The Pros and Cons of Daily Disposable Lenses

If you need to wear prescription lenses to correct your vision, one of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is the type of contact lenses that you want to wear. Contact lenses come in many shapes and forms, and your eye doctor will be happy to help you find the perfect pair based on your individual needs. One of the choices you’ll be faced with is whether to choose extended wear lenses, or those that you throw away after each wear. To help you make this decision, here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons of daily disposable lenses.

What are daily disposable contact lenses?

Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use and discarded at the end of the day. The next morning you open a new packet, wear the lenses and repeat. They are an increasingly popular alternative to long-wear lenses, which last for months or more and need to be cleaned frequently.

What are the advantages of choosing daily disposable contact lenses?

There’s a range of reasons why people are choosing daily disposable contact lenses. These include:

Comfort. Daily disposable contact lenses are largely considered to be more comfortable than extended wear lenses. This is because they are much thinner – so much so that many people forget that they are even wearing them. Daily disposable contact lenses also have a higher water content which helps them to remain hydrated during the day.

Convenience. Unsurprisingly, convenience is a major advantage of daily disposable contact lenses. Simply open a new pack in the morning, pop them in and go about your day as usual. Daily disposables are pre-sterile, meaning no expensive cleaning products and no time-consuming cleaning regime. Just take them out and dispose of them at the end of the day.

Healthier eyes. Many experts believe that daily disposables are better for the health of your eyes. This is because they are supplied sterile, and there is no risk of human error in cleaning long-wear lenses. This reduces the risk of eye infections and other problems. The thin design of daily disposables also means that they enable more oxygen to reach the surface of the eyes, keeping them comfortable and healthy.

Better for people with eye allergies. Allergens can build up on the surface of any area of the body, including the eyes. If you suffer from eye allergies, your eye doctor will almost certainly recommend daily contact lenses since a fresh pair every day can help to reduce allergy symptoms.

What are the disadvantages of choosing daily disposable contact lenses?

Despite the many reasons to choose daily disposable contact lenses, there are a few disadvantages to consider too.

The cost of disposables. Convenience comes at a price, and depending on how often you use them, daily disposable contact lenses can be more. However, it’s still worth remembering that you won’t need to spend time or money on cleaning solutions and practices.

Environmental impact. Disposable products are not always good for the environment, and daily disposable lenses are no exception. While the packaging is likely to be recyclable, the lenses and the blister packs that they come in certainly aren’t. Nevertheless, studies show that contact lens waste represents a tiny fraction of our annual personal waste. It’s also worth noting that manufacturers are doing everything that they can to help reduce the carbon footprint of contact lenses going forward.


For more advice on choosing daily disposable contact lenses, speak to our experienced team at Drs. Dobbins & Letourneau Eye Care in Lawrence, Kansas. You can call us at (785) 843-5665 today.