For many of us who aren’t blessed with perfect eyesight, you might know the struggle of having to put on contact lenses on a daily basis. Some opt for dailies while others prefer to go for monthly prescriptions. And while the two have their pros and cons, we can all agree that at times, we do feel a certain level of discomfort when we’re putting them on in the morning or even when we’re wearing it for an extended period of time.
What’s more, with our eyes being constantly subjected to various stress factors including longer screen times, environmental allergens and air-conditioning, our eyes are under greater pressure than before. But what many are unaware of is that by doing so, you’re leaving your eyes to be more vulnerable to oxidative stress which might gradually deteriorate your overall eye health.
But that’s where Two of a Kind (TWOOAK) comes in. While the homegrown brand began in April 2018 with a single flagship product, Basis, a clear daily disposable contact lens, the brand is back to launch its newest innovation – its very own vitamin contact lenses called Halo. Yes, you read that right.
Now, it may sound odd to have vitamins in your saline solution, but these lenses have been said to be much more comfortable than your usual prescriptions.
At the launch of the Halo lenses, we caught up with the founders of TWOOAK, Rachel, Darryn and Casey, who explained more about the science behind these lenses and how they can benefit your eye’s health.
After five years of research, the team at TWOOAK took it upon themselves to find the right formula to create the perfect pair of lenses for those who tend to experience discomfort when wearing their lenses.
In this case, Halo comes in the form of clear daily disposable contact lenses enhanced with Hyaluronic Acid and infused with Vitamins E, B6 and B12. The saline solution that houses Halo lenses provides increased hydration, comfort and longer wear time – so you won’t have to worry about carrying your eye drops everywhere you go.
Rachel, VP of Marketing and Co-Founder of TWOOAK says, “What’s so special about Halo is basically the vitamin saline solution – it’s a lot more comfortable. So for example, if I were to open up any normal lens without the vitamin saline solution, I find more often than not, that the saline solution stings my eyes. I normally have to wash it out with another saline solution.” She adds, “But with Halo, I love how I can just put it on without washing it because it has all these properties that are good for you.”
Of course, if you’re someone who frequently wears contact lenses and has dry eyes like me, sometimes you might experience a stinging sensation when you put on a new pair of lenses. To put it to the test, upon trying these new Halo lenses, I noticed that they really lived up to my expectations and I felt really comfortable putting them on.
Those who do suffer from astigmatism do have to be a little more cautious when it comes to choosing the right lenses. And as someone who does have slight astigmatism for both eyes, I was a little more wary about how it would be to wear a pair of lenses without them.
So during the store visit, I got my eyes checked and I was recommended a pair that was lower than my actual degree.
According to Rachel, she mentioned, “Our lenses are not astigmatism lenses but if your astigmatism is low, we can try to correct the degree to accommodate. But you have to see an optometrist to adjust the degree for you.”
Some of us prefer monthly contact lenses for lots of reasons. First and foremost, they are more affordable – you can choose from bi-monthly lenses or even get lenses like the ones from Moody that can last up to six months. Secondly, they also have a smaller environmental impact because you don’t have to keep throwing the blisters after each use.
However, according to Rachel, she says, “If you wear (your monthly contact lenses) for one month, you’re basically wearing the same lens every day, and it accumulates dirt and protein buildup. So over time, when you wear it daily, towards the end of the month, it becomes drier and more uncomfortable, so that’s when you know it’s time to change. So you can wear it, but it will not be comfortable and it’s very easy to get an infection because you have all this buildup over a month.”
Overall, if you do not use contact lenses every day, dailies may be more suitable for you. This way you won’t need to think about cleaning lenses that you do not use every day. One of the few advantages of monthly contact lenses is that it’s ideal for people who prefer to switch between contacts and glasses throughout the day. You can easily store the lenses in the case when not in use and pop them back in multiple times a day if necessary.
Ultimately, practising good habits for your eye health should be of utmost importance. Things like wearing your lenses for more than a month, sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes and going swimming or showering with your lenses, should all be avoided.
TWOOAK’s Halo lenses start from $40/box for ala carte. You can also opt for their subscription plan which starts from $80 for a month’s supply, $150 for two months supply, and $210 for a three months supply. Visit their website here for more information.