Trying to decide between daily and monthly contact lenses? What if we told you there’s another option you might not have considered? That’s right — bi-weekly (or two-weekly) contact lenses could be the perfect choice if your contact lens routine doesn’t quite fit either of the other two options. If you’ve never considered bi-weekly lenses before, we’ve put together this guide to tell you a little more about this unique lens type.
To start, Roshni Patel, Lenstore’s Head of Professional Services and Lead Optometrist, answers the five most frequently asked questions about bi-weekly contact lenses.
Ask the expert — bi-weekly contact lenses
What are bi-weekly contact lenses?
Bi-weekly contact lenses are soft lenses — just like your monthly or daily lenses. However, they’re designed to be discarded and replaced with a fresh pair every 15 days. They need to be removed each night, cleaned and disinfected, just like monthly disposable lenses.
What are the benefits of bi-weekly contact lenses?
The bi-weekly lenses in the ACUVUE Oasys family are licensed for extended wear, but this should only be done under the supervision of your optician. If used for this purpose, the lenses must be discarded after 6 nights/7 days and replaced with a fresh pair.
Are bi-weekly contact lenses cheaper?
That depends on how often you want to wear them. For those who want to wear lenses almost every day, bi-weekly or monthly lenses are the more cost-effective option compared to daily lenses.
Are bi-weekly contact lenses safer?
Yes. All contact lenses are safe to wear, provided you use them as prescribed and follow the handling and care instructions given by your optician.
Bi-weekly contact lens details
While the number of contact lens manufacturers offering bi-weekly lenses is considerably lower than for other lens types, there are several options available to suit most visual correction needs. Depending on your prescription, bi-weekly lenses are sold to help correct the following types of refractive error:
Myopia: (short-sightedness): when distant objects appear blurry
Hyperopia: (long-sightedness): when close objects appear blurry
Presbyopia: when close objects appear blurry due to age-related changes in the eye
Astigmatism: when objects appear blurry due to an irregular curvature of the eye
What types of bi-weekly contact lenses are available?
Like other soft lens types, bi-weekly lenses are designed to correct a wide range of visual needs, with the most common types being:
Spherical — these have the same power across the entire lens surface. Suitable for people with myopia or hyperopia prescriptions, spherical lenses are generally the most common lens type.
Toric — with different powers in different zones of the lens, toric lenses focus on the shape of the eye to correct astigmatism.
Multifocal — with multiple prescriptions in a single lens to correct presbyopia and allow wearers to see clearly at different distances.
What are bi-weekly contact lenses made of?
Like most modern soft lenses, bi-weekly lenses are made from two water-based polymers — hydrogel and silicone hydrogel. The flexibility and moisture-absorption of these gel-like materials allows healthy amounts of oxygen and moisture to reach the eye during wear.
For more information about each material type and its benefits and drawbacks, we recommend reading our in-depth article on the differences between hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses here.
What are the most popular bi-weekly contact lenses?
Using the helpful reviews left by our customers, here’s a list of the best-selling bi-weekly lenses at Lenstore. If any of these popular choices seem like a good fit for your vision needs, ask your eye care professional whether they’re right for you:
Designed for lens wearers who spend a lot of time in front of digital devices, the ACUVUE OASYS bi-weekly lenses offer all-day comfort. With Hydraclear Plus technology that reduces dryness by mimicking the eye’s natural tear film, and Class 1 UVA protection, ACUVUE OASYS lenses keep your eyes protected and comfortable throughout the day.
The toric version of the bi-weekly ACUVUE OASYS lenses features the same technology as above — Hydraclear Plus and UVA protection — but also comes with a Lid Stabilisation Design that quickly and accurately positions the lens for wearers with astigmatism.
The latest addition to the ACUVUE bi-weekly range, the OASYS Multifocal is an upgrade on the well-known OASYS bi-weekly lenses for presbyopia from the same manufacturer. These new multifocal lenses feature Optimised Pupil Design to help you see clearly at any distance, along with Hydraclear Plus technology and Class 1 UVA protection found across all OASYS lenses.
How much do bi-weekly contact lenses cost?
As you might expect, bi-weekly lenses tend to sit price-wise between monthly and daily lenses. While not as costly as specific daily lenses, nor as economical as the monthly variety, bi-weekly lenses can still be an affordable option for regular contact lens wearers. When ordering online at Lenstore, you can buy bi-weekly lenses for up to 90 days for approximately £40 (6 lenses per box — one box per eye).
Due to the additional values and parameters of toric and multifocal lenses, their prices may be slightly higher than standard spherical lenses. On average, you can expect to pay between £50–60 for up to 3 months of bi-weekly lenses for presbyopia or astigmatism.
To save a little more on your bi-weekly lenses, sign up to our Auto Reorder service and save 5% on all your future contact lens orders.
How do I switch to bi-weekly contact lenses?
If you currently have a prescription for daily or monthly disposable lenses and are thinking of switching to bi-weeklies, the best way to find out if they’re right for you is to book an appointment with your optician. After carrying out a sight and eye health check, they’ll likely give you some trial lenses to try, along with a follow-up appointment to see how you’re getting on with the new lens type.
If you think you’re ready to try bi-weekly contact lenses, book a sight test appointment today.