Oxygen permeability

Oxygen permeability describes the amount of oxygen that is able to pass through the contact lens to reach the eye. Its value is expressed in Dk/t. The earliest models of soft contact lenses had a level of oxygen permeability of around 6-8 Dk/t. Today’s silicone hydrogel lenses feature oxygen permeability levels of around 150 Dk/t.

A high oxygen permeability ensures that your cornea will receive a lot of oxygen, which it needs to keep your eyes as healthy as possible. Hydrogel lenses generally feature a higher water content and low oxygen permeability, whereas silicone hydrogel lenses have a high oxygen permeability and relatively lower water content. When it comes to choosing between a lot of water or a lot of oxygen, there really isn’t a right answer. It all depends on your needs and your eyes.

Oxygen permeability and types of lenses

Oxygen permeability and types of lenses

Hydrogel lenses use water in the lens to transport oxygen. Therefore, a higher water content means a greater level of oxygen permeability, with a maximum Dk/t of around 40. In silicone-hydrogel lenses, oxygen is not transported by water, but rather through silicone molecule chains. The silicone molecules in these types of lenses can have an oxygen permeability of more than 100 Dk/t.

On our website, we use an industry standard number showing oxygen permeability in relation to thickness of the lens (t) -- shown as (Dk/t). Most manufacturers provide a (Dk/t), which is why we've chosen to use it for all our products. However, your box of lenses may only show the (Dk) value. This just means that your box is showing the base value.

