Contacts. Accuve 2 Pearl Gray vs Air Optix Sterling gray

Cycling back to a ~fashion post. If you're an avid user of color contacts you've heard about both these brands. Accuve 2 is one of the most affordable, sturdy, and comfortable brands for colored contacts. It's in the process of being discontinued because of it's old tech, and it's inferior air permeability compared with other brands on the market.  Air optix is one of the newest brands of colored contacts to hit the market, and ofc is using the best tech. I believe the air permeability is about ~60% for the non colored Accuve 2, and ~80% for non colored air optix. I was doing research for different lens healing properties in Medical School, so getting the air permeability numbers from all the lens companies was necessary for the project. These numbers are pretty accurate.

(Accuve 2 Pearl Gray)

The Accuve 2 is my correct base curve of 8.4. It does start to hurt my eyes when I wear them over 16+ hours, which is pretty much every day. Unlike Freshlooks, these don't break or tear as easily, and can hold their shape for over a month instead of becoming floppy after 2 weeks. I've been a staunch supporter of these lenses, because even though U.S brand contacts look pretty fake, these were the most tolerably fake ones, and excelled in comfort, durability, and price. 

(Air Optic Sterling Gray)

So these look bigger because Air Optic only offers 1 base curve, 8.8, which is larger than my actual base curve. I'm surprised the optometrist gave me these actually. So the eye hole is bigger (bigger contacts) and there is a slight limbal ring along the edges. These are a bit brighter than the Accuve 2, just a bit. Is there a really huge difference in how they look to justify the 4x increase in cost for these? IMHO, no. But because I do wear them 16+ hours, I want contacts with greater air permeability than what Accuve has. I'll update if I ever feel discomfort with the Air Optix.

So without considering price I'd keep buying Air Optix, because they are what I NEED. If price is a factor AND you don't wear these for more than 8-10 hours, definitely buy the Accuve 2! They look pretty similar, and they have a great track record as a product. 

Don't expect either lenses to look natural. I haven't seen any natural looking contacts in the main stream U.S market. Look to solotica's for natural lenses, and easily the best natural looking contacts are by FX eyes, but know they cost ~$500 for a one year pair! The most natural mainstream lenses are the Air Optix.

If you normally have blue, grey, green eyes, try enhancers! I've always thought they looked amazing on my friends, but still seem like a color that an individual could naturally have. My friends have naturally light eyes, so the enhancers made their eyes really pop and look bright. Their eyes looked similar to Alexandra Daddarrio. So it's pretty beautiful.

That's all :)