Biofinity Contacts: Spherical and Multifocal Lenses

Biofinity soft disposable contact lenses help correct vision problems that keep the eye from focusing properly. These problems are known as refractive errors. You may have one if you notice that images look blurred or distorted. They may be accompanied by eye fatigue, eye strain, headaches or double vision.

With refractive errors, the eyeball’s shape (too long or too short) or a flaw in the cornea or lens doesn’t let light focus directly on the retina. The main refractive errors are myopia (nearsightedness or shortsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness or longsightedness), presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) and astigmatism (distorted vision).

The most common eye problems in the U.S. are related to refractive errors, according to the CDC. CooperVision introduced Biofinity contact lenses in 2007 to meet the demand for correcting these vision problems.

CooperVision Biofinity family of contact lenses

Biofinity products address the main concern of contact wearers — comfort. Biofinity contacts have an oxygen transmissibility level that keeps eyes fresh all day. Their water content level keeps eyes moist hour after hour. 

Other features include:

• A one-month wearing schedule

• An advanced silicone hydrogel material 

• Exclusive innovations such as Aquaform Technology

Biofinity and Biofinity Energys contacts for myopia and hyperopia

Biofinity contacts help correct myopia and hyperopia. With myopia, the eyeball axis is too long, so light focuses in front of the retina. This makes objects in the distance blurry and objects up close look clear. 

With hyperopia, it’s the opposite — the eyeball axis is too short, so light focuses behind the retina. This makes objects in the distance clear and objects up close look blurry. 

For myopia or hyperopia, Biofinity offers the following products:

• Biofinity – On the scene in 2007, Biofinity contacts come in versions for myopia and hyperopia. They are available in the most common range of lens powers. Measurements for lens powers are taken by an eye doctor and are shown on your prescription.

• Biofinity XR – Introduced in 2013, these contact lenses are very similar to the regular Biofinity contacts. “XR” means “extended range.” So what makes Biofinity XR different is that they are for people with extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness beyond the range of regular contacts. 

• Biofinity Energys – Unveiled in 2016, these contact lenses are for people who look at digital devices, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer screen. Biofinity Energys contacts are designed to make it easier to switch focus between your device and an off-screen task.

Biofinity multifocal contacts for presbyopia

Biofinity multifocal contacts help correct presbyopia as well as other refractive errors. This age-related problem shows up later in life as your eyes get older and become less flexible. Presbyopia makes it harder to see things up close, such as small print or text on a smartphone.

Biofinity Multifocal contacts, launched in 2011, are somewhat like progressive eyeglass lenses. They have a gradual change in lens power so you can see clearly up close, in the distance and everywhere in between.

Biofinity toric contacts for astigmatism

Astigmatism needs a more complex eye correction. Astigmatism refers to flaws in the cornea or the lens in your eyeball. These flaws make objects you view unclear or distorted both close up and far away. Soft contact lenses that are made to correct astigmatism are called toric lenses.

Biofinity has three options for astigmatism:

• Biofinity Toric – Introduced in 2009, Biofinity Toric has different lens powers in different parts of the lens. Regular contacts have one power throughout the whole lens. 

• Biofinity XR Toric – Also introduced in 2009, these lenses are for people who need higher values of correction.

• Biofinity Toric Multifocal – Rolled out in 2020, these contacts correct presbyopia as well as astigmatism.

More about CooperVision Biofinity contacts

No matter which type you need, all Biofinity contact lenses have some of the same features.

Monthly wearing schedule

You can wear these contacts every day for 30 days if you remove and clean them each night. Or, you can wear them for up to seven days in a row between removals. When the month is up, throw them away. 

Even though the FDA has approved this wearing schedule for Biofinity, check with your eye doctor. They will tell you if you can wear your contacts overnight and how many days of continuous wear your eyes can handle.

Silicone hydrogel

These contacts are made from comfilcon A, a type of silicone hydrogel material. Comfilcon A is considered a third-generation silicone hydrogel and has high water content and oxygen transmissibility.

Aquaform Technology

Developed by CooperVision, this technology provides:

• Superior breathability from lots of oxygen passing through the contact lens to the cornea. When plenty of oxygen is being transmitted to the eyes, you have less chance of tiny red lines appearing in the sclera (white part of the eye). It’s also less likely you will have serious problems like hypoxia, a condition where not enough oxygen gets to the cornea.

• High moisture content of 48% water that keeps your eyes hydrated and resistant to discomfort like dryness. The lenses lock in water which helps keep your eyes moist and decreases the need for wetting drops. 

• Soft, yet flexible, material that allows the contact lens to sit on your highly sensitive cornea and conform to its shape. 

• Smooth, rounded edges that enhance comfort by providing a smooth overlap where the lens meets the eyelid instead of rubbing against it.

Getting Biofinity contacts from your eye doctor

CooperVision Biofinity is a popular brand and is widely available around the world. To get Biofinity contacts — or any contacts — you must visit an eye doctor for a prescription. The doctor will conduct a contact lens eye exam and a fitting. A fitting is needed since every pair of eyes is unique. The FDA considers contact lenses medical devices, so a prescription is required before you buy.

If you decide to wear one-month contacts, it’s important to follow the instructions given by your eye doctor. They will tell you if continuous (up to 30 days of daily wear) or extended wear (up to 7 days in a row) is right for you. Overwearing can lead to serious eye problems such as infections or corneal damage, swelling and ulcers.

Remember to see an eye doctor immediately if you have any dramatic changes in your vision.

Page published on Thursday, May 27, 2021