Daily disposable (or ‘one day’) contacts are a great option if your optometrist thinks they’re right for your prescription. They’re a good fit for most people, especially if you’re busy and active, and equally good for people who want switch between glasses and contacts from time to time.
Daily disposables are made of soft, flexible plastic, worn during waking hours, and removed and thrown away before you go to sleep. The next day you’ll wear a brand new pair, meaning no need for calendar reminders to change your contacts.
It’s about the convenience! There’s no cleaning involved, you simply get rid of them after you’re done and they’re more hygenic as you’re only using them once.
“You’re only handling them when you put them in and when you take them out, and then tomorrow you’re putting in a fresh pair of lenses,” says Bupa optometrist Karen Makin.
“From a comfort point of view, you don’t get any build-up on the lenses – the surface is smooth and fresh every day. And if you’re going on holidays, you don’t have to worry about lugging cleaning solutions with you.”
The main disadvantage would be needing to buy more of them as you’re using them so often. This can also create more waste, but Bupa Optical participates in a recycling program.
“Contact lenses, and the little plastic and foil packaging that they come in, can be recycled through our stores,” advises Makin. “The cardboard packs can go into the normal recycling bin at home.”
If you don’t want the hassle of replacing contacts each day, extended wear contact lenses might be a better fit.
