Should You Use Daily or Monthly Contact Lenses?
- 12 min reading time
Since the 1970s, people have been using contact lenses to correct their vision without having to wear glasses. Today, contact lenses come in many shapes and sizes. A question that keeps popping up is whether you should use daily or monthly contact lenses.
In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about the different types of contact lenses and which might be best for your needs and lifestyle.
The Benefit of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are a great way to improve your vision without having to wear glasses. They're also very convenient, as you can take them out and put them back in as needed. Contact lenses are much less likely to fog up or fall off than glasses, making them ideal for activities such as sports.
Moreover, contact lenses can also help you to improve your appearance. If you want to make your eyes look bigger or change their color, there are also special effect contact lenses available.
Many people report that wearing contact lenses can help you to feel more confident. Whether you're meeting new people or going on a date, being able to see clearly can give you a boost of confidence.
The Different Types of Contact Lenses
These days, contact lens technology has evolved into several different types. The most popular types of contact lenses are daily, weekly and monthly contact lenses. So, what's the difference between these types of contact lenses?
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Daily Contact Lenses
These contact lenses are the most disposable and should be thrown away after a day's use. These types of contact lenses don't typically need to be cleaned, you usually put them in in the morning and take them out at night. You cannot leave daily contact lenses in overnight as this can be harmful to your eye.
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Weekly Contact Lenses
Weekly contact lenses fall between daily and monthly contact lenses. They're more durable than daily lenses but less so than monthly lenses. They're also slightly thicker. They tend to be cheaper than monthly contact lenses but more pricey than daily lenses.
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Monthly Contact Lenses
Monthly contact lenses are a great way to improve your vision without having to wear glasses. They are convenient and easy to use, and they can be worn for up to 30 days at a time. Plus, they are less expensive than daily or weekly lenses. However, there are some downsides to monthly lenses.
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For one thing, they require more care and cleaning than other types of lenses. In addition, they can sometimes be more uncomfortable to wear, and they may need to be replaced more frequently if you have dry eyes.
Daily or Monthly Contact Lenses
A common question for contact wearers is whether they should wear daily or monthly contact lenses. Like many questions in life, the answer involves some nuance. Whether you wear daily or monthly contact lenses should be personal decision that you make for yourself. It should depend on your lifestyle, budget, concern for eye health and prescription.
To help you understand the landscape a little better, we've outlined some of the main factors that you should consider when making the decision between daily or monthly contact lenses.
Lifestyle
The type of lifestyle you lead is an important factor to consider when choosing between daily or monthly contacts. For example, if you find that you only wear contact lenses on weekends when hanging out with friends, it doesn't make sense to wear monthly contacts. You wouldn't get the full value out of them when only wearing them on weekends and you'll have to throw them out at the end of the month anyway.
However, if you plan on wearing them every day and don't mind spending the extra time it takes to maintain them, monthly contacts might be better for you.
Cost
Daily contact lenses are known to be more expensive and monthlies tend to work out cheaper for full-time contact lens wearers. If price is a concern for you, monthly contact lenses might be the better option, if not, consider wearing daily contact lenses.
Eye Health
Our eyes create lipids and proteins that can gradually accumulate on your lenses and cause irritation over time. Because there is no day-to-day buildup of deposits, daily disposables are considered the healthiest option. They are packaged in discrete, sterile blister packets for single use. Because they reduce pollen buildup, daily meals are good for anybody prone to seasonal allergies.
Monthlies are also a sanitary option if you practice good lens maintenance. It's simple after you've established a habit. Tips for cleaning your monthly lenses may be found in a later section.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, contact lenses have evolved significantly. The majority of current lenses are constructed of hydrogel or silicone hydrogel. Silicone hydrogel is a cutting-edge substance that allows up to five times more oxygen to reach the cornea, keeping the eyes healthy and comfortable for an extended period of time. As a result, silicone hydrogel lenses are a great choice for longer-wearing lenses such as monthlies or biweeklies.
Dailies are constructed of a thinner, more flexible material than monthly lenses. Silicone hydrogel, on the other hand, is now frequently utilized in contemporary disposables. They have the benefit of being easy to handle as well as providing high levels of hydration and comfort. This makes inserting your contact lenses easier than before.
Prescription
Every year, new contact lenses are introduced to address a wide variety of refractive problems and visual demands. Many daily lens brands, like monthly lenses, provide astigmatism and presbyopia (bifocal) correction.
Monthly lenses, on the other hand, may accommodate bigger refractive faults and astigmatism prescriptions. Some daily lenses may not be suitable if you have a high prescription. It is critical to consult with your optometrist to determine which modality can meet your prescription.
Eco-friendliness
Since they're only changed once a month rather than every day, monthlies are typically considered as more ecologically friendly. Lens producers, on the other hand, are constantly improving their methods to reduce waste and make more materials recyclable. Soft lenses, blister packs, cardboard packaging, and lens casings may all be recycled through a local program.
The Importance of Oxygen Eye Health
The human body is made up of millions of cells, and each one needs oxygen to function properly. The eyes are no exception. In fact, the eyes are one of the most oxygen-dependent organs in the body. The cells in the retina, for example, require a constant supply of oxygen to function correctly. When these cells do not receive enough oxygen, they begin to die.
This can lead to a number of serious eye problems, including vision loss. Contact lenses can also have an impact on the amount of oxygen that reaches the eyes. In some cases, lenses can actually block oxygen from reaching the cornea, leading to a condition known as corneal hypoxia. This can be very dangerous and may even result in blindness. For this reason, it is important to consult with an eye doctor before beginning to wear contact lenses.
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How to Clean Monthly Contact Lenses
Monthly contact lenses are a great way to improve your vision without having to wear glasses. However, they do require some special care in order to keep them clean, comfortable and to avoid eye infection. Here are a few tips on how to clean monthly contact lenses:
*By following these simple tips, you can keep your monthly contact lenses clean and healthy all month long!
Should You Use: Daily or Monthly Contact Lenses?
Whether you choose to wear daily or monthly contact lenses depends on a few different factors. These factors include lifestyle, budget, prescription and environmental concern. It's a personal choice that you should make for yourself. To help you decide, we've outlined how these factors are relevant to your decision.
