Acuvue 2 Lenses Work Great!. Review on Johnson & Johnson Acuvue Lens

It all started last year during the first quarter of the school year that it became clear to me that I had some lousy vision. Not wanting to get classes because everyone knows that glasses are not cool, I gutted it out and tried to keep the problem from my parents. Finally, it got to the point that I could barely decipher what was written on the board and that’s where I gave in.

I took an eye exam at my mother’s optometrist and found out that my vision was 20/200. (When I took the exam I could only read the large E.) For some reason, my optometrist automatically assumed I was getting glasses, and I told him I would like contacts instead. Simple enough, he took some measurements of my eye, my mom paid him some money, and walla! I was wearing my first pair of contacts and ready to go (my vision was now 20/25 with the contacts). The makers of Johnson & Johnson Acuvue 2 Lenses were brilliant and deserve lots of credit. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these contact lenses so great.

Comfort

Are these contacts comfortable? You bet! While in school or playing sports (etc.) I really don’t even notice that the contacts are even there. I believe the reason for not being able to feel them is the round shape that fits perfectly with your eye and the thinness of the lenses. I can, however, feel the lenses when (a) I first put them in because the temperature of the contacts are generally colder than the surface of your eye (b) something such as sand or dust (or even eyelashes) get caught in the eye.

When you first put the contacts in, you may get a funny, almost tickling sensation in your eye because of the temperature difference, but not to worry because it lasts only a few seconds. Whenever something gets stuck in my eye or contacts, I will always take the lens out of my eye, examine it, and squirt a little of my disinfection formula on the lens until I see that the piece of whatever is gone. Then place the lens back in your eye and you are ready to go.

I have had an experience with a defected lens, but only one time. It was this pesky lens for my right eye that whenever I put the lens in, I could just not bear the uncomfort/pain. I simply tossed the lens out and replaced it with a new one. This has only happened to me once.

Is it sounding like these contacts have lots of problems? No, they really don’t. The majority of the time I can hardly feel the contacts, but what I described above occasionally happens… that’s all there is to it.

Protection from the Sun

Yes, protection from those harmful UV rays from the sun is another one of the cool things that make these contacts so special. The contacts have a light-blue tint to them which is a coating that prevents your eyes from getting cataracts and other eye infections that could lead to blindness.

123 System

Ok, I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t even know about the 123 system until I came across the microscopic numbers on the lenses and did some research. And I’ll be honest, I don’t even use the 123 system, but this is how you use it if you would like to.

On the edge of each lens, the numbers 123 are faintly printed. You have to search to find the numbers because they are so tiny and dull. When you come across the numbers and they read 1-2-3, this indicates that the lens is right side up and are ready to be put in. However, if when you read the lens you see the numbers printed 3-2-1, the lens is inside out. It’s that simple.

I don’t bother with the system for two reasons: (a) my optometrist gave me a different way to tell if the lenses are inside out (b) the numbers are way to small.

Let me describe the way I was taught. When looking at the profile of the lens, the lens should look round (almost like if an eggshell was sliced horizontally). If the lens is round-shaped, it is right side up. When a lens is inside out, the sides of the lens seem to go at more of a 45 degree angle instead of looking nice and round. This is the way I can tell if my contacts are ready to be put in or not. I guess the makers of Johnson & Johnson Acuvue 2 Lenses were trying to be creative…

Terms of Use and Cleaning

I was told that every two weeks I should toss my contacts and replace them with new ones. The reason for this? Replacing the lenses every two weeks prevents the lenses from long-term deposit build-ups. Also, I don’t know if it’s just me, but it seems like the longer I wear my contacts, the visibility goes down just slightly. It’s not a dramatic difference in the visibility, just something I have noticed as time goes on. :-)

Cleaning… It’s a piece of cake! All you need is a one-step disinfectant formula (I use Opti-Free Express). At night when you remove your contacts, place them in the formula, and the next morning you are ready to go. There is really no effort required or involved. Opti-Free Express claims to clean, rinse, and disinfect your contacts— 3 in 1! Pretty cool, huh? ;-)

Prices

The price of two boxes (left and right… each box with about 6 contacts in each) cost around $35.00. So each box of contacts costs about $17.50. My personal opinion is that they are pretty cheap and are definitely worth the money.

Miscellaneous Info

• Don’t rub your eyes when your contacts are in place or else the contacts will either fall out or get stuck in another area of the eye (not to worry about the latter because the lens will always find it’s way back to the area in which it belongs). Rather, use your forefingers, and gently make a circular motion if your eyes become itchy.

  
  




• Never wear your contacts when doing water activities (examples: going to the beach, swimming, etc.) because when the lenses are exposed to the water they have a tendency to fall out and then you’re screwed.

  
  




• Be careful when handling the lenses. They are very delicate and fragile and can tear very easily.

  
  




• Try not to take a long time putting in your contacts, for they dry up quickly. If I am having an off day, I will normally put some formula on the lenses in order to hydrate them.

  
  




• Never wear your contacts overnight. Your contacts do need to breathe.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think Johnson & Johnson Acuvue 2 Lenses are one of the best contacts ever made. I am now able to read the board clearly at school (what an amazing accomplishment!). When my contacts are in everything is just sharp and clear—it’s an awesome feeling to go from being “blind as a bat” to “eyes of an eagle” (maybe I am exaggerating just a bit, but I still love the visibility). I hear about those hard contacts my mother used to wear and it makes me want to shudder. Pretty much everything about these contact lenses is great—comfort, visibility, protection, and price. And I guess the 123 system would be a plus to some people, but I don't care for it that much.

The only problems that I had with these contacts are getting something stuck in the lens and having one defected right lens. But neither of the two happen very often, which is definitely a good thing. So what are you waiting for? Throw away those old glasses and try some new Johnson & Johnson Acuvue 2 Lenses.

Thanks for reading.

© tkd_grant 2002