If you wear contact lenses, or are thinking about starting, one of the first choices you will make is how often to replace them. Daily disposable lenses are worn once and thrown away. Monthly lenses are cleaned and stored each night and replaced every month. Both can be safe, comfortable and clear when they are fitted properly and cared for correctly. At Fort Lauderdale Eye Care and Eyewear, we help patients in Fort Lauderdale choose the replacement schedule that fits their eyes, prescription and daily routine. Here is how daily and monthly contacts compare.
What Are Daily Disposable Contacts?
Daily disposable contacts, often called “dailies,” are designed to be worn for one day. You put in a fresh pair each morning and throw them away at night. There is no cleaning, no storage case and no contact lens solution to buy for those lenses.
Benefits of daily disposables include:
- Convenience: no nightly cleaning routine and no case to keep clean.
- A fresh, clean lens every day: protein and debris from your tears do not have days or weeks to build up on the lens.
- Good for allergy sufferers: because each lens is new, many people with seasonal allergies find dailies more comfortable.
- Great for part-time wear: if you only wear contacts for the gym, the beach, sports or special events, you simply open a fresh pair when you need them.
- Easy for travel: no bottles of solution to pack.
The main tradeoff is that you use more lenses over a year, so the cost of the lenses themselves is usually higher than monthly lenses. Some of that difference is offset because you are not buying solution and cases. Our team can go over the options with you at your visit.
What Are Monthly Contacts?
Monthly contacts are reusable lenses that you remove each night, clean, disinfect and store in a fresh contact lens solution. You replace them with a new pair once a month (some lenses are designed to be replaced every two weeks instead).
Benefits of monthly lenses include:
- Lower lens cost for full-time wearers: fewer lenses are used over a year.
- Durable materials: many monthly lenses are made from breathable silicone hydrogel materials designed for all-day wear.
- Wide range of prescriptions: monthly and two-week lenses come in many powers, including options for astigmatism and multifocal designs.
The tradeoff is the care routine. Monthly lenses must be cleaned and disinfected every night with the solution your eye doctor recommends, the case must be kept clean and replaced regularly, and the lenses must be replaced on schedule even if they still feel fine.
Daily vs. Monthly: Which Is Better for You?
There is no single best choice for everyone. The right lens depends on your eyes and your habits. Daily disposables may be a better fit if you:
- Wear contacts only some of the time
- Have allergies or tend to get deposits on your lenses
- Do not want a nightly cleaning routine
- Are a teen or first-time wearer and want the simplest routine
Monthly lenses may be a better fit if you:
- Wear contacts full time, every day
- Are comfortable with a consistent cleaning routine
- Need a prescription or lens design that is easier to find in a monthly or two-week lens
Your eye doctor will also consider your prescription, your tear film, the shape of your eyes and how well a lens fits and moves on your eye. Both daily and monthly lenses are available for astigmatism and for people who need help seeing up close after about age 40. You can learn more about the lenses we fit on our contact lenses page.
Safe Contact Lens Habits in Fort Lauderdale
Whichever type you choose, good habits protect your eyes:
- Never sleep in your lenses unless your eye doctor has specifically prescribed lenses for overnight wear.
- Do not stretch your replacement schedule. Wearing dailies for more than one day or monthlies past a month raises the risk of irritation and infection.
- Keep water away from your lenses. Do not swim, shower or rinse lenses or your case with tap water. Water from pools, the ocean and the tap can carry organisms that cause serious eye infections, which matters in a beach and pool city like Fort Lauderdale.
- Use fresh solution every night for reusable lenses. Never top off old solution or use saliva or water.
- Watch for dryness. Air conditioning and long screen sessions can make lenses feel dry by the end of the day. If that sounds familiar, our dry eye treatments can help.
- Keep up-to-date glasses as a backup. Your eyes need a break sometimes. We offer a wide selection of eyeglasses, including lenses with Crizal anti-reflective coating, with fast turnaround from our local lab.
- Wear UV-blocking sunglasses over your contacts in the Florida sun.
If you have eye pain, sudden redness, light sensitivity, discharge or a sudden change in vision while wearing contacts, remove your lenses and contact an eye doctor right away. For a true eye emergency, seek urgent or emergency care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are daily contacts healthier than monthly contacts?
Daily disposables give you a fresh lens every day with no case or solution, which many eye doctors see as an advantage for eye health. Monthly lenses can also be very safe when they are cleaned, stored and replaced exactly as directed.
Can I wear daily contacts for more than one day?
No. Daily disposable lenses are designed for a single use. They are not meant to be cleaned and reused, and wearing them again increases the risk of discomfort and infection.
Can I switch from monthly lenses to daily lenses?
Often, yes. Switching brands or replacement schedules usually requires an updated contact lens fitting, because a different lens can fit and perform differently on your eye.
Do I need a separate exam for contacts?
Yes. A contact lens prescription includes details such as the lens brand, curve and diameter that a glasses prescription does not. A contact lens exam and fitting makes sure the lens fits well and your eyes stay healthy.
Schedule a Contact Lens Exam in Fort Lauderdale
Not sure whether daily or monthly contacts are right for you? Our team at Fort Lauderdale Eye Care and Eyewear can help you compare options and find a comfortable, clear fit. Call or Text 954-763-2842, or request an appointment online.