The main point of concern that doctors have when it comes to generic or off-brand contact lenses is their safety. While branded contact lenses from brands such as Acuvue, Air Optix, Biofinity etc. are manufactured by reputable companies and undergo rigorous testing to ensure their safety and compatibility, it is harder to trace the safety of off-brand lenses.
In this article, we will be discussing whether branded contact lenses are better than generic or off-brand lenses. You will also learn how to ensure that the contact lenses you purchase are in good condition.
Unbranded Contact Lenses
Unbranded contact lenses are usually not prescribed by doctors and are therefore often purchased without an adequate prescription. However, wearing contacts that have not been prescribed for you can be harmful for your eyes.
In addition to this, it is unclear whether unbranded contacts have been adequately tested to ensure their safety. Given below is a list of the complications that could arise due to the use of unbranded contact lenses.
Blurry Vision
Contact lenses are meant to improve vision, but wearing unbranded ones with no prescription will most likely cause impairment in a person’s vision. Users of unbranded contacts tend to experience blurry vision, eye strain, and headaches.
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is a condition that occurs when a person does not produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes. Unbranded contact lenses may not allow for optimal oxygen permeation, thereby resulting in dry eyes.
Discomfort
Quality branded lenses might cost a bit more but they provide more comfort since they are designed to fit your eyes as needed. Contacts rest on the cornea, so the measurements need to be 100% accurate for optimal comfort and health. This is something unbranded lenses don’t provide. Ill-fitting lenses can move around and possibly scratch and damage the cornea.
Corneal Ulcers
Wearing unbranded lenses with an incorrect prescription can also lead to corneal ulcers. A corneal ulcer is an infection of the cornea that can cause significant eye pain, blurred vision and a host of other unpleasant symptoms. If left untreated, this condition can also cause loss of sight.
Ptosis
Ptosis is the name for a condition where either one or both of your eyelids start to droop lower than the normal position. Ptosis can occur due to a number of different factors such as age, genetics, trauma, eye conditions etc but it can also be caused due to contact lens wear. While studies have shown that hard contact lenses cause the greatest amount of damage, soft contact lens users also need to be careful, especially while inserting or removing contact lenses. Be as gentle as you can, avoid tugging on your eyelids and avoid wearing ill-fitting, unbranded contact lenses.
Eye Infections
As we already know, unbranded contact lenses are less likely to be a proper fit for your eyes. This can lead to a host of different conditions, including corneal abrasions that can result in eye infections if not treated appropriately.
Branded Contact Lenses
Doctors usually only prescribe branded contact lenses and you will find evidence of this on your prescription where your eye doctor will have mentioned a particular brand. A number of factors including the material of the lenses and the shape of your eye is taken into account when your eye doctor or optometrist fits you for contact lenses. Branded contact lenses also undergo rigorous testing to ensure their effectiveness and safety and this makes them a reliable option for your vision needs. Here are some of the benefits of branded contact lenses:
Sharper Vision
Branded contacts are available in different materials and lens types with each one engineered to correct specific eye care needs. After an eye exam, your optometrist will be able to correctly determine the right brand of contact lenses for you. This ensures that you will be able to enjoy sharper vision.
Stability
Lenses that fit you properly are also likely to stay in place. Lenses that stay in place will also provide clearer vision and won’t cause corneal damage.
Long - Lasting Hydration
High quality lenses will also offer you long-lasting hydration and lubrication that mimics the action of natural tears. This will make your lenses much more comfortable to wear.
Breathability
Branded contact lenses also provide better oxygen permeability, a factor that is crucial for optimal eye health and comfort. Contact lenses with high oxygen permeability will prevent discomfort and enable you to enjoy clear vision.
UV Protection
Branded contact lenses such as Acuvue Moist, offer UV protection, a feature that is helpful for protecting your eyes from the harmful effects of UV rays. UV rays can cause retinal damage and vision loss. While it is helpful to have UV protection in your contact lenses, we always recommend pairing it with high quality sunglasses to maximize sun protection.
Are expensive contact lenses better than cheaper ones?
Now that we have established why branded contact lenses manufactured by reputable companies and prescribed by doctors are a better choice for your eye health, let's move onto the differences between expensive and cheap contact lenses.
The first thing to note is that the price of contact lenses is largely dependent on a variety of factors. These factors can range from the number of lenses in a box, the replacement schedule of the lenses, the specific brand of contact lenses, whether the contact lenses are meant for specific eye conditions like presbyopia or astigmatism and so on. A single brand may also have multiple product lines each with its own specific set of features and price points. All of these things can factor into the cost of the contact lenses.
We always recommend that you stick to the contact lenses prescribed by your eye care professional as the specifications and measurements such as base curve and diameter can vary from brand to brand. If you want to switch to a different brand of contact lenses, talk to your optometrist who will then ensure that you are fitted for the new brand of contact lenses.
Most Popular Contact Lens Brands in Dubai
Acuvue
Acuvue is one of the most popular contact lens brands in the market and one of the top-selling ones as well. The brand is very well known for their comfortable contact lenses that are especially recommended for sensitive, dry eyes. Acuvue produces a wide variety of contact lenses, including daily lenses such as 1-Day Acuvue Moist and Acuvue Oasys for astigmatism, and many others.
Dailies
Another brand that is popular and worth considering is Dailies from Alcon. As the name suggests, the brand produces a wide range of disposable contact lenses, including contact lenses for astigmatism. Dailies AquaComfort Plus is one of their most popular products, known for its water retention capabilities.
Air Optix
Air Optix offers a wide range of contact lenses, however, their most famous contact lenses would be the Air Optix Aqua Multifocal lenses and the Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses. Air Optix lenses are known for their moisture content and comfort and is a product that is well-liked by users.
In Conclusion
It is far better to have good quality branded lenses that have been prescribed to suit you rather than trying to save a few bucks and wearing unbranded lenses. Investing in quality lenses will save you a lot of pain and from the burden of medical bills.
At Adasat, we stock a large variety of contact lenses from popular brands that are trusted by doctors and patients alike. We offer a wide range of medical lenses, colored lenses, daily disposable lenses and monthly lenses available for purchase in the UAE, KSA, GCC, UK and USA.