As one of the most popular lens types, daily disposables are the choice of millions of contact lens wearers. If you are thinking about trying daily lenses, or simply want to know more about them, this guide covers everything you need.
With almost 20 years of experience in optometry, our Head of Professional Services and lead optician, Roshni Patel, walks us through the key details of daily lenses in answer to 5 of the most frequently asked questions.
Ask the expert — daily contact lenses
What are the benefits of daily disposable lenses?
Daily disposable lenses are great for many reasons and are extremely practical for anyone with a busy lifestyle.
- They offer real convenience — no cleaning required, just make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling them
- You use a fresh pair every time, which can reduce the risk of infection
- They are now available for a wide range of prescriptions and needs
- An excellent option for allergy sufferers — especially those who need medicated drops
Are daily lenses safe?
Yes — in fact, all contact lenses are safe, provided you follow your optician’s recommendations.
Make sure you buy and wear lenses that are properly fitted to your eye.
Follow your optician’s guidance on wearing time, as this can vary from person to person depending on the health of your eyes and other factors such as your environment.
Do not reuse daily disposable lenses, as this can increase the risk of infection.
Always keep your hands clean and dry when handling lenses or even when touching your eyes or face. Although the risk of infection with daily disposables is low, you can easily transfer bacteria to the eye without realising it. A handrail or escalator is a classic example of where your hands can pick up unwanted bacteria.
Can daily lenses be reused?
In short, no. I would not advise reusing daily disposable lenses. They are not manufactured for that purpose and doing so can cause a range of problems. If you want reusable lenses, we have excellent bi-weekly and monthly options available.
How many hours should I wear daily lenses?
It really depends on what type of daily disposable has been prescribed and what your optician has recommended. Silicone hydrogel dailies allow more oxygen to reach the eye compared with hydrogel lenses. However, wearing times also depend on the health of your eyes and other individual factors, which your optician will discuss with you in detail.
Are daily lenses the best option for first-time wearers?
Daily disposable lenses are an excellent choice for first-time wearers and for anyone considering contact lenses as an alternative to glasses. Since wearing lenses for the first time can feel a little daunting for some people, the simplicity and convenience of daily disposables makes for a much smoother transition. With no ongoing lens care routine to worry about, daily lenses are a brilliant starting point for new wearers.
Daily lens details
What vision corrections can daily disposables correct?
The popularity of daily lenses has pushed manufacturers to offer a daily disposable option for almost every type of vision correction. Depending on what your optician recommends, dailies can correct the following conditions:
- Myopia (shortsightedness): when objects appear blurred at a distance
- Hyperopia (longsightedness): when close objects appear blurred
- Astigmatism: when objects appear blurred due to the curvature of the eye
- Presbyopia: when objects appear blurred due to age-related changes in the eye
What are daily lenses made from?
Daily lenses are made from two common water-based plastics: hydrogel and silicone hydrogel. These create a natural yet easily disposable design. The flexibility and absorbency of these gel-like materials is why daily lenses are classified as soft lenses.
To find out which option is best for you, read our article on the differences between hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses here.
What types of daily lenses are available?
Daily disposable lenses come in the three most common types of prescription lens — spherical, toric and multifocal. Depending on your vision needs, your optician will recommend one of these designs to correct your refractive error.
Spherical — designed with the same power across the entire lens surface, spherical (or standard) lenses are the most common type and are suitable for wearers with myopia or hyperopia prescriptions.
Toric — designed with different powers in different sections, toric lenses are prescribed to match the shape of the wearer’s eye and correct astigmatism.
Multifocal — designed with multiple prescriptions in a single lens, multifocal lenses correct presbyopia and allow wearers to transition smoothly between clear near and distance vision.
What are the most popular daily lenses?
While every eye is different and you need an eye care professional to evaluate which style is right for your vision needs, you can start your search by looking at our customers’ favourites and asking your optician whether any of them are suitable for you.
1-Day ACUVUE MOIST
One of the most popular daily lenses on the market — 1-Day ACUVUE MOIST lenses feature LACREON® technology to retain moisture and keep your eyes hydrated and comfortable all day. Like all ACUVUE MOIST lenses, they offer Class 2 UV protection against UVA and UVB rays.
Dailies AquaComfort Plus
Enjoy a refreshing burst of moisture with every blink with Dailies AquaComfort Plus — an excellent choice for new lens wearers and those with dry or sensitive eyes.
MyDay Toric
Designed to correct astigmatism while delivering the great comfort and convenience of a daily disposable, MyDay Toric lenses are ideal for wearers looking for clear, stable vision throughout the day.
ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day for Astigmatism
A premium silicone hydrogel option ideal for toric prescriptions, ACUVUE OASYS for Astigmatism features HydraLuxe technology and Eyelid Stabilised Design to keep your lenses in place and your vision sharp.
Clariti 1 Day Multifocal
Combining multiple prescriptions in a single lens, Clariti 1 Day Multifocal lenses offer clear vision at near, intermediate and far distances. Users often describe them as the most comfortable daily multifocal lenses available, thanks to their WetLoc technology.
1-Day ACUVUE MOIST Multifocal
1-Day ACUVUE MOIST Multifocal lenses are available in a range of prescriptions to correct presbyopia and deliver clear vision at any distance. These lenses are perfect for anyone with presbyopia who wants the comfort and convenience of daily disposables.
How much do daily lenses cost?
The price of your daily lenses will vary depending on your prescription. As a rough guide, with Lenstore’s competitive pricing, you can expect to pay around €30 to €40 per month for two boxes of 30 daily disposables (one for each eye).
The unique designs of toric and multifocal lenses require more precise manufacturing, which means these styles can be slightly more expensive. You can expect to pay around €40 to €50 per month for all the lenses you need for astigmatism or presbyopia correction.
How do I switch to daily disposable lenses?
Whether you currently wear monthly or bi-weekly lenses, or are a complete beginner, the first step in finding out whether daily disposables are right for you is to book an appointment with an eye care professional. If your optician or ophthalmologist feels that daily lenses suit your vision needs, they may carry out a fitting and follow up to see how you and your eyes are getting on with your new lens type.
To start making the switch to daily disposables, book an eye test today.