Benefits of Daily Contacts
Daily contact lenses are an increasingly popular choice for those who require vision correction. With daily contacts, you can enjoy convenience, hygiene, and comfort without having to worry about stowing and caring for a pair of contact lenses at the end of each day.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of daily contacts to find out why they are an ideal choice for many people:
Comfort and convenience
Daily contacts provide enhanced comfort, convenience, and better performance compared to other types of contact lenses. They offer a number of benefits that can help improve your overall vision health and enjoy a clearer vision.
- Comfort and Convenience: Daily contacts minimize eye irritation as well as the risk of infection due to their short usage time. You do not have to worry about sacrificing breathability since these contacts are designed to be comfortable all day long. Since they need to be replaced every day, you don’t have to worry about cleaning them or storing them overnight which can take up time and cause inconvenience.
- Performance Quality: By replacing them daily you can ensure that your eyes are getting fresh contacts that deliver maximum oxygen transmissibility for bright vivid eyesight. Doing this will also reduce the risk of dry eyes and keep your vision looking sharper one day at a time.
- Cost-Effective: Buying a larger quantity in the form of a pack may help you save some money since it is more cost-effective than buying individual lenses regularly. In addition, disposables cause less wastage since they get thrown away after each use instead of having to be cleaned and stored away night after night over an extended period of time like other contact types do.
Reduced risk of infection
Daily contacts are worn once and thrown away at night, making them a convenient and healthy option that doesn’t require cleaning of the lenses. They don’t accumulate dangerous amounts of bacteria or dirt on their surface like weekly and monthly contacts can, reducing the risk of eye infection.
Daily contacts protect your eyes from things that can cause irritation or infection such as soap and other airborne pollutants they may come into contact with in the shower or while swimming. Additionally, because you’re able to throw them away after each use, you are less likely to experience discomfort caused by deposits forming on the lenses each day. Wearing daily contacts also helps keep your eyes healthy by preventing eye strain from using your contacts for longer than recommended periods of time.
Risks of Re-Wearing Daily Contacts
Wearing contact lenses is a convenient and popular way to improve your vision, but there are risks if you wear contacts for too long. Re-wearing daily contact lenses increases the chances of eye infections and other eye problems, as the lenses can easily become contaminated by dirt and bacteria.
In this article, we’ll discuss the risks of re-wearing daily contacts and the importance of following your optometrist’s guidelines related to contact lens wear.
Eye irritation and discomfort
The dangers of re-wearing contact lenses include risks for both short-term irritation and discomfort as well long-term vision issues. Wearing contacts overnight can increase your risk for corneal ulcers, an infection caused by bacteria entering the eyes through worn out or otherwise damaged lenses. The longer contacts are worn, the higher the risk for these infections to occur, as contacts have to be repeatedly removed and cleaned in order to remain sterile.
Furthermore, your lenses can dry out easily with extended wear, which can lead to irritation. This discomfort, such as redness and itchiness, is likely a sign that your lenses need replaced more frequently than you currently do so. It is also important to note that these concerns become exacerbated when wearing soft contact lenses overnight on an ongoing basis – day after day – because their cleaning procedures are not as reliable when compared with daily replacement (or daily disposable) contact lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses.
Increased risk of infection
Experts recommend replacing daily contacts regularly in order to minimize the risk of infection. Wearing the same pair of contacts over and over again increases the amount of bacteria on them and can lead to serious eye infections such as conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers and microbial keratitis. In more extreme cases, impaired vision or even total vision loss can occur.
Not only does bacteria build up on the lens itself, but wearing lenses for too long can cause allergies such as dry eye syndrome. Re-wearing daily contacts provides a hospitable environment for the growth of fungi, parasites and other pathogens – which can then easily enter your eyes through breaks in the tissue caused by dryness or rubbing your eyes while wearing them. These allergens may cause itchy, watery or stinging eyes which are unpleasant and could potentially lead to long-term damage if left untreated.
When re-wearing your daily contacts, it’s important to consider both health risks associated with infections and allergies and comfort issues associated with dryness and irritation. Therefore, it’s important that you replace your lenses regularly in order to avoid any potential risks that come with prolonged use of a single pair of lenses over multiple days or weeks.
Increased risk of corneal ulcer
Daily contacts are designed to be worn once and discarded after one day of use. This is to reduce the risk of infection and inflammation associated with wearing contacts. When you re-wear daily disposable contact lenses, you are significantly increasing the risk of contracting a corneal ulcer, which is an open sore or lesion on the eye.
