Can You Reuse Daily Contacts? All About Daily Disposable Lenses
When we think of contact lenses, we often think of them as a new-age invention. The truth is, the concept of contact lenses has been around since Da Vinci's "Codex of the Eye," later evolving into French Scientist Rene Descartes' glass tube filled with liquid in direct contact with the eye— coining the term "contact" lenses.
Contacts evolved through the millenniums to the 1958 development of a new type of plastic, hydrogel—soft and pliable when wet, yet able to be shaped and molded.
Hydrogel continued its evolution in hard and soft lenses for decades, especially in terms of oxygen permeability–allowing the eyes to breathe.
This led to the 1995 invention of hydrogel daily disposable lenses millions have come to love and trust.
Today, consumers have their choice of several different types of lenses including, daily disposable contacts, monthly lenses, and extended-wear. For those who wear dailies, let’s dive into some best practices for taking care of your eyes and lenses.
Can You Wear Daily Contacts More Than Once?
No, as their name implies, daily disposable contacts should be worn once, and discarded after each use. While it may seem economical or convenient to wear daily disposable contacts more than once, it's important to understand why this practice is discouraged by eye care professionals. Daily lenses are designed for single use and do not have the durability or cleaning capacity to maintain eye health when worn multiple times.
The Risks of Reusing Contact Lenses
Reusing daily contacts beyond their recommended schedule can lead to several issues, including
Infection Risk: Each time you wear contacts, they accumulate proteins, lipids, and other substances from your tear film. These can harbor bacteria and other pathogens. Unlike longer-wear lenses, daily disposables aren't designed to be effectively cleaned and disinfected, increasing the risk of eye infections.
Material Breakdown: The material of daily disposables is thinner and more fragile compared to other types of contact lenses. Reusing them can lead to tears or damage, risking injury to your eye.
Decreased Comfort and Performance: As daily disposables are not made to be worn more than once, their comfort and corrective performance decrease significantly after the first use. This can lead to blurred vision and discomfort.
Oxygen Permeability: Wearing a fresh pair of contacts each day ensures that your eyes receive adequate oxygen. Reused lenses may not provide the same level of oxygen permeability, leading to eye strain and fatigue.
Despite the need to replace the lenses each day, daily contacts are still a widely recommended and affordable choice for a wide range of contact wearers. Let’s take a closer look at what sets them apart and how they can help you find an eyecare solution that fits your budget and lifestyle.
What are Daily Disposable Contact Lenses?
Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use lenses that you remove and discard before sleep at the end of each day. The following morning, you grab a fresh pair place them into your eyes, and go about your day with clean, clear, breathable vision.
Daily disposable lenses usually come in pre-packaged blister packs for one-day use, are thin, and have high water content to reduce dryness and irritation to your eyes.
What are the Health Benefits of Daily Disposable Lenses?
We've all been there crawling on the floor with half of our vision searching for our missing lens. All of our friends assembled to help in the search for our tiny clear contact lens. And when it’s eventually found the likelihood is the lens may be dirty and damaged.
Now, imagine the same scenario if you wear daily disposable contact lenses. You would just naturally open a fresh, clean, and safe new pack and replace your missing contact.
It may not make for a great adventure, but it certainly helps ensure healthier eyes!
Daily disposable lenses help you avoid unnecessary risks to your eyes — leaving them squeaky clean and free from possible infection.
Ophthalmologists and Optometrists believe disposable daily contacts are the safest, most convenient, and comfortable mode of lens wear.
Optometrists have even found daily disposable lenses beneficial for patients with frequent dry eyes, often caused by multi-purpose eye solutions. Not all multi-purpose cleaning solutions are designed to clean hydrogel lenses—using the accurate solution is crucial.
Daily disposable contacts also aid in minimizing your risk for eye damage. Because your eyes and tears contain proteins, lipids, and calcium—these can easily build up under reusable lenses, possibly leading to infection.
Daily disposable lenses are often prescribed to patients who swim or dive and as a bandage for patients with corneal abrasion. If you enjoy being outdoors and partaking in hiking, camping, climbing, and swimming, your Optometrist will most likely prescribe daily disposable lenses to you. Using these lenses while participating in outdoor activities reduces the risk of debris lodging underneath your lenses.
