If you’re a contact lens wearer, deciding between daily and monthly contact lenses can be a tough decision. With this in mind, let’s look at the pros and cons of each lens type!
In the video below, Dr. Ryan Corte discusses the pros and cons of daily and monthly contacts.
If you don’t like the video or want more information, continue reading.
First, let’s consider daily disposable contact lenses (or dailies). As stated in the name, these are the type of contact lenses you throw away at the end of the day.
Let’s look at the pros of daily contacts:
1) Dailies are more convenient
These lenses will save you time since you don’t have to clean them, purchase contact lens solution or store them in a case overnight.
Note: If you plan on taking your daily contact lenses out for a nap or to go swimming, we recommend storing them in Biotrue or Opti-free Pure Moist contact lens solutions.
2) Since they tend to accumulate less build up, dailies reduce your risk of complications
As a result, they are often more comfortable, especially if you have allergies or dry eyes.
3) Dailies provide a simple, one and done wear schedule
Just put in a new pair of contact lenses in morning and throw them away at the end of the day!
4) Dailies are especially great for new wearers, infrequent wearers and younger patients
While dailies are great for all wearers, new and younger contact lens wearers have a greater risk of ripping, tearing or losing a lens while infrequent wearers love the flexibility daily contact lenses provide as they go back and forth between wearing their glasses and contact lenses!
Now the cons of daily contacts:
1) Dailies are more expensive upfront
While dailies will cost you more money to purchase than monthlies, they often pay for themselves after you include the cost of contact lens solutions and the potential complications monthlies can cause.
2) Dailies are not FDA approved for you to fall asleep in
DO NOT SLEEP IN DAILIES. That’s just not what they’re designed for!
3) Dailies can be less environmentally friendly
Why? You are using a new lens every day instead of every month.*
4) Dailies are easier to tear
Particularly since they’re often made of a thinner contact lens material than monthlies.
Now let’s consider monthly disposable contact lenses (or monthlies): These are the type of contact lenses you can wear every day and throw away after a month goes by.
Let’s look at the pros of monthly contacts:
1) Monthlies are less expensive upfront for wearers who follow their eye doctor’s directions
Keep point here is if you take care of your monthly lenses and wear them appropriately, you’re less likely to have complications. However, monthlies may cost you more money after you include the cost of contact lens solutions and the potential complications they can cause.
2) Some monthlies, known as extended or continuous wear contact lenses, are FDA approved for you to fall asleep in**
However, we still don’t recommend you sleep in your contacts…
3) Monthlies are more environmentally friendly
Why? You are using a new lens every month instead of every day.*
4) Most monthly contact lens materials allow more oxygen to the front of your eye
Now the cons of monthly contacts:
1) Monthlies require cleaning, storage and the purchasing of contact lens solution
Since they tend to accumulate more build up, monthlies increase your risk of complications. This can be an issue if you have allergies or dry eyes.
Note: We recommend storing them in Biotrue or Opti-free Pure Moist contact lens solutions. However, if you’re experiencing depositing or build up on your contact lenses, consider Clear Care Cleaning & Disinfection Solution.
2) Unless you live by your calendar, monthlies are easier to overwear!
Therefore, it’s easy to forget exactly when to replace your monthly contact lenses.
3) Monthlies are more expensive when you lose or rip lenses
So be careful! 😉
Overall, are daily contacts more expensive than monthly?
Yes. On average, a year supply of daily contacts is a couple hundred dollars more than monthly contacts. However, the compliance and health benefits of daily contacts far outweigh that of monthly ones. Especially if you get an eye infection sleeping in monthly contacts and have to spend hundreds of dollars on office visits and prescription eye drops.
Regardless of the pros and cons of daily vs monthly contact lenses, it’s important to discuss which option is best for you with an eye care professional!
*Some contact lens manufacturers have recyclable materials.
**Sleeping in your contact lenses increases your risk for an eye infection and needs to be discussed with an eye care professional before doing so.