If you wear contacts, you might be familiar with the overwhelming number of contact lens options out there. Between daily disposables and monthly lenses, each type promises comfort and convenience: But which actually fits your family’s busy lifestyle? At Calgary Optometry Centre, we’ve been helping Calgary families navigate these vision decisions since 1982.
The “right” contact lens choice depends on your daily routine, budget, and eye health needs, with daily lenses offering convenience while monthly lenses can provide cost savings for consistent wearers. Understanding the different types of contact lenses can help you make the right choice for your needs.
How Daily Contact Lenses Work and Who Benefits Most
Daily contact lenses give you a brand-new pair every single morning. You pop them in when you wake up, wear them throughout your day, and toss them before bed: No fuss, no mess.
This fresh-start approach can work for families juggling school pickups, work deadlines, and weekend activities. You don’t need to remember cleaning routines or worry about lost lens cases during family vacations. Proper contact lens care can be much simpler when you start fresh each day.
Daily Lenses Support Your Eye Health
Starting each day with a pristine lens surface can help reduce the risk of infection because daily lenses don’t have time to collect the protein deposits, makeup residue, and environmental particles that can build up over weeks of wear.
This clean slate approach also means fewer chances for irritation or discomfort. If you have allergies or sensitive eyes, you may appreciate how daily lenses help minimize the particles that can make your eyes water or feel scratchy.
Monthly Contact Lenses: Long-Term Comfort and Care
Monthly contact lenses are worn from the same pair for 30 days. These lenses are made from durable materials designed for repeated cleaning and reuse.
With monthly lenses, you’ll learn to develop a nightly routine of removing, cleaning, and storing your lenses in fresh solution. This process becomes as automatic as brushing your teeth once you get used to the rhythm. A contact lens fitting helps your monthly lenses fit comfortably for extended wear.
Monthly Lens Care Routine
Every night, you’ll remove your lenses before bedtime and clean them with a contact lens solution. The cleaning process involves rubbing the lens gently in your palm to remove daily buildup.
Fresh contact solution goes into your lens case each night. It’s important to remember to never reuse yesterday’s solution. Replace your lens case every 3 months to keep bacteria from building up in those small compartments.
Cost Comparison: Upfront vs. Long-Term Expenses
Daily lenses cost more per month because you’re buying 30 individual pairs instead of 1 monthly pair. However, monthly lenses require a cleaning solution, lens cases, and occasional rewetting drops, which can add to your total expenses.
Calculate your true monthly cost by adding these supplies to your lens price. In some cases, the cost difference between dailies and monthly lenses may be smaller than expected when you factor in all the extras. Health Canada’s contact lens safety guidelines emphasize the importance of proper care regardless of lens type.
Lifestyle Factors That Affect Your Choice
Your work schedule plays a huge role in lens selection. If you’re constantly rushing between meetings or managing kids’ activities, daily lenses eliminate the evening cleaning routine that monthly lenses require.
Active families who play sports or spend time outdoors sometimes benefit from the daily lenses’ replaceable nature. Lost a lens during your child’s soccer game? Just pop in a new pair.
Night Driving Considerations
Clean contact lenses may help reduce some discomfort on evening drives for some people. When your lens surface stays clear, you may experience less light scatter associated with discomfort while night driving.
Daily lenses maintain a clear surface throughout your wear time because they haven’t had time to accumulate deposits. Monthly lenses can develop buildup that affects how light passes through, especially if your cleaning routine isn’t thorough enough.
Make the Right Choice for Your Family’s Vision
Everyone’s schedules are different, so the “right” choice is different for everyone. It’s always a good idea to schedule an eye exam to talk with our team, as they have years of experience helping people choose which types of contacts might work for them.
A Few Tips for Comfortable Vision
Consider having backup glasses with stylish frames that match your personality, as even contact lens wearers need reliable backup options for sick days or when you want to give your eyes a rest. Browse quality frame collections to find your perfect backup pair.
Come Visit Us
Calgary Optometry Centre can help you explore both daily and monthly contact lens options in their welcoming, family-friendly environment. Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today to discover which lens type fits your lifestyle, and browse their selection of fashionable frames to complete your vision care plan.