Airborne allergens are also a concern for longer-use lenses— clinging to the surface of lenses even when cleaned with a solution.
The Convenience of Using Daily Disposable Contact Lenses
There are astounding benefits to using daily disposable contact lenses, such as increased comfort and no extensive cleaning required—ideal for people with busy schedules.
There is no need to remember to pack that oversized bottle of solution, and you can say goodbye to contact maintenance routines.
If you like to switch between frames and contacts or only really wear contacts for socializing or when you exercise, daily disposable contacts may be the best fit for your flexible lifestyle.
You may have an unpredictable, ever-changing profession where daily disposable lenses become your go-to lenses. Whether you're a first responder on-call, a night shift worker, working more than one job or a mom juggling life with no downtime, the last thing you want to worry about is cleaning or storing your contacts.
Daily disposable lenses make it easy for you to toss your old pair and replace them with a clean, fresh pair the next day.
Don't miss a beat, or worse, risk your eye health by overstaying your welcome in your contact lenses.
Daily disposable contact lenses have indeed been frowned upon for their environmental impact, but this often doesn’t take into account the plastic that’s used in lens cases and bottles of contact solution—all of which have roughly the same net impact. Daily disposable contact lenses offer so much more than just convenience, conceivably making them the healthier choice for the continuance of your eye health.
Are Daily Disposable Lenses Affordable?
You might be wondering if replacing your lenses each day as opposed to a more long-term solution will have a negative effect on your wallet. Fortunately, depending on the provider you go with, the answer is no! Daily contacts are typically affordable and on par with the long-term price of other types of lenses. While it's true that these lenses can be more expensive upfront compared to monthly or bi-weekly lenses, considering the overall value and benefits is important.
Long-Term Savings: Daily disposables may save you money in the long run by reducing the need for cleaning solutions, cases, and potentially costly treatments for eye infections caused by improperly cleaned reusable lenses.
Health and Convenience: The health benefits, such as a lower risk of infections, and the convenience of not having to clean and store them, can outweigh the cost for many users. For those with busy lifestyles or specific eye health needs, daily disposables offer unmatched convenience.
Comparative Costs: When comparing costs, consider how much you spend on solutions, cases, and possibly more frequent optometrist visits with reusable lenses. Daily disposables eliminate these additional expenses.
The Benefits of Subscribing: Subscription services, like those offered by Hubble, can provide cost savings and the convenience of home delivery.
In fact, when it comes to the most affordable and convenient daily contacts, Hubble has got you covered!
With a Hubble subscription, you’re in charge. Set the cadence of when you want your lenses shipped to your door, and never have to face the dreaded decision of going without clear sight (or wearing those old back-up glasses).
Hubble subscriptions start at just $1 for your first order of our classic by Hubble lenses made with methafilcon A hydrogel material. If it’s a hydrating lens you seek, the high water content and ultra-thin edges of Hydro by Hubble contacts might be the solution for you. For ultimate breathability, new SkyHy by Hubble lenses offer increased oxygen permeability and a silicone hydrogel material for enhanced comfort and moisture retention. Plus, did we mention you can start a subscription to any of our lenses at a first-order discounted rate and modify or cancel your subscription at any time?
If that wasn’t enough, Hubble Contacts lens packs and boxes are 100% recyclable— making your decision to switch to Hubble’s daily disposable lenses that much easier.
Daily disposable contact lenses offer so much more than just convenience, conceivably making them the healthier choice for the continuance of your eye health.
Can I Sleep in Daily Disposable Contact Lenses?
Just because you wear daily disposable lenses, doesn’t mean you don’t still have to follow best practices for lens care. We've all been guilty of forgetting to take our contacts out at night or reusing them the next day because we forgot to grab a new pack. We may have even found that our eyes responded fine to this evident mistreatment—thinking to ourselves, maybe I can reuse my lenses for longer than a single use.
Once again, when you reuse your contact lenses you put yourself at risk for discomfort, dryness, and serious eye infections. You should always remove your daily contacts before going to sleep. More serious side effects include corneal ulcers, hypoxia from lack of proper oxygen to your corneas, damage to corneal stem cells, and chronic inflammation potentially leading to intolerance to contact lenses.
