As an office worker staring at screens over 10 hours a day, contact lenses are my vision savior. I’ve tried nearly a dozen popular contact lens brands over the past decade before landing on my current brand. So when upstart Hubble offered what seemed like an unbeatable $39/month contact lens subscription, I took the plunge to see if such an affordable new player could match the visual performance I expect.
Here’s my honest, hands-on assessment after 4 months testing out Hubble lenses as my daily vision companion.
At a Glance: Hubble’s Budget Contact Offering
Before digging in, let’s recap what Hubble sells. They offer a single daily disposable lens for either regular vision correction or those with astigmatism.
The lenses use methafilcon A, a standard hydrogel material providing baseline comfort and breathability. A modest 14.2mm diameter aims to keep manufacturing costs low. And a competitive -9.00 to +4.00 prescription range covers most vision needs.
So what does $39/month delivered to your door buy you? Well, it may fit the bill perfectly if you:
- Don’t wear contacts longer than 8-10 hours daily
- Have mild/moderate nearsightedness or astigmatism
- Want maximum affordability and convenience
- Don’t require advanced lenses for crisp, stable 10+ hour vision
But power users like me requiring robust comfort and optical quality to get through marathon workdays may want to keep shopping. Let’s explore why…
Hubble Lens Comfort Falls Short After Full Workdays
I consistently wear contacts up to 14 hours daily while working, often even longer. So soft lens comfort is make-or-break for me to power through without distraction.
Unfortunately, Hubble didn’t fully deliver the lasting wetness my eyes require. Their modest 14.2mm diameter felt less stable on my eyes over time. Standard comfort agents couldn’t quite match competitors’ long lasting hydration technologies either.
While Hubble lenses felt perfectly slick and breathable for the first 4-6 hours, comfort gradually deteriorated. Around hour 8, I noticed cloudy vision as lenses dried out and shifted subtly out of place. Subtle stinging and irritation followed soon after.
By hour 10, focusing my tired eyes was noticeably harder through Hubble’s lenses. Dry spots forming made lenses impossible to keep firmly centered. I found myself constantly blinking and refocusing my vision…less than ideal when I had critical deadlines approaching!
So all in all, Hubble isn’t optimized for all-day comfort needed by heavy-use wearers like myself. Their price-focused design forced too many compromises to endure a long workday without distraction.
Hubble Visual Acuity Can’t Compete with Leading Brands
Aside from comfort drawbacks, I also wasn’t thrilled with Hubble lenses’ optical performance as hours wore on. They delivered perfectly crisp vision after applying the lenses first thing in the morning. But over a typical 14 hour workday, visual sharpness and stability just couldn’t stack up against my preferred brand.
Around hour 6 I noticed text on screens becoming just slightly less defined. Glare and halos were still perfectly manageable at that stage. But by hour 10, focusing my eyes on text and images seemed to require more effort. Irritating glare and ghosting around bright lights also became more prominent.
By hour 13, I had difficulty clearly seeing faraway people’s facial details during video calls thanks to a mild yet persistent haze. Having to refocus my eyes every few minutes also impeded productivity. Again, not something you want dealing with important deadlines!
According to leading eye care associations, superior vision should be maintainable through even 14+ hour contact lens wearing days. But through my testing, Hubble simply couldn’t achieve this level of optical quality over long hours.
For short-term wearers that only require sharp vision for 6 hours or less daily, Hubble lenses will likely perform fine. Their crispness upon first insertion was on par with far more expensive brands. However, lax quality control and moisture retention ultimately couldn’t prevent gradual vision degradation over full workdays for me.
Comparing Key Metrics to Popular Brand Alternatives
To further critique Hubble’s contacts, I compared some key performance metrics to my beloved Biofinity Energys contacts. I also benchmarked Hubble against market leaders Acuvue Oasys and Dailies Total1. Here‘s how Hubble stacked up:
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| Metric | Hubble | Biofinity Energys | Acuvue Oasys | Dailies Total1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 14.2 mm | 14.5 mm | 14.0 mm | 14.3 mm |
| Oxygen Transmittance | 86 Dk | 160 Dk | 147 Dk | 151 Dk |
| All Day Comfort Rating | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| All Day Vision Rating | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Monthly Supply Cost | $39 | $59 | $68 | $72 |
Key Takeaways
- Hubble offers market-bottom pricing but trails in comfort and optics
- Leading alternatives are 35-85% pricier but last markedly longer
- Extra $20-35 per month pays dividends in all-day performance
As you can see, Hubble’s rock bottom subscription pricing comes at the steep cost of critical performance compromises I couldn‘t overlook. And after testing beyond 6 hour daily wearing needs, the shortcomings were impossible to ignore.
Sure, Hubble costs 30-50% less upfront than popular alternatives I compared them against. But as the saying goes – you get what you pay for!
