What are the Benefits of Daily versus Monthly Contact Lenses?
When it comes to your eyesight, there’s no place for quick fixes and cutting corners. Our eyes are delicate and require a high level of care in order to remain healthy. This applies to the type of contact lenses we use as well. We want to ensure that our lenses are well-suited to our individual daily routine, are the best value while also being excellent quality and, above all, comfortable to wear. Here are some top tips for choosing between daily lenses or monthly contact lenses to help you decide which option provides the best benefits for your lifestyle.
Performance
Whether you’re someone who wears their contact lenses for long periods, such as throughout the workday, or you just wear them on occasion such as at the weekend, performance is a factor that is of high importance. Most good quality brands provide daily and monthly options of their lenses so you can find high-quality lenses regardless of the option you’re seeking.
Practicality
In terms of convenience, daily lenses are the obvious choice as you can decide which days you want to wear them without worrying about wasting money or the lenses themselves. You can put in a fresh pair each morning and then just throw them away before going to bed at night, without the need for cleaning or storing them. They’re also great if you’re someone who travels a lot with contact lenses as you can just take the right number of lenses for however long you’ll be away for, without the need to also pack storage cases and bottles of solution. If you like to switch between glasses and contact lenses throughout the week, dailies give you the freedom to do so.
However, there are some brands of monthly lenses that are referred to as extended wear lenses which can be worn continuously between seven and 29 days. This means they have been specially designed to be worn throughout the entire day and while you’re asleep, so you can wake up with clear vision without needing to take them out for up to a month.
Hygiene
Because they don’t need to be stored or cleaned after use, dailies are a more hygienic option – each pair you put in will be fresh and ready for use in its own solution. But if you’re wearing your lenses for long periods, it might be worth taking a spare pair with you while you’re on the go so you can freshen up the lenses throughout the day to keep them clean and free from protein build-up. That’s not to say that monthlies aren’t a hygienic choice though – providing you take good care of them and are diligent about a cleaning routine, monthlies offer a brilliant lens option. The trick with maintaining a hygienic process for monthly lenses is to ensure that the storage case is regularly cleaned thoroughly to get rid of bacteria build-up and that the solution is replaced each time to minimize irritants and germs.
Cost
Despite the need to also buy contact lens solution to keep them clean, monthlies are typically the most cost-effective option for contact lens wearers. This is because you’re paying for fewer lenses which helps to keep the cost down compared to dailies. Unless you’re someone who only wears lenses sporadically for events or special occasions, chances are that monthly lenses will be the best choice in terms of price.
Ease of Wear
Lens wearers will no doubt be aware of the discomfort that can come with some brands after long periods through irritation or dryness caused by the lenses. So, comfort is an important factor to consider, particularly if you wear lenses regularly each week. Monthlies are often cited as being the more comfortable option as they deliver better moisture retention which helps minimize discomfort after a full day of wearing them. But if you would prefer dailies, you don’t have to worry about settling for an uncomfortable experience – there are now various brands (Acuvue Moists, Clariti one day, Alcon Dailies aqua comfort) on the market that have been designed to ensure complete comfort throughout the day, with softer materials and increased moisture.
With each of these factors to think about, it can be tricky knowing which the best option is, as both dailies and monthly lenses have their own set of pros and cons. The biggest variable between the two is the eyes the lenses are intended for – everyone’s eyes are unique and have their own visual needs that are personal to the individual in question. All of this makes choosing contact lenses a matter of personal preference and finding an option that is comfortable to you – it may be that you need to try both options to see which you prefer. Speaking to your optician is the best course of action in choosing contact lenses as they can discuss the benefits with you and help you work out which is the best choice for your eyes, lifestyle and vision requirements.
