Daily VS Monthly Contact Lenses: Which Is Better For You?

With contact lenses, you don’t need to worry about eyeglass frames obstructing your field of vision. They won’t fog up when the temperature changes and you can move freely without them falling. If you do not prefer to wear glasses, contacts are ideal for you. A lot of people feel more confident wearing them and they may even give more natural sight.
Should you go for daily or monthly contact lenses? Learn which is ideal for you from a local eye specialist.

Daily VS Monthly Contact Lenses

Daily contacts or daily disposables are lenses that you throw away in the trash at the end of the day after use. In the morning, you open another fresh pack of lenses to wear for the rest of the day. If you choose daily lenses, you won’t need to clean or store the lenses for next time. These lenses are really thin and contain a lot of water. However, if you remove them in the middle of the day, you wouldn’t be able to wear them anymore and you would need to get a new pair.

On the other hand, monthly contact lenses are thicker and more durable than daily lenses. These contact lenses would resist drying out while you store and use them for a month. You can place them in a small two-sided container filled with contact lens solution when not in use. With these lenses, you’ll need to clean and disinfect them daily to avoid infections and protein buildup.

Monthly contact lenses are eco-friendlier because you will be throwing out fewer lenses compared to dailies. You usually only use 12 pairs every year if you choose monthly contacts, resulting in less waste that ends up in landfills. These contact lenses typically use silicone hydrogel, allowing your eyes to breathe better. They let more oxygen to your eyes, which improves comfort. Various contact lens solutions are available for cleaning monthly lenses but you should only use the ones recommended by your eye doctor. Different brands and types of solutions contain different chemicals that may not be suitable for your contact lenses.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Contacts

Your Prescription
Whether monthly or daily contact is ideal for you can depend on your prescription. Not every kind of contact lens is available for all prescriptions. For instance, if you need multifocal lenses, they are only available in monthlies. To make sure your prescription is up to date, visit your local eye clinic regularly.

Monthly Cost
The cost of daily contacts can be significantly different from monthly lenses. Daily contact lenses can be costlier if you use at least one pair a day. Meanwhile, with monthlies, you need to purchase contact lens solutions and cases to clean and store your contacts.

Your Lifestyle
If your prescription comes in both dailies and monthlies, you would need to consider your lifestyle. What activities do you participate in every day? People who are involved in sports may benefit from dailies because these activities usually expose the eyes to sweat, dirt, or water. When something gets into your eyes, you can simply remove the daily lenses and throw them away. You don’t need to worry about cleaning the lenses if they come in contact with contaminants. With daily contact lenses, you do not need to always bring some cleaning solution and storage containers with you. However, it’s still better to have some extra pairs in case you have to replace them at some part of the day.

Your Age
Daily disposable lenses are a good option for younger individuals, especially those who are new to contacts. Younger wearers have a tendency to damage or lose their contact lenses. With dailies, they can easily replace torn or lost lenses. How Often Do You Wear Contacts?
If you do not use contact lenses every day, dailies may be more suitable for you. This way you won’t need to think about cleaning lenses that you do not use every day. You will just end up storing your lenses most of the time if you choose monthlies. They could be at risk of getting contaminated or drying out while inside the container. If so, you would need to dispose of them even before they reach 30 days.

Meanwhile, if you wear contacts daily, then it’s more cost-effective to go for monthlies. Monthly contact lenses are also ideal for people who prefer to switch between contacts and glasses throughout the day. You can store the lenses in the case when not in use and pop them back in multiple times a day if necessary.

Your Comfort and Risk of Infection
The substances in your tears, such as proteins, lipids, and calcium, can build up on your contacts as you wear them. The buildup in your contacts will make them less comfortable and they are not always completely removed during cleaning. Usually, some traces of the deposits are left on monthly lenses, especially when they are reaching the end of their wear time. You are less likely to get infections with daily contact lenses. Some people are not always consistent when it comes to cleaning their contacts. There is less risk of contamination if you wear fresh contacts every day. It means that the more you replace your contacts, the better for your eye health and comfort.

Safety Tips for Contact Lens Wear

No matter which type of lens you choose or prefer, you must wear them properly. Many eye infections can be prevented with proper contact lens wear and care. On the other hand, not using your contacts correctly or poor hygiene can lead to long-lasting or permanent damage. Here are some tips on safe contact lens wear.

Always Wash Your Hands Before Handling Contacts
Bacteria from your hands can transfer to your eyes, contact lenses, and lens case. Make sure to wash your hands and dry them thoroughly before using and removing your contact lenses. Also, always clean your monthly lenses after use and store them in the case with some fresh solution.

Replace the Case of Your Monthly Contacts Regularly
Even if you clean your contact lens case every day, you still need to replace them regularly. Your contact lens case can be more contaminated with bacteria. When these microorganisms reach your contacts, you can suffer from an eye infection.

Don’t Wear Contact Lenses While Swimming or Bathing
Water contains germs that can get stuck in your contacts and infect your eyes. Wearing contacts while in a pool or body of water increases the risk of developing Acanthamoeba keratitis. It is a type of serious eye infection caused by a free-living amoeba that lives in water. This kind of infection can be hard to treat and sufferers tend to experience a lot of pain. Worst case scenario, it could lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.

Get Regular Eye Exams
You should get a contact eye exam regularly to ensure you are wearing the right lenses for your visual needs. Contact lens wear increases the risk of eye infections and complications. It means that it’s especially important for you to visit your eye doctor for yearly eye exams. Depending on the condition of your eyes, your eye specialist may recommend more frequent eye checks.