Daily Contact Lenses VS Monthly Contact Lenses

The Difference Between Daily Contact Lenses & Monthly Contact Lenses

When you meet with your optician to discuss contact lenses, the first matter that will be discussed is whether you want daily or monthly contact lenses.  They may make a recommendation based on the type of vision correction you need or any other conditions that effect your eyes, such as astigmatism.  But if there is no particularly recommendation, then what are the difference between the two?

Daily lenses

As the name suggests, daily disposable contact lenses are worn for one day and then disposed of.  This means every day you get a fresh pair of contact lenses and if there was anything wrong with the previous pair, this isn't a concern. 

There are no worries about needing to clean and store the lenses overnight, making the process totally hassle free.  Lenses can simply be disposed of and a new pair put in the next morning.  They can be beneficial for people with allergies such as hayfever as there is less chance of the allergen clinging to the lens and being put back into the eye the next day.  They are also popular with teenagers starting out wearing lenses who are a little prone to losing them!

Daily lenses tend to be thinner than monthlies because they don’t need to last as long.  This makes them easy to handle and comfortable to wear.  It also means that if you only want to wear the lenses for certain days, such as while at work, then you can wear them when you want and leave your glasses on for the other days.  Once a monthly pair of lenses are put into the eyes, they only last for 30 days, regardless of how much they are worn.

Monthly lenses

Monthly disposable contact lenses are worn for a 1-month period then are thrown away and another pair used.  This means they do need to be cleaned at night and stored in the correct solution in a container.  There are different solutions available that can be used depending on your eyes and your preference, with opticians being able to advise you on what might work best.

Monthly lenses are often recommended for people with high prescriptions or have special requirements such as astigmatism.  They are available in an extremely wide range of prescriptions, meaning that almost anyone can get the right lens for their needs.  These lenses tend to be a little sturdier than dailies due to their longer use period so are great for anyone who is a little heavy-handed or is concerned about tearing the lens.

Monthly lenses can also come in fun colours and effects if you want to change your appearance.  Because there is a great range of prescriptions available in monthly lenses, it is easier to find a match for your prescription and for the look you require.

Making a choice

Both dailies and monthlies have their benefits and issues, which you can discuss with your optician.  But if there is no prescription reason for going for one or the other, then the choice comes down entirely to what you prefer.