Both DAILIES AquaComfort Plus and PRECISION1 come from the same manufacturer Alcon, both are daily disposable lenses. That is where the similarities start to thin out. These two lenses sit in different tiers, use different materials, and approach comfort in noticeably different ways. If you are deciding between them, understanding those differences helps you have a more informed conversation with your optometrist.
Hydrogel vs Silicone Hydrogel
The most significant difference between these two lenses starts with the material.
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus is made from Nelfilcon A, a non-ionic hydrogel material with a water content of 69%. Popular hydrogel lenses have been around longer and tend to feel soft and smooth right from insertion. The high water content contributes to initial comfort, though it also means less oxygen passes through the lens compared to silicone hydrogel options.
PRECISION1 uses Verofilcon A, a silicone hydrogel material with 51% water content at the core. Silicone hydrogel allows significantly more oxygen to reach the cornea. PRECISION1 has a Dk/t of 100, compared to just 26 Dk/t for DAILIES AquaComfort Plus. For wearers who put in long days or have been advised by their eye doctor to prioritise corneal oxygen, that gap is worth noting.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | DAILIES AquaComfort Plus | PRECISION1 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Alcon | Alcon |
| Lens Material | Nelfilcon A (hydrogel) | Verofilcon A (silicone hydrogel) |
| Water Content | 69% | 51% core / >80% surface |
| Oxygen (Dk/t) | 26 | 100 |
| UV Protection | No | Yes — Class 1 (>99% UVB, >90% UVA) |
| Comfort Technology | Blink-Activated Moisture (Triple Action) | SMARTSURFACE Technology |
| Replacement Schedule | Daily | Daily |
| Available for Astigmatism | Yes | Yes |
| Available as Multifocal | Yes | No |
| Handling Tint | Yes | Yes |
| Inside-Out Indicator | No | No |
How Each Lens Manages Moisture
Both lenses take a different route to keeping eyes comfortable throughout the day.
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus uses a Triple Action Moisture system that combines three wetting agents, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for initial comfort, polyethylene glycol (PEG) for moisture retention, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to refresh and stabilise the tear film with each blink. This blink-activated approach means moisture is continuously delivered during wear, which many wearers find helpful during the first half of the day.
PRECISION1 uses SMARTSURFACE Technology, a permanent layer of moisture embedded into the lens surface with a water content greater than 80%. Unlike blink-activated systems that release moisture incrementally, SMARTSURFACE creates a consistently hydrated surface from the moment the lens goes in. In a study conducted with heavy digital device users at the University of Waterloo, PRECISION1 wearers reported consistently high comfort scores over three months of daily wear.
Oxygen and Long-Term Eye Health
The cornea relies on atmospheric oxygen because it has no blood vessels of its own. How much oxygen passes through a lens is one of the more clinically relevant specs when comparing daily disposables.
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus has a Dk/t of 26. That falls below the threshold many eye care practitioners consider adequate for extended daily wear. For wearers who put their lenses in early and remove them late, this may be a factor worth discussing with your optometrist.
PRECISION1 at 100 Dk/t sits well above that threshold. The silicone hydrogel core of PRECISION1 is designed to allow high oxygen permeability while the SMARTSURFACE layer maintains a moist and lubricious outer surface. This combination is what Alcon positions as the lens’s main advantage over earlier hydrogel-based dailies.
UV Protection
Alcon added Class 1 UVA and UVB protection to PRECISION1, a feature not available in DAILIES AquaComfort Plus or DAILIES TOTAL1.
PRECISION1 blocks more than 99% of UVB rays and more than 90% of UVA rays. This does not replace sunglasses, as contact lenses do not cover the entire eye area. That said, for wearers who spend time outdoors, having UV blocking built into the lens adds a degree of protection that DAILIES AquaComfort Plus simply does not provide.
Lens Options Available
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus has a broader product range. It comes in sphere, toric for astigmatism, and multifocal for presbyopia. The multifocal version uses Alcon’s Precision Profile Design for vision correction across near, intermediate, and far distances.
PRECISION1 currently comes in sphere and toric versions. A multifocal option is not yet available, which makes DAILIES AquaComfort Plus the only choice between these two for presbyopia correction.
Who Each Lens Tends to Suit
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus may suit you if you:
- Need a multifocal daily lens
- Find ultra-soft hydrogel materials more comfortable than silicone hydrogel
- Are newer to contact lenses and prefer a well-established, widely prescribed option
PRECISION1 may suit you if you:
- Want higher oxygen transmissibility in a daily lens
- Spend time outdoors and prefer UV protection built in
- Are a heavy screen user looking for stable all-day comfort
A Note on Pricing
DAILIES AquaComfort Plus is generally the more affordable of the two. As a hydrogel lens in a lower performance tier, it tends to cost less per box than PRECISION1. PRECISION1 sits in the mid-range for silicone hydrogel dailies, below DAILIES TOTAL1 in price, but above the AquaComfort Plus line. Both are available in 30-pack and 90-pack quantities, and Alcon periodically runs rebate programmes on both products.
Talk to Your Optometrist
These two lenses serve different wearers, and the right choice depends on your prescription, how long you wear your lenses each day, and how your eyes respond to different materials. Trial lenses for both are widely available through eye care clinics across Canada. Testing each one before committing to a yearly supply is always the most practical approach.
References
Alcon. DAILIES AquaComfort Plus Product Information — Triple Action Moisture Technology. MyAlcon.com. 2024.
Alcon. PRECISION1 Daily Disposable Contact Lenses — SMARTSURFACE Technology White Paper. AlconScience.com. 2019.
Sulley A, Young G, Hunt C, et al. Retention rates in new contact lens wearers. Eye Contact Lens. 2018;44(S273-S282).
Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE), University of Waterloo. Evaluating the Performance of PRECISION1 Daily Disposable Contact Lens in Heavy Digital Device Users. U.S. National Library of Medicine. December 2020.
FDA Medical Devices Database. PRECISION1 (Verofilcon A) Premarket Approval. FDA.gov. December 2018.
Optix-now. PRECISION1 Contact Lenses — Parameters and Overview. Optix-now.com. 2024.
