A Complete Guide to the Best Soft Contacts By Lens Types

Soft contact lenses are valued for their comfort, flexibility, and ease of use. They’re made from hydrogel or silicon hydrogel, which allows oxygen to reach the eyes while providing clear, consistent vision. In this guide, we’ll explain what soft contact lenses are, how they compare to other lens types, and highlight the best soft contact brands available today in each major category.

What Are Soft Contact Lenses?

Soft contact lenses are made from flexible contact lens material called hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, which retains moisture and stays soft on the eye. These materials allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea, keeping the eyes healthier and more comfortable than hydrogel lenses of the past. Thanks to their flexibility, most people — including new contact lens wearers — find them easy to adapt to, even if they’ve never worn contacts before.

Soft lenses are available in many forms to suit different vision needs. They can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia, and have various replacement schedules, from convenient daily disposables to longer-lasting monthly options. Their comfort and versatility are the main reasons soft contacts remain a leading choice for contact lens wearers.

Hard Contact Lenses and Other Alternatives

Soft contact lenses dominate the market because of their comfort, convenience, and versatility. They are available in nearly every prescription type and replacement schedule, making them the go-to choice for most people. However, hard lenses and other specialty designs play an important role in eye care, especially for those with unique vision needs or medical conditions.

When Hard Lenses Make Sense

While less common today, rigid gas-permeable lenses, or RGP lenses, have clear advantages in specific situations. They are not as immediately comfortable as soft lenses, but for some wearers, they deliver benefits that soft lenses cannot match.

• Sharper vision for strong or irregular prescriptions: RGPs provide crisper vision for high astigmatism, very strong prescriptions, or irregular corneas.
• Treatment of eye conditions: Hard and specialty designs may be the only effective option for keratoconus, post-surgical corneal irregularities, or severe dry eye. Early versions of hard lenses, called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lenses, had no oxygen permeability, but today’s RGPs have improved significantly.
• Durability and cost-effectiveness: RGPs last longer than soft contacts and can be less expensive over time, despite their higher initial adjustment period.
• Oxygen advantage: Because they cover a smaller surface area, RGPs allow more oxygen to reach the cornea, although modern silicone hydrogel lenses have narrowed this gap with high oxygen permeability.

Other Alternatives to Soft Lenses

Beyond traditional hard lenses, other specialty designs exist to address unique eye health needs. These are typically prescribed by an eye care professional when soft or standard RGP lenses are not suitable.

Hybrid Lenses

Hybrid lenses combine an RGP center with a soft outer edge. The rigid core provides sharp vision, while the soft edges increase comfort, making hybrids a good choice for people with corneal irregularities who cannot tolerate a fully rigid lens.

Scleral Lenses

Much larger than standard contacts, scleral lenses rest on the sclera (the white part of the eye) and create a dome over the cornea. They create a fluid reservoir between the lens and the cornea, offering relief for severe dry eye and correcting vision in conditions such as keratoconus.

The Best Soft Contacts for Your Lens Type

With so many soft contact lenses available, choosing the right one often comes down to your lifestyle, prescription needs, and preferred replacement schedule. Below, we highlight the best soft contact lenses in each major category — daily, weekly, monthly, toric, and multifocal — so you can find the lenses that best fit your eyes and routine.

Best Daily Soft Contact Lenses

Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe lenses work with your natural tear film to maintain hydration, reduce dryness, and provide lasting comfort throughout the day. They are especially well-suited for people who spend long hours on digital devices or have sensitive eyes. The Oasys 1-Day line also includes toric lenses for astigmatism, making it the best option for wearers who need clear, stable vision correction along with all-day comfort.

For those seeking the most advanced technology, Acuvue Oasys MAX 1-Day is the premium alternative. It includes TearStable™ technology for enhanced tear film stability and OptiBlue™ light filtering, which helps reduce exposure to blue-violet light from screens and artificial lighting. While Acuvue MAX is technically the more advanced lens, its higher cost makes HydraLuxe the better choice for most users, delivering outstanding performance without the premium price tag.

Best Weekly Soft Contact Lenses

When it comes to weekly soft contact lenses, Acuvue Oasys with HydraClear® Plus stands out as the clear leader. Made from breathable silicone hydrogel, Oasys lenses provide exceptional oxygen flow to the eyes, reducing irritation and dryness. Their HydraClear® Plus technology helps lock in moisture, making them especially comfortable for people who spend long hours on digital devices or in dry environments. With added Class 1 UV protection, Acuvue Oasys also shields your eyes from harmful rays during outdoor activities.

In addition to being the best choice for daily and bi-weekly wearers, Oasys also offers a multifocal design that is highly recommended for people with presbyopia. The multifocal version provides the same hydration, breathability, and comfort that define the Oasys brand, while providing clear vision at near, intermediate, and far distances.

Acuvue 2 remains a more affordable, straightforward option, but it uses older hydrogel materials and doesn’t offer the same level of comfort or breathability. For most wearers, Oasys delivers a much better experience, particularly on days of extended wear or prolonged use.

Best Monthly Soft Contact Lens

For monthly replacement lenses, Alcon TOTAL30 is considered the top choice. Built with advanced water gradient technology, these lenses provide outstanding comfort and hydration all month long. They also allow high levels of oxygen to pass through to the eye, helping keep your eyes healthy even during long wear days. TOTAL30 is an excellent option for anyone who wants a dependable monthly lens with premium comfort and clarity.

A close competitor is Acuvue Vita, which is known for delivering consistent comfort throughout the full month of wear, retaining moisture better than many other monthly contact lenses, making it a great choice for people who struggle with dryness.

How to Choose the Right Soft Contact Lenses for Your Needs

Choosing the right pair of soft contact lenses depends on more than just brand recognition. The best lenses for you should match your prescription, comfort needs, and daily routine. Here are the most important factors to consider:

• Comfort and oxygen flow: Lenses made with silicone hydrogel allow more oxygen to reach the eye, which can reduce redness and irritation during long wear times.
• Moisture retention: If you struggle with dry eyes, look for lenses designed to hold water or use moisture-locking technologies that keep your eyes hydrated throughout the day.
• Replacement schedule: Daily disposable lenses are the most convenient and hygienic option since you use a fresh pair each day. Bi-weekly and monthly lenses can be more affordable but require careful cleaning and storage.
• Vision correction options: Beyond standard lenses, you can find toric lenses for astigmatism, multifocal lenses for presbyopia, and specialty versions for unique vision needs.
• UV protection: Some lenses offer built-in UVA and UVB protection, which helps shield your eyes from harmful rays during outdoor activities.
• Handling tint: Many soft contacts include a light tint that makes them easier to see when inserting, removing, or cleaning the lens without affecting vision.
• Brand reputation and availability: Well-known brands often deliver more consistent quality and are widely available, making reordering simple and reliable.

Find the Best Soft Contact Lenses With Contacts For Less

Choosing the right soft contact lens starts with understanding your lifestyle, eye health, and vision needs, whether that means the convenience of daily disposables, the affordability of monthly lenses, or specialized toric and multifocal designs. Once you’ve found the type that fits you best, it’s just as important to buy from a trusted source.

At Contacts For Less, you’ll find the largest inventory of top soft contact lens brands in Canada at prices that are always competitive. We make ordering simple and regularly run promotions to help you save even more. If you’re ready to find the best soft contacts for your eyes, browse our full selection of new lenses today and enjoy both savings and peace of mind knowing you’re supporting a company that gives back.