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Are Daily Disposable Contact Lenses the Right Choice for You?

Growing increasingly popular in comparison to reusable contact lenses, daily disposable contacts can save you time and provide extra convenience. Read on to learn more about this kind of contact lens.

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What Are Daily Disposable Contact Lenses?

Daily disposable contact lenses, also referred to as daily contact lenses or “dailies”, are contact lenses designed to be worn for one day and then discarded. Since their introduction in 1988, they have become increasingly popular, especially when compared to reusable contact lenses. Thanks to new materials and manufacturing techniques, it is cost-effective to replace them daily, where in the past it would’ve been too expensive for most.

These should not be confused with “daily wear” lenses, which, while still disposable, are meant to be taken out at night but worn for multiple days (how long exactly will vary by brand) before they must be replaced.

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Why Disposable?

The primary advantage of disposable contact lenses is that they are completely maintenance free. You put them in at the start of your day, and take them off before bed. Since no maintenance is required, you do not have to worry about lenses getting dirty or scratched, and they make it much less likely that improper care will lead to eye damage or infection.Fresh lenses daily will also ensure that there is no deterioration in your vision quality (which can be an issue even if one cleans reusable lenses).

Calcium, proteins, lipids, and other substances which are naturally found in tears can build up on lenses as they are being worn, which can make your lenses less comfortable and your eyes more infection-prone. Cleaning lenses can mitigate this, but are not fully effective, so it is preferable from a health standpoint to go with daily disposable contacts.

Additionally, since they are not worn overnight, there is no risk of them shifting uncomfortably as you sleep.

Even for those who wear contact lenses less frequently, daily disposable lenses are a better option, as you won’t need to keep track of how many times a pair has been used.

How Long Can I Wear Disposable Contact Lenses For?

How Long Can I Wear Disposable Contact Lenses For?

While they are overall designed to be worn for one day, the exact amount of time it is considered safe to wear disposable lenses can vary by company, but the upper ceiling is about 16 hours. If worn for too long, the material they are made from can begin to deteriorate, which will cause eye irritation.

How Much Do They Cost?

Daily disposable contact lenses tend to be more affordable than people suspect; many spend more on their daily Starbucks coffee than they do on their lenses.

The price for a year’s worth of disposable daily lenses will be higher than that of monthly-replacement lenses, however. But the benefits in terms of both health and convenience outweigh the extra costs.

What Issues Can Daily Disposable Lenses Help With?

What Issues Can Daily Disposable Lenses Help With?

They can be used to help people who have difficulty with both near-sightedness (myopia) and far-sightedness (hyperopia). Additionally, you can purchase daily disposable lenses to treat astigmatism, and multifocal lenses can be used to mitigate the effects of presbyopia (age-related far-sightedness.) They may also help mitigate patients’ eye allergies, by allowing less time for deposits of allergens to build up. Additionally, wearing fresh lenses daily can be more comfortable for people with easily irritated eyes.

There is also a new type of daily disposables which are designed for people with dry eye sufferers, and use new materials to retain moisture. For example, the Alcon Dailies Total1 lenses use water gradient technology which approaches 100% water on the outer lens surface, providing a “cushion” of moisture for the eyes. If you suffer from dry eye, speak to  our optometrist so the doctor can identify the cause of your dry eye, and recommend the most comfortable lenses for you.

Additionally, daily disposable lenses can provide some protection for your eyes against dust, and save you the time it would take to clean reusable lenses. Especially for children who may forget to clean reusable lenses, daily disposables are a better choice.

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Can I Wear Disposable Daily Contact Lenses?

Can I Wear Disposable Daily Contact Lenses?

Odds are, you can. However, be sure to consult your eyecare professional with any questions, such as whether daily disposable lenses are available in your prescription. If it is outside the standard range for daily disposable lenses, you might have to stick with lenses designed to be worn for longer periods before disposal.

Which Daily Disposable Lenses Should I Choose?

There are multiple options to choose from, so you can select what best suits your personal needs. If your eyes tend to be dry or are easily irritated, you will want to choose lenses that won’t lead to problems. You should seek out lenses which offer high levels of water content or oxygen permeability.

If you spend time outdoors and don’t wish to carry sunglasses to protect your eyes against UV (ultraviolet) rays, you can choose daily disposable lenses which include built-in UV protection.

Some brands offer lenses that have handling tints, which makes it easier to apply your contact lenses the right way around. These might be a better choice for someone who is new to wearing contact lenses.

Price, of course, should be factored into your purchasing choices, but you should prioritize purchasing lenses that provide the correction or protection you need over saving a bit on costs. These are your eyes, and your quality of life. Give them the best.

Our eye doctors can help you navigate the many choices and help you determine what type of contact lenses are the best fit for your eyes and lifestyle.

