What is the Difference Between Monthly Contacts and Continuous Wear Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are a great thing to have. That is because those who are able to wear them are not under the restrictions that eyeglasses put upon them. However, in recent years the entire world has changed for the contact lens wearer and that is the fact that new types of contacts have come out. Amongst these new types of contacts are those that you can wear for an extended period of time. They are monthly wear and continuous wear.

Both monthly and continuous wear contacts are called extended wear contacts. This is because they are able to be worn longer than your traditional contact lens. Traditional lenses come in daily wear, weekly wear, and bi-weekly wear. This means they have to be disposed of daily, weekly, or every two weeks. What you wear is up to you and what your tolerance is.

What are extended wear?

With the development of extended wear contacts, people don't have to change their contact lenses daily, weekly, or every two weeks. They can wear them for approximately 30 days before they have to throw them away. It may seem that they are more expensive, but it all reality you do save money.

However, not everyone can wear extended wear contacts and, if they are able to, they may find that one kind of extended wear does better for them than another. For example, some may want a monthly contact lens and another may want a continuous contact lens. But what's the difference?

Monthly vs. continuous

The difference between monthly contacts and continues wear contacts is not really all that different. The only difference is that monthly contacts need to be taken out every night. This is more or less the same as your traditional contact lens. You take them out and let them soak overnight so that they're clean the next morning.

Continuous wear contacts allow you to wear your contact lenses for 30 days straight without having to take them out. This means that you can sleep in them without having to worry about anything. After the 30 days is over, you simply throw them away. There is no having to clean and soak them every night like with monthly contact lenses.

However, there are some individuals unable to wear continuous wear. Some people have eyes that are more sensitive than others. Some individuals may also have issues with calcium buildup on the contact lens. This can cause issues such as Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis. This is when bacteria become trapped and an infection occurs. Those susceptible to this may not be able to wear continuous wear. They will be better off with the monthly contact that requires them to take the lenses out every night.

Which is best?

Which contact lenses are best for you depends on what your eyes want. There are risks associated with all contact lenses. Infection is the main issue, so most people decide to try out the different types of contacts before committing. This is why your optometrist may find giving you trials before actually ordering is a good idea. That gives you the opportunity to figure out what is comfortable for you.

Besides, your eyes are very important. Without them, functioning would be very difficult. That's why it is very important for you to be able to find the contact lens that is right for you. Talk to your eye doctor about monthly contacts and continuous wear contacts. Let them tell you what risks exist for you and what your options may be for your particular situation. You might be quite pleased with the results that you receive.