Air Optix HydraGlyde vs Night & Day: The Unexpected Winner for Kiwi Contact Lens Wearers

25th Aug 2025

Dry eyes by afternoon? Need to occasionally sleep in your lenses? These two monthly options tackle different comfort challenges—and choosing the right one depends on your specific needs rather than just brand preference.

Quick Comparison:

lensesonline nz air optix hydraglyde vs night & day comparison chart nz

How These Lenses Deliver Oxygen

Both lenses use silicone-hydrogel technology made of an advanced material that allows much more oxygen to reach your eyes compared to older soft lenses.

Night & Day has the highest oxygen transmission available in soft contact lenses (Dk/t 175). High oxygen levels make it suitable for extended overnight wear when supervised by your optometrist.

HydraGlyde provides excellent oxygen levels too (Dk/t 138). For daily wear, this amount supports healthy corneal function just fine. You'll get the oxygen your eyes need without necessarily sleeping in the lenses.

HydraGlyde adds a moisture matrix—think of it as a hydrating layer built into the lens surface. Advanced moisture technology helps maintain comfort in challenging environments like air-conditioned offices or during New Zealand's drier months

Night & Day contains less water (24% versus 33%). Lower water content makes it less likely to dry out in very arid conditions. However, some wearers find they need rewetting drops more often during extended wear.

Extended Wear: When You Need to Sleep in Your Lenses

Night & Day Aqua is approved for continuous wear up to 30 nights. This suits people with genuine overnight wear needs—shift workers, healthcare professionals on call, or frequent travellers.

Customer review - Wade T. (New Zealand):

“These are fantastic contact lenses if you hate taking them out each night & using cleaning solutions. I’ve been wearing them 24/7 for years & only remove them for one night each month when I change to a new pair. I have had no issues with my eyes when seeing my optometrist over the years.”

However, continuous wear isn't right for everyone. Your optometrist needs to assess your corneal health and tear film quality first, and regular check-ups are essential.

HydraGlyde allows up to 6 nights of extended wear. Occasional extended wear covers situations where you might need to sleep in your lenses—without committing to a full continuous wear routine.

Customer review - Jan I. (Taranaki, New Zealand)

“I have always found a lot of contacts just don't feel comfortable in my eye after a while wearing them, but Air Optics Hydraglyde are just so comfortable I sometimes forget iam actually wearing them and go to bed and forget to take them out. Just fabulous.

Customer review - Grant S. (New Zealand )

“Lenses are comfortable, as good as any monthly lens I have tried.”

Performance in New Zealand Conditions

Our climate affects lens comfort differently:

Dry, windy conditions: Night & Day's lower water content performs well in consistently dry environments. HydraGlyde's moisture technology helps when humidity varies throughout the day.

Air-conditioned spaces: HydraGlyde typically provides better comfort in offices and shopping centres with artificial climate control.

Dusty environments: Both lenses resist particle build-up. HydraGlyde's surface moisture often adds extra comfort during high pollen seasons or when working outdoors.

Prescription Options

HydraGlyde comes in toric (for astigmatism) and multifocal options. Versatile prescription range makes it suitable for people with more complex prescriptions who still want advanced moisture technology.

Night & Day focuses primarily on spherical prescriptions for extended wear capability.

Cost Considerations

Your annual lens costs vary significantly depending on your prescription needs:

Best value overall:

HydraGlyde for Astigmatism (3-pack) - only NZD $463.60/year for two lenses per month.

Good value, everyday use:

HydraGlyde single-vision (6-pack) -NZD $263.80/year.

Most expensive while offering extended-wear convenience:

Night & Day Aqua - NZD $371.80/year

Factor in care solutions and professional monitoring, and your total yearly investment changes:

Night & Day wearers typically average a spend of NZD $840-$875 annually. Extended wear requires more frequent check-ups and carries higher infection risks, which means more optometrist visits.

HydraGlyde users will generally spend around an estimated NZD $672-$707 yearly total. Daily wear schedules need less professional monitoring and carry lower complication risks.

Most New Zealand health insurers, like nib, Southercross or HealthCarePlus, offer optical rebates. HydraGlyde options often maximise your rebate value since they work well within standard optical coverage limits.

Extended wear lenses may push you beyond typical insurance thresholds due to additional monitoring costs.

Note: This cost guide provides general estimates for new contact lens wearers in their first year. Pricing includes an initial eye exam and fitting, plus a typical annual supply of 12 lens pairs (24 individual lenses) for both eyes and contact lens solution.

Your actual costs may vary based on:

Exam frequency and provider pricing (from the second year onward, new-wearer fitting fees no longer apply)

Lens replacement schedule

Solution usage and brand preferences

Current promotions and insurance coverage

These estimates are for reference only, and lens costs are based on LensesOnline's current pricing.

Proper Care and Maintenance

HydraGlyde works best with compatible care solutions like AOSEPT HydraGlyde or OPTI-FREE PureMoist. Compatible solutions help maintain the surface hydration properties

Night & Day works well with most quality multipurpose solutions. If you have oily tears, weekly protein removal may help maintain clarity and comfort.

Always follow proper hygiene practices, replace lens cases regularly, and never extend wear beyond the recommended schedule without an optometrist’s approval.

Making Your Decision

For most people, HydraGlyde provides better day-to-day comfort and good value. Advanced moisture technology makes a real difference in typical New Zealand conditions. Occasional extended wear capability covers most situations where overnight wear might be needed.

Choose Night & Day AQUA if you have genuine continuous wear needs and can commit to the required professional monitoring. Superior oxygen transmission provides confidence for overnight wear—but superior performance only matters if you actually plan to sleep in your lenses regularly.

Your optometrist is your best resource for personalised lens selection. They'll assess your specific eye health, tear film quality, and lifestyle to recommend the most suitable lens and wearing schedule.

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