How Bad are Contacts for Your Eyes?
Contacts can be so freeing! Glasses are great but there really are times when you just wish you could see without them. Going to the beach, out on a boat, to an amusement park, or a big night out can all be times when contacts might just be easier. Or when you find a super cute pair of sunglasses you really want to wear! Question is, can contacts be bad for your eyes? Is it really safe to put a lens on top of your eyeball? Can they cause problems? All valid concerns with a variety of answers.
Are contacts bad for your eyes?
Generally speaking, contacts are safe to use as prescribed. The key is to make sure you are following the guidelines that are specific to the type of contacts you get. Of course, if you have been wearing contacts for years now you already know, things can get on the lenses and some days they just don’t agree with your eyes. It is good to give your eyes a break from your contacts from time to time. At the end of the day, taking them out a few hours before bed and switching to your glasses is never a bad idea.
It is possible for contacts to cause problems for your eyes. The actual day to day wearing of contacts is safe as the lens technology has become so much better over the years so that your eyes can breath better under the contacts than before. Your eyes do need oxygen to breath and contacts can cut that oxygen off. Hard contacts are especially important to only wear for shorter amounts of time. However, dirty or old contacts are bad for your eyes. It is rare to see a case where contacts have caused a serious medical condition and almost always it is due to improper care and wear of the contacts themselves.
Contacts have a very specific wear life. The two most common types of contacts are monthly and daily. Each should only be worn for their specific wear time. We see problems occur over time when this is stretched to try and get longer life out of them, often to try and save money. Unfortunately, when you do this, you are subsequently costing yourself more in the future due to the problems. Let’s break down the differences between the two types.
What is the difference between monthly and daily contacts?
If you are new to wearing contacts or have been doing it for years, you may be wondering what the difference is (other than cost!) between contacts that you toss each day and contacts you can wear and disinfect then soak for up to 30 days. The main differences are actually pretty simple:
Daily use are thinner and less durable than the Monthly lenses
Daily use you need to toss immediately after wearing- after a whole day or even just a few hours
Monthly lenses require maintenance: each night before bed you need to take them out and cleanse them with contact solution then let them soak in fresh solution overnight
Upfront, Daily lenses typically cost more than the longer Monthly wear options
Daily lenses are less prone to hygiene issues, whereas Monthly lenses can have build up on them if not properly cleaned each night, then thrown away after the 30 days they have been opened
Ok, what is the same about monthly and daily contacts?
Both daily and monthly contact lenses should only be worn for their recommended amount of time, which is to say, sleeping in either is not a good choice. Likewise, both should be thrown away at the end of their life cycle regardless of the actual amount of hours spent in your eyes. It is tempting to try and reuse contacts when we only put them in for a few hours, however dailies should always be thrown away immediately upon taking them out of your eyes. Monthly lenses are only good for 30 days of use once opened. Even if you only end up putting them in for half the days of the month, you still need to toss them once that 30 days is up. Think of this like drinking expired milk- YUK!
This is where we see the problems that lead to the question of: how bad contacts are for your eyes? If you are wearing your contacts beyond their lifespan, you are putting your eyes at risk. Also if you wear monthly contacts and are not cleaning them properly each and every time you take them out of your eyes, the dirty lenses will most likely cause problems.
Your eyes are one thing that saving money on by extending the wear of your contacts simply shouldn’t happen. You can cause yourself to have habitual dry eye, red eye, or even worse things that could lead to blindness. We often recommend that if you do not wear your contacts everyday, then consider daily contacts. You will save money not buying contact solution. Your eyes will have fresh clean contacts each time you put them in. And if you only wear them even every other day, a 3 month supply could last you for 6 months. It’s really all about how often you actually put them in- you might get even longer out of that 90 day supply.
When should I not wear my contacts?
If you know you are going to be in an environment where there will be a lot of particles in the air, you probably should stick with your glasses. This could be dust, pollen, sawdust, or smoke. High wind situations might cause pause for contacts as well, unless you have protective eyewear. Motorcycles and boats are two great examples of when you might want your contacts but should have protective eyewear like safety glasses or wrap around sunglasses. Some people also find that when they fly, their eyes dry out from the air and sleeping, so they opt for their glasses until they reach their destination.
If you wake up with dry or red eyes, its best to wait to put your contacts in and stick to your glasses until they feel better at least. Anytime your eyes feel irritated, keeping your contacts out of them is your best choice. This is why you should always have a pair of glasses in your correct prescription available. If you travel, taking your glasses with is a must even if you have no intention of wearing them.
If you are going to have an extremely long day, glasses are also a good choice. As mentioned above, your eyes need to breath and your contact do cut them off from receiving the full airflow. Long days in contacts can leave you with dry tired eyes. If you know this is the case, limit how much time you do have them in- maybe wait in the morning and put them in just before you leave the house, or take them out as soon as you get home.
Contacts are great and have come so far over the years in their ability to help you see clearly and let your eyes breath. If you are interested in seeing if contacts are right for you, feel free to make an appointment with us to go over your options. If you are thinking about changing up your contacts from monthly to daily or vise versa, let’s have an appointment. If you are worried your contacts are causing you problems, please call us right away- you should never wait on your eye health!