A corneal ulcer occurs when bacteria or a virus penetrate the normally clear protective covering on the eyes, known as the cornea. The cornea contains nerves that provide feeling for blinking and object recognition in addition to providing vision, so when it gets infected it can lead to extreme pain and damage that may be irreversible with long lasting vision problems. The severity of a corneal ulcer can range from mild to severe enough that permanent blindness may result if not treated immediately by a qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist. Symptoms of this can include:
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Redness of the eye
- Intense discomfort or pain
Prevention should be taken seriously when wearing contacts as a good hygiene routine will reduce hazards significantly.
Tips for Re-Wearing Daily Contacts
Re-wearing daily contacts can be a great way to save money but it can also be dangerous for your eye health and you should never do it without consulting with your healthcare provider first. With that being said, if you do decide to re-wear your daily contacts there are certain tips that you should follow to make sure that your eyes stay healthy.
In this article, we’ll provide advice on how to wear, care for, and store your daily contacts:
Clean and store your lenses properly
Daily contacts should be cleaned and stored properly between each wear in order to extend their life and maintain good eye health. Be sure to handle the contacts gently, as rough handling can cause them to tear or rip. Disinfect before each use with a specialized, contact-safe cleaning solution. Rinse off any debris that may have accumulated during your last wear with a cleansing solution specifically designed for contact lenses.
Store your lenses when they are not in use, always using fresh storage solution to prevent bacteria and fungus growth. Never store them in water or an expired solution – doing so can be hazardous to your eyesight. Change the lens case frequently because bacteria accumulate even when all directions for use are followed correctly.
Clean the inside surface of the lens case with a specialty lens cleaner at least once per week, occasionally switching brands of cleaning solutions as recommended by your optometrist or healthcare provider.
Follow the recommended wearing schedule
Daily contact lenses are designed for single-use every day. While some people may be tempted to re-wear their daily contacts, most optometry experts recommend against it, as re-wearing your contacts can lead to increased risk of infection and other problems. Inside the eye, these infections can range from mild to severe and in some cases can cause loss of vision.
For this reason, it is essential that you follow the recommended wearing schedule provided by your optometrist and never re-wear your daily contacts.
In addition to this, there are several tips we recommend following when dealing with daily contact lenses:
- Always keep your lenses lubricated – Proper lens lubrication impedes protein buildup and prevents eye dryness. It also ensures that the lens slides comfortably on your eyes while wearing them.
- Rinse each lens before inserting – Rinsing each lens before insertion helps eliminate any germs or debris that may have landed on them during putting them in their case or touching them with unprotected hands.
- Discard formulated solution after opening – Once opened, separate bottles of saline or multipurpose solutions should be discarded after using for 7 days due to bacterial contamination risk over time.
- Clean and disinfect storage cases regularly – Storage cases should be cleaned weekly using contact solution per instructions for preventing buildup therein of harmful bacteria over time that could cause further harm if transferred to the wearer’s eyes via an unclean lens.
- Practice strict hygiene guidelines – Hands should always be washed thoroughly prior to touching your contact lenses or their storage solution/case, as well as avoiding swimming while wearing contacts since water contamination is common sources of eye infections!
Use fresh contact lens solution
Clean contact lenses on a daily basis is essential for continued comfort, and to prevent serious eye problems from developing. Always use new, sterile contact lens solution with your contacts each time they are placed in the case. Never recycle or save used contact lens solution – it can be contaminated with bacteria which can cause infections and other serious irritations of the eye.
New solutions should be used every time you place contacts inside the storage case, even if you are only wearing them once (in either daily or monthly disposable lenses). Shake out and discard any previous solution left in the case, and always allow fresh air to dry the lenses completely before closing. Do not blow into the case to dry – this could introduce germs as well.
Alternatives to Re-Wearing Daily Contacts
Wearing daily contacts beyond the recommended length of wear can cause irritation and infection. It is recommended that you replace your contacts as often as to instructions from your optometrist. Thankfully, there are alternatives to re-wearing daily contacts that can help you save money and maintain healthy vision.
Let’s take a look at some of them:
Daily disposable lenses
Daily disposable lenses are an extremely convenient alternative to re-wearing daily contact lenses. These contact lenses are meant to be discarded after a single day’s use, eliminating both the hassle and associated bacteria buildup of having to clean them and then use them on consecutive days. They represent the most healthful option for people who choose extended wear contact lenses.
