How long Do Contacts Last? Which Types Are Best?

This article focuses on what contact lenses are and how long do contacts last. 

Wearing glasses or spectacles might be all interesting and fashionable at first but it gets annoying with time. This is something that almost all of you will agree with. And thus contact lenses have gained immense popularity in the modern age. 

A good pair of contact lenses can be quite costly and so, how long do contacts last is one of the most asked questions by the prospective buyers. 

So, keep on reading to find out all about it.

What are Contact Lenses?

All of you must have already heard of contact lenses, thanks to the TV commercials and all the advertisements. 

So, a contact lens is nothing but a clear plastic lens that is placed on the cornea of your eye over the iris and pupil. They might be with power to replace glasses or without power and colored for fashion wear. They might be your go-to option if you don’t prefer wearing glasses or simply if you want to change the color of your iris!

Types of Contact Lenses

There are a variety of contact lenses available in the market based on replacement schedules, wear schedules and purpose of the wearer.

1. Replacement Schedules: Based on this, contacts can be-

• Reusable and soft contact lenses that can last up to a year. These are made up of hydrogel and silicone hydrogel and can last even greater than one year!
• Frequently changeable contact lenses that are to be replaced every few months.
• Disposable daily wear or extended wear contact lenses that last one day and up to 4 weeks respectively.

2. Wear Schedules: Daily wear contact lenses are to be disposed of every day before going to bed whereas the extended wear contact lenses can be worn for up to 4 weeks without interruption.

3. Special Contact Lenses: These include-

• Bifocal contact lenses
• Coloured contact lenses 
• Orthokeratology contact lenses
• Theatrical contact lenses
• Astigmatism contact lenses
• UV rays blocking contact lenses

How Long do Contact Lenses Last?

The time for which your contact lens will last depends upon the type of lens you use. It can be one day, a few months or even a year! 

Soft contact lenses are found to last longer than hard contact lenses but ultimately all are bound to be replaced according to the instructions given by your doctor.

In the following paragraphs we will discuss a few types of contacts and how long they usually last.

How long do Daily wear contact lenses last?

As the name suggests, daily wear contacts are meant to be replaced every day or at the maximum once a month if not earlier. These are soft lenses that allow oxygen to penetrate.

The replacement time frames depend upon the particular lens you are using, i.e., different brands have different replacement schedules. So read the instructions of your lens properly.

How long do Extended wear contact lenses last?

These are the least prescribed contact lenses because these are worn continuously for weeks and hence there are increased chances of infection. They do not allow oxygen to penetrate. 

These are to be replaced monthly and it is important to follow the replacement instructions to avoid eye infections.

How long do Rigid permeable contact lenses last?

These might last up to a year if not more with proper care. However, they can be quite difficult to adjust to at first. They should be taken off before bed every day and cleaned properly with cleansers.

When to replace your lenses?

Apart from the replacement schedules mentioned by your doctor, you should consider replacing your lenses if you experience the following signs:

1. There is increased discomfort and irritation upon wearing the lens.
2. Vision is clouded or hazy.
3. If the contact lenses are dented or disfigured.
4. Decreased or minimal UV protection.

Final Words

So by now, you know how long contact lenses last in real life.

Proper care can always help to increase the longevity of the lenses and also to prevent eye infections. Always consult a doctor before trying out contact lenses for the first time and keep track of your replacement schedules.