Disposable contact lenses

Disposable Contact Lenses

Disposable contact lenses first appeared on the market in 1987. Since then they have become one of the most popular options for contact lens wearers. Lenses are safe, comfortable and available in a selection of different types.

Disposables are designed to be worn and discarded either daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. But it's important to keep in mind a distinction, that between the replacement schedule and the wear schedule. Some are designed to be worn daily and discarded daily. But some that are labeled dailies are removed daily, cleaned and stored, then reused up to their intended lifetime. The lifetime can range from one month back to a week. Make sure you note which is which when you choose your lenses.

The more often you change your contacts the lower the odds of health problems. Even the best of contacts reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to the surface of the cornea. That ups the chances of infection. Longer wear cycles also increase the odds of corneal abrasion, conjunctivitis and other eye health issues.

However, changing lenses more frequently can increase the odds of introducing other kinds of health problems. One example would be where some wearers can suffer an allergic reaction to the preservative solutions used with contact lenses. Wearing a pair of disposables continuously for a week, then simply throwing them away, eliminates that possibility. They come packaged in a sterile solution, so they never need to be cleaned unless they're removed and re-inserted.

Convenience is a huge factor in disposables, not surprisingly. Daily insertion and removal still requires cleaning, sterilizing and regular placement of the lens. While many contact lens wearers establish a routine, others find the practice something they would prefer to avoid. Disposable contacts provide that choice. Many are designed for single use and then discarded. A lot of extended wear lenses can be left in situ for a week, a fortnight and in some cases up to a month.

As these are only placed in situ once, cleaning and sterilization is not an issue. You just clean your hands, insert them, then throw them away after the wear period. No muss, no fuss. But, that convenience comes at a price.

Cost of course is a factor that has to be considered and the cost is not always small. While prices vary over time, disposable contact lenses are typically more expensive over the long run. You pay for the convenience. But the daily costs are lower, since the lens is intended to be used only for a short period.

One way manufacturers can do that, of course, is to use different materials and production methods. The result is a safe, comfortable lens but one that may not provide the same optimally sharp vision that another style can.

Still, many sports enthusiasts enjoy disposables thanks to their tight fit, which results in them being very hard to knock loose. And if the quality is good enough for them, it will probably be good enough for most everyone.

Investigate your options in disposable contact lenses and you may well find one that is just right for you and your lifestyle.