Disposable Contact Replacement Time

Disposable contact lenses are made to be worn for a specific length of time that is usually determined by the manufacturer of the lens.  Unless your doctor approves, it is not recommended to exceed wearing your contact lenses for longer than the manufacturer's recommended wearing time.  Doing so puts you at high risk for injury or infection.  Most contact lenses can be divided into daily disposables, 2 week disposables, and monthly disposables.

Daily Disposables
Daily disposal lenses are made to be worn for 1 day and  are removed before going to bed.   They are a convenient option for patients who only wear contact lenses occasionally or those who do not want to worry  about caring for the lenses (cleaning, storing, etc..).  Typically these lenses are very thin and comfortable.  Some advantages of daily disposables include increased comfort, convenience, and reduced risk of injury or infection.  Common brands include Focus Dailies and Acuvue One Day.

Two Week Disposables
These lenses are the most commonly prescribed.  They are designed to be worn for up to 12 hours per day after which they should be removed, cleaned, and stored properly.  After being worn for 2 weeks the lenses should be disposed of.   Commonly prescribed brands are Acuvue Advance, Acuvue Oasys, and O2 Optix.

Monthly Disposables
Monthly lenses can be worn for up to 30 days.  Many monthly lenses have been approved by the FDA for extended/overnight wear making them a convenient option for patients who have unusually long shifts at work or who want to minimize the amount of time they wear glasses.  In most cases, the FDA recommends wearing them overnight for no more than 7 days, after which they should be cleaned and stored for at least 24 hours.  Air Optix Night and Day is one commonly prescribed lens approved for overnight wear.  Other monthly lenses include Air Optix Aqua,  Focus Monthly, and Frequency 55.