Dailies, weeklies or monthlies: considering which option fits you best

daily or monthly lenses

Nowadays, there are so many kinds of lenses on the market with a variety of replacement schedules. So, which one is the best? Or, because that question is unanswerable, let's ask a better one: which one is best for you? On this page, we’ll take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of lens, and we’ll also get into which factors you should consider when choosing.

The different replacement schedules for contacts

  • Daily lenses : These lenses are meant to be worn for just one day. You’ll put in a fresh pair in the morning and throw it out in the evening.
  • Bi-weekly lenses : These lenses are meant to be worn for 14 days; after two weeks of use, you’ll need to dispose of them. They’re often just referred to as weekly lenses. This type of lens needs to be cared for with a quality solution and properly stored overnight.
  • Monthly lenses : These lenses are meant to be worn for 30 days. This type of lens also needs to be cared for with a quality solution and properly stored overnight.
  • Quarterly lenses : These lenses are meant to be worn for 90 days. This type of lens is quite out-dated and could pose some health risks. It requires a great deal of care.
  • Annual lenses : These lenses are meant to be worn for 365 days. This type of lens is exclusively reserved for certain coloured lenses and requires A LOT of care.

Which is the easiest to use and care for?

When it comes to lens care, daily lenses, of course, require practically no care at all. You’ll be starting each day with a fresh, new pair, and you won’t need to bother with solutions, rinsing, lens cleaning, and lens storage. Bi-weeklies and monthlies do require daily care and will need to be stored overnight in a clean case with fresh solution. This also means you’ll be needing extra supplies of which you'll always need a steady supply that you’ll need to carry with you. However, once you’ve built a solid routine, caring for monthlies and/or weeklies becomes a lot easier.

Dailies are very easy to use and are often preferred by younger users. However, both bi-weeklies and monthlies are just as easy to handle. Often, weekly or monthly lenses are thicker and equipped with extra features as well which make them easier to use and less prone to breaking compared to dailies, which are more delicate.

Which costs the least?

Monthly lenses are the clear winner when it comes to costs, followed closely by bi-weekly lenses. A month’s worth of daily lenses will almost always be more expensive than a box of monthly lenses. One thing to consider, however, is that monthly lenses are more expensive to replace. Losing a pair of dailies is a trivial matter, but, unfortunately, losing your pair of monthlies hits a bit harder. And let’s not forget, weekly or monthly lenses require you to purchase cases and solutions as well, so you’ll have to add that to your expenses.

Which is the healthiest?

Dailies contacts are widely considered the healthiest type of lens. Why? Well, having to replace them every day with a fresh pair ensures that you’ll start each day with a sterile and clean product. It can’t get any simpler than that.

Especially if you neglect their care, monthly or weekly contacts are prone to deposits, build-ups, and contamination. This is exactly why lens hygiene and proper care is important. Read more tips for better lens hygiene.

It’s also important to note that people wearing monthly or weekly lenses often tend to over-wear them. This might happen because they’ve failed to order a new batch in time or simply because of convenience. Read more about the risks of over-wearing lenses here. There are specific continuous or extended-wear lenses that are monthlies and weeklies that have been designed to be worn for longer periods of time or even while sleeping. This type of wearing should only be done after consulting your optician or eye-care specialist. So, if you're looking for lenses you can wear for extended periods of time, have a talk with your optician first and NEVER just start wearing lenses for longer periods of time.

Which fits best with your lifestyle or medical history?

Personal issues always need to be judged on an individual basis. Are you someone who has difficulty keeping a routine? Do you play a lot of sports or have an active lifestyle? Do you travel a lot? Do you attend a lot of festivals? Do you have any allergies? All these questions will reveal which type of lens suits you best. Daily lenses often come out on top here as well. They are easy to replace and carry with you, don’t require a lot of care, feel fresh and healthy with every new pair, etc. So, try some options together with your optician, and it’ll quickly become clear what's best for you!

Which is best for the environment?

Monthly contact lenses create the least amount of waste. You’ll be wearing them for longer and the packages are smaller. Unfortunately, contact lenses of all kinds are still difficult to recycle. But, who knows what the future may bring? In the meantime, monthlies are considered to be the most environmentally-friendly lenses.

Final thoughts

We hope our guide was able to give you some advice about the pros and cons of each type of lens. Bi-weeklies tend to be a middle ground between dailies and monthlies but, ultimately, it’ll all depend on your lifestyle and needs. Be sure to consult your optician, who’ll help you figure it out. And, in case you have further questions, why not take a look at our contact lens FAQ? Or, Read more about the pros and cons of contact lenses here. Of course, each brand has different properties as well, so it will all come down to you in the end.

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