Types of Disposable Contact Lenses

Disposable contact lenses are becoming increasingly popular because they do not require the same level of cleaning and care as the older, rigid lenses. Disposables are a lot lighter than other contact lenses which make them more comfortable to wear; they also allow more oxygen into your eyes, which makes you less prone to infection.

There are different types of disposable contact lenses, depending on whether you want to change them on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The more often you change your disposables then the more money it is going to cost you. Although disposable contact lenses are quite cheap when compared to regular contacts or spectacles, the more frequently you replace them, then the more frequently you are going to spend money on them. Some disposables can be worn continuously for the period they are meant to last, while others should only be worn for a specified number of hours each day, and certainly removed when you go to bed.

The most popular and affordable types of disposable contact lenses are those that need replacing every week or two, although it is possible to get disposables that last from six months to a year. The weekly contact lenses are referred to as frequent use disposables. You should not wear the lenses after the dispose by date as this can cause problems with the eyes. Most opticians now prescribe frequent use disposable contact lenses as the cheaper and easier option. Disposable lenses that last for six months to a year are known as reusable contacts. These lenses are so like traditional contacts that most opticians do not really regard them as disposable lenses; they are worn for a much longer period of time and therefore require almost the same level of care as non-disposable contact lenses.

Nowadays it is possible to get coloured disposable lenses, and these are often used in the theatre. Disposable contact lenses are also used for specific purposes such as overnight cornea correction; these particular disposables are also available on the wider market.

Although disposables are great, they are more suited to people with common eye problems. It is more difficult if you have a complex prescription because the disposables would have to be custom made, that is not to say that you couldn’t wear them on occasion. Generally speaking if your eyesight is bad, most doctors would recommend that for the most part you wore your regular spectacles and kept disposable lenses for special occasions.

Some disposable lenses are only meant to be worn for an eight hour period and removed when you go to bed. Nowadays it is also possible to get disposables that you can also leave in overnight, however you should not wear them for longer than the recommended period. The type of disposable lenses that you use will depend on a number of things, not least the size of your budget; it is a lot more expensive to replace your lenses on a daily basis than it is to do it every month.