Whether you’re new to using contact lenses, or you already wear contacts and want to switch to daily disposables, there are different factors to consider. Like everyone, you want to make a choice based on convenience, cost, lifestyle and health benefits — and we want to help you do that.
That’s why here, we’ve rounded up all the information you’ll need to help make your decision easier.
What are daily disposable contact lenses?
These are single-use contact lenses. With this type of lens, you use a fresh pair of contacts every time you put them in, and throw them out every time you remove them. Daily disposable contact lenses are really convenient, as they don’t need to be cleaned or stored overnight. They also come in a handy blister pack of individual lenses in a saline solution.
How many times can you reuse daily contact lenses?
Daily contact lenses should never be reused. Once the blister pack is opened, the lens should be immediately applied to the eye. Once you have worn the lens, it should be removed and thrown away.
You should not store daily disposable contact lenses overnight and re-use them, as doing so could put you at risk of developing eye infections.2
How long can you wear daily contact lenses?
Most people wear their daily contact lenses safely and comfortably for 10-12 hours a day. Your optician will be able to recommend how long you should keep your lenses in, depending on what’s best for you.
Wearing your contact lenses for longer than advised can result in redness, discomfort, and an increased risk of infections. It’s also important to remember that daily disposables are not designed to remain in your eye during sleep, and doing so can significantly increase the risk of infection.3
How do you store daily contact lenses?
You won’t need to clean or store your daily contact lenses overnight, as they are thrown away after each use. Each contact lens comes in a small blister pack which keeps the lens submerged in a saline solution until it’s ready to use.
People who wear daily disposables usually won’t receive instructions on cleaning and storage from the optician as it won’t be required. Storing and re-using contacts with improper disinfection techniques increases the risk of contamination and eye infection.
What are the benefits of daily contact lenses?
Most people love their ‘dailies’ for their convenience. With daily disposable contact lenses, you don’t need to worry about cleaning or storage, and travelling is made easier as you don’t need a contact lens solution. After wearing them, you simply remove the lenses, throw them away, and open a fresh pack the next time you wear them. You’re also far less likely to forget when to replace your contacts, as can happen with longer-wear lenses.
Daily disposables also offer eye health benefits. A fresh lens has a smoother surface and is gentler and less likely to irritate the eye. Also, replacing the contacts every day reduces the chance of harmful bacteria collecting on the lens.4
Daily contact lenses for astigmatism
If you have astigmatism, you could benefit from what’s called toric lenses to correct the problem. You can get toric lenses as daily disposable contact lenses. These daily lenses for astigmatism provide crisp, stable vision and offer you the convenience of a single-use contact lens.
Multifocal (progressives) daily contact lenses
Multifocal contact lenses (also called progressives) are prescribed for people who need a boost in vision for close-up tasks. You can get daily disposable multifocal contact lenses, and enjoy the convenience and eye health benefits of ‘dailies’.
How much do daily contact lenses cost?
Prices vary with the brand and type of lens. As a guideline, the cost typically ranges from £24 to £55 per month for 30 pairs. Multifocal and toric lenses tend to be a little more expensive than daily single-vision contacts. The annual cost of daily contact lenses ranges from £192 to £660 per year. Some brands require a minimum purchase of three boxes.
Specsavers offers all types of daily disposable contact lenses, including single-vision contact lenses, multifocal contact lenses and toric contact lenses, along with a range of brands to choose from. Talk to our optometrists about which one will work best for your prescription and lifestyle.
References
1. Acuvue. (no date). Daily Disposable Contacts. [Online]. Available at: https://www.acuvue.com/contact... [Accessed 25 September 2019].
2. Boost M, Poon KC, Cho P. Contamination risk of reusing daily disposable contact lenses. Optom Vis Sci. Dec;88(2):1409-13. [Online]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p... [Accessed 25 September 2019].
3. The Guardian. (2014). How safe are contact lenses? [Online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/li... [Accessed 25 September 2019].
4. Moorfields NHS. (no date). Your contact lens questions answered. [Online]. Available at: https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/... [Accessed 25 September 2019].