How Long Can I Wear Disposable Contact Lenses For?
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Common Questions

High index lenses are usually considered for myopic patients. This means people who are nearsighted which means they can't see clearly at distance. Around -3.00 or -4.00 providers will consider using a high index lens to reduce the thickness. If you have a prescription is higher than a plus or minus 5.00 we strongly recommend getting a high index lens.
It's really relative to what the actual prescription is and also the preference of the patient. If the Rx is approaching a high value such as -4.00 and above then it's generally time to consider high index. Also, they are more aesthetically appealing than other materials, such as polycarbonate, which would be thicker and more unseemly given the same Rx. Also, high index has a higher abbe value and what this means is light refracts more cleanly through the lens making the vision clearer. All in all, higher index lenses are worth it if applicable.
Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use contacts that are discarded after one day’s use. With this design you open up a fresh new pack every day. Daily disposable contacts are more convenient because there is no lens cleaning required and they do not need to be stored in a solution or case. Daily disposable contact lenses are also healthier on the eyes since they are less prone to lens deposits accumulating and there is less of a chance to develop contact lens related eye infections. Daily disposable contacts are also sometimes found to feel more comfortable due to the thinner nature of the lens.
Daily wear lenses are contacts that you wear only throughout the day. You must remove your ‘daily wear’ contacts before going to sleep. Daily wear lenses are not necessarily the same thing as daily disposable contact lenses; there are certain daily wear lenses that can be worn for more than a single day’s wear before disposal. ‘Daily wear’ lenses can be replaced daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the brand of the contact lens. Essentially ‘daily wear’ refers to the wearing schedule of the lens.
Yes. Color contacts can be used for various reasons such as for theatrical/costume purposes, to provide a more subtle and natural look to enhance your eyes, or for medical purposes. Color contact lenses are a FDA medical device where an eye care provider must prescribe the lenses for you. Even if you have perfect 20/20 vision doesn’t mean you can get your color contacts from anywhere like randomly from online or from a beauty supply store (it’s actually illegal to do so!). It’s important to get a proper contact lens evaluation by an eye doctor because every eye surface is unique and each contact lens comes in different parameters, so we have to assess which lens is the best fit on your eye and the healthiest option. Color contacts can cause serious blinding infections if it’s not the proper fit, so be sure to get a proper contact lens evaluation from your eye doctor before purchasing color contact lenses.
The short answer is any lens material that's rated for impact resistance. Given the nature of children we don't want anything that can possibly chip or fracture and cause damage to a child's eyes. This eliminates CR-39 and Hi-index given their brittle nature. Polycarbonate and Trivex are the most impact resistant and therefore the safest for children.
When determining whether kids are a good contact lens candidate, typically it doesn't really have to do so much with age, but more so with their maturity levels. In fact studies have shown that younger kids are actually less prone to contact lens associated problems than teenagers. There can be various types of contact lenses that are great for younger kids. If a child is part of the myopia management program, they typically do well in the hard ortho-keratology lenses or soft daily disposable multifocal lenses. Children who are active and play sports would benefit from ortho-K lenses. Ortho-K lenses are hard lenses that are worn at night when the child is asleep and it gently reshapes the front part of the eye. When the child removes the lenses in the morning, they're able to see clearly without needing any glasses/contact lens correction throughout the day. In regards to soft daily disposable lenses, what’s great about them is that it allows the child to wear a brand new pair of contacts every morning, so this minimizes the risk of infections and other problems that may be associated with wearing contact lenses. Soft contact lenses are also more comfortable on the eyes. However each eye is different so it’s important to have a proper contact lens evaluation to see which contact lens is best for the child’s eye.
Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use contacts that are discarded after one day’s use. With this design you open up a fresh new pack every day. They are becoming more popular because they are considered one of the healthiest contact lens options for your eyes. Since dailies are less prone to lens deposits accumulating and less of a chance to develop contact lens related eye infections. There are also other advantages to dailies such as them being more convenient because there is no lens cleaning required and they do not need to be stored in a solution or case. Daily disposable contacts are also sometimes found to feel more comfortable due to the thinner nature of the lens.
Yes. Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use contacts that are discarded after one day’s use. With this design you open up a fresh new pack every day. Daily disposable contacts are more convenient because there is no lens cleaning required and they do not need to be stored in a solution or case. Daily disposable contact lenses are also healthier on the eyes since they are less prone to lens deposits accumulating and less of a chance to develop contact lens related eye infections. Daily disposable contacts are also sometimes found to feel more comfortable due to the thinner nature of the lens.
Are Daily Disposable Contact Lenses the Right Choice for You?
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Summary

Daily disposable contact lenses are a comfortable and convenient choice for those who prefer contact lenses over eyeglasses, providing a number of advantages in the area of convenience. With several options available, we recommend contacting our optometrists, who can help determine what type of lenses are best for you.

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