Taking Care of Your Eyes with Daily Contact Lenses
To assist you in making thoughtful eye-health choices, we've composed some hygiene and wellness tips to consider while wearing daily disposable lenses.
- Don't leave your contacts in while you sleep, no matter how tired or tempted you may be—doing so can lead to ocular irritation, swelling, and corneal ulcers.
- Never touch your contacts with dirty hands! It seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how often people forget to wash their hands, risking transferring bacteria to their lenses. Avoid exposing your daily disposable contacts to water. Any source of water can potentially change the shape of your lenses, risking micro-abrasions of your corneas.
- Don't reinsert a dropped contact—it is just not worth the potential risk of infection or damage to your eyes.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes no matter how tempting! Regardless of whether you have your contacts in or not, rubbing your eyes may cause blurry vision and risks possible harm to your corneas.
- It's best to wait until you've completed your entire morning routine before inserting your contacts. Your hair products, make-up, and water may cause eye irritation and leave a coating over your contacts, making it hard to see.
- If you're experiencing any eye discomfort or irritation avoid contacts for the day. Grab those stylish frames and pay your Optometrist a visit to make sure it's just your seasonal allergies acting out and nothing more.
Seeing is essential, but maintaining your eye health is even more critical. Avoid the risks and peel back the lid on a fresh pair of daily disposable contact lenses every day—making the best choice for your eyes.
Can I Shower or Swim with Contacts In?
Another common question contact lens wearers often ask regards best practices for wearing contacts while in water. You should generally avoid showering or swimming with contacts in, as it can pose risks to your eye health. These could include:
Waterborne Contaminants: Pools, oceans, and even tap water can contain microorganisms like bacteria and amoebas. These can adhere to your lenses and increase the risk of eye infections.
Lens Displacement: Water can cause lenses to swell or change shape, leading to discomfort or the lens dislodging from your eye.
Chemical Irritation: Chlorinated pool water or even certain minerals in natural water bodies can irritate your eyes and affect the lens material.
If you must swim with contacts, consider wearing waterproof swim goggles. For showering, it's best to remove them beforehand to avoid any risk. It's generally safer to avoid wearing contacts in situations where they might come into contact with water. Using daily disposables can be a convenient option here, as you can remove them before swimming or showering and replace them with a fresh pair afterward.
Tips for Traveling with Disposable Lenses
Traveling with daily disposable lenses can make your journey much more convenient on you and your eyes. Here are some tips to make the most of it:
Pack Adequately: Bring enough lenses for each day of your trip, plus a few extras in case of loss or damage.
Hygiene is Key: Always wash your hands before handling lenses, especially when traveling where cleanliness levels may vary.
Avoid Dry Eyes: Airplanes can have dry air. Consider bringing lubricating eye drops approved for use with contact lenses to keep your eyes hydrated.
Be Prepared for Changes: Have a backup pair of glasses with you in case you need to give your eyes a break from contacts.
Storage and Disposal: Carry a small waste bag for disposing of used lenses if you won't have immediate access to a trash can.
Time Zone Adjustments: If you're crossing time zones, adjust your lens replacement schedule accordingly to maintain your eye health routine.
Daily disposables are ideal for travelers due to their convenience and ease of use. By following these tips, you can ensure a comfortable and hassle-free experience while keeping your eye health a top priority.
Are Hubble’s daily disposable contacts a fit for your life?
Life can be unexpected, messy, and fast-paced. Most of us are running from work to planned activities, errands, and appointments, and seeing clearly is focal.
Choosing daily disposable contact lenses can help you gain control over your eye health—providing you comfort and ease.
Hubble's subscription services make getting your daily disposable lenses a breeze. Get your up-to-date prescription from your Optometrist and always have a fresh pair of lenses at your fingertip.
Hubble's daily contact lenses are crafted to prioritize both ease of use and high performance, ensuring that each day you enjoy the advantage of a brand-new pair of lenses.
Daily disposable lenses give you the freedom to live your life more comfortably, all while still putting your eye health first—knowing you're making an excellent choice for your eyes.
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