Comparing Daily and Monthly Contact Lenses

If you’re the kind of guy or gal who can’t seem to follow proper contact lens hygiene (e.g. you’ve resorted to using saliva or tap water to clean them), daily contact lenses might be a better option for you than monthlies. And if your contact lens case crawled away from your nightstand on its own, you definitely need to consider daily contacts … and probably should look into cleaning up your act for your own well-being! For everyone else who ascribes to reasonably acceptable habits, here’s a guide to help you decide.

Daily Contacts

If you can’t find your contact lens case under all that clutter or cobwebs make your bedroom look tricked out for Halloween year-round, contact lens hygiene is probably not a hidden talent! Daily contacts are an ultimately convenient choice because no cleaning is necessary. When you wear dailies, you don’t need to use solution because you pop in a fresh pair every day. But you do need to remember to take them out before bed and discard them. It makes sense daily disposable contact lenses are growing in popularity.

Monthly Contacts

If you liken wearing dailies to throwing out your favorite undies before bed and opening a new pair each day, monthly contacts might be a better choice for you! Unlike dailies, you can wear monthly contacts for a month or 30 days before discarding them. And by the way, we don’t suggest doing this with your undergarments! Like most contact lenses, you should remove them each night before you go to sleep and store them overnight in fresh contact lens solution, even if they are the extended variety. Protein, lipids, calcium, and bacteria can easily build up on lenses so daily cleaning is vital when you wear monthly contacts.

Daily Contact Lenses vs. Monthly: Pros and Cons

The following factors play an important role in the daily vs. monthly contacts debate. This is an issue to discuss with your eye doctor, who will be able to guide you in making an informed decision.

Pros of Dailies: Even if you rinse and disinfect contacts regularly, cleaning them doesn’t remove 100% of the gunk that accumulates. Since they are discarded every day, you don’t need to worry about harmful build-up with dailies, making the risk of developing contact lens-related eye infections slim to none (as long as you follow directions). The higher water/moisture content makes dailies ideal for individuals with sensitive eyes and those prone to contact lens-related irritation. The added moisture creates a cushion on the eye, making lenses comfortable to wear throughout the day.

Cons of Dailies: Daily contacts can be more expensive, although you don’t need to buy cleaning solutions for sterilizing and storing them. Dailies are typically very thin so they can be more prone to tearing than monthlies. Since they are generally made of softer materials, correction may not be as sharp at higher magnifications.

Pros of Monthlies: A thicker composition makes monthlies more durable and longer lasting than dailies. Like dailies, monthlies are generally made of silicone hydrogel, which means the cornea gets five or more times oxygen compared to standard contacts, equating to healthier eyes. Monthlies may provide better correction at higher magnifications. Proclear is a good choice for those who experience mild discomfort or dryness from wearing contacts.

Cons of Monthlies: The primary downside of monthlies is that they require the same kind of care as traditional contacts. Monthly contacts must be disinfected regularly to prevent complications and maintain healthy eyes.

The added expense of dailies or monthlies is offset by selecting our AutoRefill program. This is a great way to save money and ensure you’ll never run out of dailies or monthlies! The decision between wearing daily and monthly contacts is up to you and your eye doctor, and of course, you can always switch if you find one or the other isn’t working out.