Real Customer Reviews Reinforce Hubble‘s Limitations
Curious if other real-world users shared my criticisms, I dug into Hubble’s customer reviews across various rating sites. As expected, impressions echoed my key frustrations:
What Wearers Liked
- Ultra affordable subscription pricing
- Convenient contact lens deliveries
- Comfortable initial first-time application
- Clear vision for shorter term wearing
Common Complaints
- Discomfort setting in after just 6-8 hours
- Vision clarity fading as day wears on
- Thin design causing stability problems
- Hit-or-miss customer service
So all in all, shorter-term users reported solid experiences given Hubble’s pricing. But those wearing for 8+ hours noted similar comfort and visual compromise issues I observed in my testing.
Reading these unfiltered reviews further solidified that Hubble makes budget-friendly sense for lighter daily wearing needs only. Those who prioritize lasting lens performance should seriously consider alternatives I highlight next.
My Contact Lens Recommendations By Wearer Type
Through my testing and research on Hubble lenses, I definitely wouldn’t proclaim them an ideal pick for all (or even most) wearers. But they can adequately serve select consumer groups quite well.
Here’s my recommendation on types of wearers Hubble contacts pair well with – and those who should consider alternate solutions instead:
Good Fit For Hubble Lenses
- Extreme budget buyers needing basic vision correction
- Users wearing lenses just 5-6 hours daily
- Situational wearers needing backup/secondary contacts
Poor Fit For Hubble Lenses
- Users requiring 14 hours daily contact lens wear
- Ultra performance-focused wearers like athletes
- People highly sensitive to contact lens discomfort
- Wearers with extreme light sensitivity needing maximum glare reduction
As you can see, Hubble fills an ultra affordable contact lens niche that works fine under restricted wearing circumstances. But the majority of wearers needing robust all-day performance will be happier looking to premium alternatives.
Speaking of alternatives — if Hubble doesn’t sound like an optimal fit for your vision habits, here are my top contact lens replacement picks across 3 key categories:
My Top Contact Lens Recommendations Beyond Hubble
Acuvue Oasys 2 Week – Best for Dry Eye Relief
If lasting comfort is priority #1 for you, I highly recommend the brilliantly designed Oasys 2 week contacts. No contacts I’ve tested do a better job actively hydrating eyes with lasting comfort agents. And large stabilizing zones prevent shifting.
I have many friends that swear Oasys ended their contact lens dryness woes for good. 14 to 16 hour daily wearing is no problem thanks to sustained moisture release. Yes, they are pricier than Hubble but deliver comfort without compromise.
Dailies Total 1 – Best for Crisp, Stable Vision
While I overall prefer Biofinity Energys for their sharpness, many eye doctors proclaim Total1 lenses as providing the clearest optics across all brands. 100% water content indeed makes these feel practically invisible in your eyes all day.
An ingeniously engineered edge prevents debris buildup under the lens surface as well. So vision stays crystal clear from morning to midnight thanks to unparalleled wetness and debris defense.
Yes, Total 1 is the priciest option here but delivers virtually unrivaled optical performance. So for tasks like graphic design, sports, driving or detailed crafts, give them serious consideration!
Biofinity Energys – Best Blend of Comfort and Clarity
If you desire a superb balance between optical sharpness and lasting 16 hour moisture/comfort, I believe Biofinity Energys strike an unbeatable balance. Their AquaComfort Plus system releases cushioning agents slowly and evenly for full workday endurance.
Meanwhile, lenses stay firmly centered on eyes all day thanks to IntelliSmooth technology. This also creates subtle micro-turbulence under lens surface to prevent vision-clouding debris accumulation.
For my power user wearing needs, Biofinity checks all boxes – fantastic comfort, reliable stability and crisp visuals maintained even after 14+ hours stuck at my desk! Before Biofinity, I had to swap contacts midday…but not anymore.
Yes, they fall roughly between Hubble and Total1/Oasys for pricing – but deliver nearly premium performance at an impressive value. Unless you require pure budget pricing or have highly specialized vision needs, I believe Biofinity Energys will satisfy most demanding wearers extremely well.
The Last Word on Hubble Contact Lenses
At the end of my 4 month Hubble contact lens trial, I came away viewing them as an affordably priced offering best reserved just for lighter, situational wearing needs. They ultimately fell short delivering the all-day comfort and unwavering visual clarity I rely on for my long workdays.
For wearers that only require crisp vision for 6 hours or less before discarding lenses, Hubble delivers on providing basic quality for an ultra low price. Their $39 monthly subscription convenience also remains highly competitive.
But all in all, various fit, comfort, optical and quality control shortcomings make Hubble daily disposables better suited as an emergency backup option rather than a full-time vision solution for demanding users like myself.
Unless budget value outweighs all else, I’d suggest investing in a slightly more premium brand known for lasting comfort and sharp visuals through even 12+ hour wearing days. Your eyes will thank you after month #1!
I sincerely hope this in-depth, hands-on review helps you make an informed choice that best matches your unique vision needs and expectations. Feel free to reach out with any other questions my real-world experience can help answer. Happy (contact) lens wearing!