Brand Material Oxygen permeability Type
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA Samfilcon A 163 Dk/t Monthly
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA for Presbyopia Samfilcon A 163 Dk/t Monthly
Miru 1 Month Asmofilcon A 161 Dk/t Monthly
Miru 1 Month for Astigmatism Asmofilcon A 161 Dk/t Monthly
Biofinity Comfilcon A 160 Dk/t Monthly
Biofinity Energys Comfilcon A 160 Dk/t Monthly
Dailies Total 1 Delefilcon A 156 Dk/t Daily
Dailies Total 1 Multifocal Delefilcon A 156 Dk/t Daily
Acuvue Oasys Senofilcon A 147 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia Senofilcon A 147 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Acuvue Vita Senofilcon C 147 Dk/t Monthly
Biofinity Multifocal Comfilcon A 142 Dk/t Monthly
Purevision 2 Balafilcon A 130 Dk/t Monthly
Purevision 2 for Presbyopia Balafilcon A 130 Dk/t Monthly
Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism Senofilcon A 129 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Miru 1 Month Multifocal Asmofilcon A 129 Dk/t Monthly
Biofinity XR Comfilcon A 128 Dk/t Monthly
Avaira Enfilcon A 125 Dk/t Monthly
Acuvue Oasys with Transitions Senofilcon A 121 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Acuvue Oasys Daily Senofilcon A 121 Dk/t Daily
Acuvue Oasys Daily with HydraLuxe for Astigmatism Senofilcon A 121 Dk/t Daily
1 Day Acuvue TruEye Narafilcon A 118 Dk/t Daily
Biofinity Toric Comfilcon A 116 Dk/t Monthly
Biofinity Toric XR Comfilcon A 116 Dk/t Monthly
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA for Astigmatism Samfilcon A 114 Dk/t Monthly
Purevision Balafilcon A 112 Dk/t Monthly
PureVision Toric Balafilcon A 112 Dk/t Monthly
PureVision Multi-Focal Balafilcon A 112 Dk/t Monthly
Avaira Vitality Fanfilcon A 110 Dk/t Monthly
TopVue Premium Innofilcon A 104 Dk/t Bi-weekly
TopVue Air Innofilcon A 104 Dk/t Monthly
TopVue Air for Astigmatism Innofilcon A 104 Dk/t Monthly
TopVue Premium for Astigmatism Innofilcon A 104 Dk/t Monthly
MyDay Daily Disposable Stenfilcon A 100 Dk/t Daily
TopVue Air Multifocal Innofilcon A 100 Dk/t Monthly
Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism Galyfilcon A 100 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Acuvue advance Galyfilcon A 100 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Miru 1 Day UpSide Midafilcon A 91 Dk/t Daily
Purevision 2 for Astigmatism Balafilcon A 91 Dk/t Monthly
Avaira Toric Enfilcon A 91 Dk/t Monthly
Avaira Vitality Toric Fanfilcon A 90 Dk/t Monthly
TopVue One+ Unifilcon B 68 Dk/t Daily
Acuvue Advance Plus Galyfilcon A 62 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Biotrue One day Nesofilcon A 42 Dk/t Daily
Biotrue ONEday for Presbyopia Nesofilcon A 42 Dk/t Daily
Biotrue ONEday for Astigmatism Nesofilcon A 42 Dk/t Daily
Zeiss Contact Day 1 Spheric Bio-Hydrogel 42 Dk/t Daily
Proclear Sphere Omafilcon B 42 Dk/t Monthly
Proclear Multifocal Omafilcon B 42 Dk/t Monthly
Proclear Multifocal XR Omafilcon B 42 Dk/t Monthly
Proclear 1 Day Multifocal Omafilcon A 37 Dk/t Daily
1 Day Acuvue Moist Etafilcon A 33 Dk/t Daily
Acuvue 2 Etafilcon A 33 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Biomedics 1 Day Extra Ocufilcon D 33 Dk/t Daily
Soflens Toric Alphafilcon A 32 Dk/t Monthly
Frequency 58 UV Methafilcon A 31 Dk/t Monthly
Frequency XC Omafilcon A 31 Dk/t Monthly
Proclear Toric XR Omafilcon B 30 Dk/t Monthly
Proclear 1 Day Omafilcon A 28 Dk/t Daily
TopVue Bi-weekly Etafilcon A 28 Dk/t Bi-weekly
Biomedics 55 Evolution Ocufilcon D 27 Dk/t Monthly
TopVue Elite+ Bioxifilcon A 27 Dk/t Daily
TopVue Monthly Plus Methafilcon A 27 Dk/t Monthly
Dailies AquaComfort Plus Nelfilcon A 26 Dk/t Daily
Dailies AquaComfort Plus Multifocal Nelfilcon A 26 Dk/t Daily
Dailies Aquacomfort Plus Toric Nelfilcon A 26 Dk/t Daily
Focus Dailies Progressives Nelfilcon A 26 Dk/t Daily
Focus Dailies All Day Comfort Nelfilcon A 26 Dk/t Daily
Focus Dailies Toric Nelfilcon A 26 Dk/t Daily
TopVue Daily Etafilcon A 26 Dk/t Daily
TopVue Monthly Polymacon 26 Dk/t Monthly
1 Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal Etafilcon A 25,5 Dk/t Daily
Proclear Toric Omafilcon B 25 Dk/t Monthly
Carl Zeiss Contact Day 1 Methafilcon A 24 Dk/t Daily
Frequency 55 Methafilcon A 24 Dk/t Monthly
Optima FW Polymacon 24 Dk/t Quarterly
Soflens 38 Polymacon 24 Dk/t Monthly
Soflens Multi-Focal Polymacon 24 Dk/t Monthly
1 Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism Etafilcon A 23,7 Dk/t Daily
Carl Zeiss Contact Day 30 Compatic Vitafilcon A 22 Dk/t Monthly
Soflens Daily Disposable Toric Hilafilcon B 22 Dk/t Daily
Soflens 59 Hilafilcon B 22 Dk/t Monthly
Carl Zeiss Contact Day 30 Spheric Ocufilcon F 19 Dk/t Monthly
Frequency 55 Aspheric Methafilcon A 19 Dk/t Monthly
Miru 1 Day Hioxifilcon A 19 Dk/t Daily
Soflens Daily Disposable Hilafilcon B 19 Dk/t Daily
Frequency Xcel Toric Methafilcon A 18 Dk/t Monthly
Biomedics 1 Day Extra Toric Ocufilcon D 17 Dk/t Daily