When they were first introduced, changing contact lenses monthly was the norm. Gradually several different varieties of contact lens were introduced to meet the different health conditions of the eye. This also led to the development of weekly, bi-weekly, and even daily replacement lenses along with the monthly lenses already present in the market.
Understanding the difference between the two will enable a wearer to choose one that suits his needs the most. Knowing the basics of the monthly and daily replacement lenses is extremely important to make this choice.
Monthly contact lenses
Lenses that need to be replaced monthly fall under this category. These lenses are slightly thicker than the daily contact lens because they need to be more:
- Durable
- Long-lasting
- Resistant to drying
However, these lenses also have to be disinfected regularly to ensure the health of the eye of the wearer. The monthly contact lens can cater to a wide range of prescriptions.
Daily contact lens
As the name suggests, they have to be discarded on the same day that they are worn. They are typically extremely thin with high water content. This prevents eyes from drying but natural eye deposits have a tendency of accumulating on their surface and hence they cannot be reused.
Daily vs. monthly—which is cheaper?
This choice depends on three very important factors. They are:
- Prescription for vision correction: The fact that lenses are not available to cater to all vision correction prescriptions makes this an important point to consider. It is a fact that the durability and make of the monthly lenses enable better vision when corrections are magnified. This makes it ideal for use by people suffering from astigmatism, requiring bifocals, etc.
- Eye sensitivity: Some people with sensitive eyes can experience irritation in the eye when the contact lens of some particular materials is worn. Such sensitive eyes require lenses with higher water content and better oxygen permeability. Since both the daily and monthly replacement lenses differ in these two factors, the optometrist evaluating the eyes of the wearer is best suited to advise on the same.
- Lifestyle: Daily replacement contact lens is ideal for people who need to stay outdoors for a long during the day. These lenses are ideal for sportspersons who have to deal with dust, dirt, sweat, etc., every day. Additionally, if people want to wear lenses occasionally, a 30-day supply of daily replacement lenses would last a long time without incurring the additional cost of the disinfectant solution.
People who spend most of their day within the confines of a controlled environment like an AC room should always opt for monthly replacement lenses. People who have to remove and wear their lenses more than once a day should also opt for these lenses.
The expenses incurred for the two are comparable. If the wearer has to replace his lenses, more than once a day, daily bausch and lomb contact lenses will work out to be more expensive. But monthly replacement lenses also come with the extra hassle of buying a cleaning solution, cleaning the lenses after wear every day and storing them in a safe place.
While the final decision depends on the lifestyle of the wearer, he should consult his eye doctor before taking a final call on his choice of the same.
