Transition contact lenses are an innovation in lens technology that took a long time to arrive. While eyeglasses have had transition tech for a while, contact lens wearers were forced to bring their shades in case it got too bright out.
Like the glasses, transition contacts are designed to adapt to changing light levels. If the sun’s glare gets in the way, the tint adjusts to give your eyes a break. The result? You get visual clarity without fussing over sunglasses or running for cover!
Let’s compare them to traditional contact lenses and see whether or not they’re worth trying.
What Are Transition Contact Lenses?
Transition contact lenses are also known as photochromic contact lenses. Photochromic refers to the ability to change tint or color when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays.
This is possible by embedding specialized molecules (usually silver halide crystals) within the lenses. These molecules change structure when exposed to bright light, which darkens the tint of the lenses. The molecules go back to their original state in the absence of intense light.
Johnson & Johnson developed this technology and said it took over a decade! It’s a fairly new invention, only approved by the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in 2018. By March 2019, ACUVUE OASYS Contact Lenses with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology became available to the public.
Pros and Cons of Transition Contact Lenses
Of course, there are two sides to everything: pros and cons.
Pros
- Seamless Light Adaptation: Johnson & Johnson’s Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology darkens lenses when exposed to UV rays within a minute. They return to their normal state within about 90 seconds when no longer exposed. This is especially useful when you’re always outdoors for work or leisure.
- Enhanced Comfort: Intense light can cause eyestrain. Transition lens technology saves you from this discomfort, which is especially beneficial for people who are extra sensitive to bright light.
- Superior UV Protection: With transition lens technology, you can look forward to protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Yep, these days, sunglasses aren’t the only way to shield your eyes from the sun!
- Convenience: Transition lens technology offers an all-in-one experience. You get vision correction plus light protection in one piece of eyewear. On bright days, you won’t need to bring sunglasses!
- Better Visual Clarity: With lenses that adjust to bright light, you reduce glare and visual distortions. You see better!
Cons
- Slower Transition Times: Transition contact lenses change tint more slowly than their transition eyeglass counterparts. This is because of the lens material and the smaller surface area of the contacts.
- Incomplete Darkening: At times, you may experience incomplete darkening. This is often noticeable inside a moving vehicle where there’s variable light exposure or when you’re exposed to artificial light sources.
- Cost: Transition contacts use specialized materials, which are generally more expensive than traditional contact lenses.
- Limited Availability: This is a major negative when it comes to transition contacts: only Johnson & Johnson’s ACUVUE brand has marketed transition lenses. Unfortunately, as of June 2024, the company has discontinued producing their transition lens line. Luckily, the product can still be purchased online at EZcontacts!
Transition Contact Lenses: Available Options
In a perfect world, the contact lens market would have quickly adopted Johnson & Johnson’s winning innovation in transition lens technology. By now, there would be more options, and contact lens wearers would be spoiled for choice.
But no, this isn’t what happened. Instead, Johnson & Johnson remained the only transition contact lens option on the market. Sadly, they eventually announced the discontinuation of their product. No one really knows why; it could have been material costs, demand, or advancements in other areas. The company ceased production in June 2024.
ACUVUE OASYS Contact Lenses with Transitions™ Light Intelligent Technology are still available at EZContacts, but they’re going fast!
Trying Transition Contact Lenses
Who knows what the industry will bring? There are still good reasons to try transition contact lenses:
- You’re always outside and don’t want to be bothered to bring sunglasses or alternative eyewear.
- You’re a water person, so you cannot wear sunglasses with your scuba mask or swim goggles.
- You lead an active lifestyle, always running around, indoors, outdoors, or anywhere there’s no time to switch eyewear.
There is a niche market for transition contact lenses; otherwise, a massive company like Johnson & Johnson wouldn’t have bothered to develop the technology. Maybe what’s missing is a big enough push to get more products like ACUVUE OASYS Contact Lenses with Transitions.
This article may encourage you to try out transition contact lenses. You can experience the positives of this amazing contact lens innovation yourself. It is a worthwhile experience. The transition is subtle, just like with transition eyeglasses. Your visual clarity is unhampered, sun or no sun.
Let’s create the demand and tell the big contact lens brands that you want transition technology with your contact lenses!
Buy ACUVUE OASYS Contact Lenses with Transitions
