VITA®
Product Image
Manufacturer	Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.	Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Release Date	2005	June 2016
Prescription Parameters
Replacement Schedule	Two weeks	Monthly
Wearing Details	Daily wear or up to 6 consecutive nights extended wear	Daily wear
Available Sphere Powers	-12.00D to -6.00D in 0.5 steps -6.00D to +6.00D in 0.25 steps +6.00D to +8.00D in 0.5 steps	-12.00D to +8.00D (in 0.5 steps after +-6.00D)
Available Base Curves	8.4 mm 8.8 mm	8.4 mm or 8.8 mm
Available Diameters	14.0 mm	14.5 mm
Technical Parameters
FDA Group	V	V
Lens Material	Silicone hydrogel (Senofilcon A)	Silicone hydrogel (Senofilcon C)
Lens Type	Spherical	Spherical
Wetting Agent	Yes - PVP	Yes - PVP
% of Material	62%	59%
% of Water	38%	41%
Center Thickness	0.07 mm	0.07 mm
Oxygen Transmission	147 Dk/t	147 Dk/t
Modulus	0.7 MPa	Unknown
Other Features
Special Features	Internal wetting agent Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) using HYDRACLEAR® PLUS technology for better wettability and lens surface smoothness.	- Hydramax for increased hydration - Infinity Edge Design for additional comfort
UV Blocking	Class 1 96% UVA 99% UVB	Class 1 >90% UVA >99% UVB
Dynamic Light Absorption	No	No
Visibility Tint	Yes (blue)	Yes (blue)
Inside-out Mark	Yes (123)	Yes (123)
Packaging, Pricing and Ratings
Packaging Details	6 lenses per box, each lens in a foil-sealed plastic package	6 lenses per box, each lens in a foil-sealed plastic package
Price Range	$26 - $34	$42 - $60
Cost per Day	$0.28 - $0.38	$0.23 - $0.33
Special Offers - U.S.	Offer 1 - USA Offer 2 - USA	Offer 1 - USA Offer 2 - USA
Special Offers - Canada	Offer Canada	Offer Canada

Bottom line: Which Lens Should You Get?

First of all, check with your eye care practitioner. Only she/he will be able to determine whether any of these lenses are right for you. And in case both are:

Consider ACUVUE OASYS^® if you are looking for a proven lens with HYDRACLEAR technology and prefer a fresh pair every 2 weeks.

Get ACUVUE VITA^® if you want to save a few bucks and want the latest Senofilcon material. On average you will save about 5 cents per day and eye, which adds up to about $35 in savings per year.

Have your tried both lenses? We would love to hear from you.