Daily disposable contacts are available with a variety of manufacturers and intended for a broad array of prescription power strengths. They usually come in boxes, which generally contain either thirty or ninety individual contacts that allow you to solely live off these living all the way up nearly two months, depending on how frequently you change them out. Depending upon availability, they can also come annually or quarterly as well.
Choosing these lenses will avoid major hassles concerned with maintaining and storing reusable contacts such as:
- Having to purchase solution every month.
- Cleaning solutions.
- Having to take further hygienic measures when handling your contacts due to their higher potential for infection if improper means are taken when handling them.
Extended wear lenses
Extended wear contacts are designed and approved by the FDA to be worn for a few days or up to a week and then disposed of. These lenses are made of a soft, oxygen-permeable plastic material that allows oxygen to reach the eye. This type of lens is considered one of the more convenient options as it can be worn overnight and during different activities, such as swimming.
However, extended wear lenses do not offer the same level of comfort and clarity as daily use lenses. Tolerance for extended wear contacts varies from person to person; so users should consult their eye care professional regarding any discomfort or vision problems resulting from prolonged periods of contact lens wear.
In addition, extended wear lenses require more frequent exchange than daily use lenses because deposits related to oil, protein and other substances may accumulate on extended wear contact lenses over a period of time leading to discomfort or reduced vision:
- Oil deposits
- Protein deposits
- Other substances
Reusable lenses
Reusable lenses are an excellent alternative to re-wearing daily contacts and can actually be quite cost-effective in the long run. Reusable lenses are replaced every few months or up to a year depending on your prescription, lifestyle, and eye care provider’s recommendation. Reusable lenses are often made of tougher plastic material, allowing them to be washed effectively with contact lens cleaning solutions. Additionally, most reusable lenses are tinted with special dyes to ensure better breathability of oxygen which is beneficial for the health of your eye.
Daily disposable contacts, however, usually provide the healthiest option for those who don’t want to buy and take care of reusable contact lenses; they are designed for one-time use. As their name implies, you use them once and discard them when you’re done wearing them for the day or two hours later. This eliminates any risk of contamination that could occur if you were to wear your contacts multiple times without cleaning them appropriately. Disposable contacts also eliminate tedious maintenance routines associated with reusable ones like:
- Replacing lens solution every few weeks.
- Age-related wear and stress from nighttime sleeping or extended wear overnight or during naps.
Conclusion
The conclusion from our research is that contact lenses should not be worn on a daily basis. Wearing contact lenses too long can cause damage to the eyes, leading to poor vision and long-term eye health problems. While it may be convenient to simply wear the same contact lenses if done every day can cause both short term and long term issues.
To avoid these problems it is important to practice proper contact lens hygiene, dispose of them on a regular basis, and always wear your glasses if you feel discomfort in your eyes:
- Practice proper contact lens hygiene.
- Dispose of them on a regular basis.
- Always wear your glasses if you feel discomfort in your eyes.
Re-wearing daily contacts is not recommended
Re-wearing daily contacts is not recommended as it can lead to numerous problems. One of the most prevalent risks is corneal ulceration caused by bacteria that can build up on your contacts between wears. A corneal ulceration is an open sore on the outer layer of the cornea and can cause pain, excess tears, light sensitivity or a decrease in vision. Some studies have also shown that reinserting contact lenses on consecutive days is the leading cause for corneal infection in contact lens wearers.
Daily wear contact lenses should be discarded after each wear and new lenses should be inserted every day, even if you are simply applying all-day makeup.
When re-wearing daily wear contact lenses, you run the risk of negative impacts by not willingly disposing of them and not replacing them with fresh pairs each day. These risks include:
- Increased risk for eye infections and irritation due to low oxygen transmissibility, deposit accumulation and bacterial colonization on the surface of your contacts.
- Allergic reaction if the same pair of contacts is used too long without being removed or properly disinfected and cleaned overnight.
Consider alternatives to reduce the risk of infection and discomfort
Although daily disposable contact lenses are considered very safe, they can still cause eye infections and discomfort. Daily contacts might not be the best choice for everyone, especially if you have allergies or need to wear your lenses for longer than usual.
To reduce your chances of eye infection or irritation, consider alternative contact lens options such as extended wear contacts, or those made with silicone hydrogel material that allow more oxygen to the eyes and has improved breathability. In addition, multipurpose solutions can help reduce the risk of bacteria and contaminants that may affect your lenses.
Be sure to talk to your eye care professional about what type of contact lens is best suited for your needs.