Several years ago I started wearing 1-day Acuvue by Johnson & Johnson. A couple of months ago I decided I wanted to wear contact lenses more often and the Acuvue 1-day disposable weren’t comfortable enough for me. I only wear one contact lens at this point in my life. It is beyond the scope of this review to explain the reasons biologically but if you are at a point in your life that you cannot read close up, many people wear one lens. It may sound odd, but it works. With two contact lenses in I can see distance but I can’t read. The mission for my current eye doctor was to find me a lens that would allow me to see distance, read and be comfortable wearing. The lens I am reviewing is Biomedics 55 by Ocular Science. This is my 4th lens that my eye Doctor has given me.

The first one I reviewed was Acuvue Advance made by Johnson & Johnson. I liked the comfort of this one a lot but my vision with it wasn’t good. The second one was the Acuvue Toric Contact Lens. That one was horrible and scratched my eye. The third was similar to the second so I never reviewed it. I am now on my fourth lens. When Dr. G. put it in my eye he was confident that this would be “the one.”

About the lenses:

Let me start by explaining that Biomedics are made under various manufacturers. I asked Dr. G. what contact he gave me and he said Ocular Science Biomedics 55. I had no idea what the 55 meant until I started reviewing the lens. It means the water content. They are 55% water and made of 45% Polymer (ocufilcon D). Polymer is "A substance made of many repeating chemical units or molecules. The term polymer is often used in place of plastic, rubber or elastomer." www.yung-li.com.tw/EN/info/Glossary_list.htm

The company claims that this advanced lens is designed to provide excellent vision, comfort and handling. Since they are changed every week or two (disposable) it means cleaner lenses and more convenience. The company comments that this lens is a good choice for first time contact lens wearers.

I am certainly not a first time contact lens wearer having worn them for the past 37 years. I do have special needs however. I have Sjogren’s Syndrome. One symptom of this is dry eyes however I am one of 20% who do not present with dry eyes so my Doctor was fine with my wanting to wear contacts more often. I also have astigmatism. This is when the front surface of the eye has an irregular shape like an egg, versus a non-astigmatic eye, which is shaped like an orange. My vision is blurry when looking at a distance and close up but not so blurry close up that I really need glasses which is unusual for my age. In any case even though I really don’t need glasses for close up because of my age, my eyes are treated as if I do. When the Acuvue Advance lenses didn’t allow me to see clearly close up my Doctor gave me the Advance Toric. The Biomedics 55 are Toric as well meaning they are shaped for astigmatism so should provide sharper vision than regular contact lenses. One advantage of the Acuvue Toric Contact Lenses over the Biomedics is the lack of UV blocking that the Acuvue have. The Biomedics do not have this so make sure you wear sunglasses.

What they are like, my experiences and thoughts:

Like the others I have tried the Biomedics 55 are tinted blue to make them easier to handle and will not change the color of your eye. The tint is designed to facilitate locating the contact lenses in solution or if I drop them. If you wear soft contact lenses, especially 1-day disposable ones you will find these thicker. For me that is a plus. I always found the daily disposable to be so soft and thin that they were hard to get in. I would have them turning inside out and bending as I put them in my eye. The Biomedics have the thickness of the Advance, which means they are thicker than the Acuvue Toric lens. I like the thicker lens. They are a cinch to get in and out.

I doubt I will every find a lens as comfortable as the Acuvue Advance. However, the Biomedics are much better than the Acuvue Toric and I do believe this will be it! Unlike the Advance, I don’t love to wear the lens but I don't mind. I know it is in my eye but don't feel an urgency to take it out. It is not uncomfortable, do not scratch my eye and a really important fact is that my eye doesn't itch with the Biomedic 55 lens. In the past with other lenses and definitely with the Acuvue Toric I felt myself rubbing my eye, which is something you should not do. I don’t rub my eye when I take out my Biomedic.

The Biomedics are not as moist as the Acuvue Advance. I use Gen Teal once or twice a day or as needed if my eye feels dry. That’s a small price for me to pay to wear this lens.

Most importantly is my vision. The Biomedics are the best of the four. I can see distance well. I cannot see as perfectly as I can when wearing my glasses but I can see across the gym room or from the back of a classroom to the board. My vision isn't blurry. I just don't think it is quite as sharp or I can see quite as far as with my glasses. I have no trouble driving with them.

My close-up vision is perfect so really I do think I have found the best of both worlds and the best lens for me. The Acuvue Toric lenses are more expensive than the Advance. You will pay about $60 for 12 lenses. Since many people have different right and left eye prescriptions the way they are sold is by the lens not the pair. That price is almost 3 times that of the Advance lenses! The Biomedics will run me about $34.00 for a box of 6.

Jo’s Final Thoughts:

If I were wearing two lenses and my vision was the same with all three I would go with the Acuvue Advance. They are the most comfortable contact lens I’ve worn. Given I can’t see well with them, I am going with the Biomedic 55 lens. They offer me what I need. Though they are not perfect- my vision isn’t perfect for distance and they aren’t quite as comfortable as the Advance, they are comfortable enough. I do recommend them.

Please feel free to leave me a question or comment.


Title inspired by Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now"


Recommended: Yes