

To best protect yourself, set an alarm or a calendar reminder for this date to avoid causing harm or even permanent damage to your eyes. This is especially the case because contacts worn beyond the time limit often do not feel very different. It can often be difficult to remember when it’s time to replace your contacts. On the other hand, if your contacts are weekly, they can last for one week and must be discarded at the end of that period. If your contacts are daily, these should be discarded at the end of every day and prior to sleeping. The lifespan of contacts depends on the type of contact lens that you have. If this happens, be sure to discontinue use and speak with your doctor. Some people may notice their eyes feel uncomfortable or turn red when first wearing their contacts. Increasing the amount of time you wear your lenses by a little more each day will allow your eyes to slowly get used to them. Some may recommend that you only wear your contacts for a few hours on the first day. That being said, it's important to follow the specific instructions provided to you by your eye doctor.

It takes your eyes an extended period of time to get used to your new contacts. What About Your First Time?įor those new to contacts, you'll want to be extra cautious with your first time wearing them. Again, be sure that if you need to wear lenses long-term, they are specially made for continuous wear. In no circumstance should a lens be worn for longer than this time period. The maximum time frame approved for continuous wear is 30 days. Any contact that is worn on your eye for an extended period of time can lead to infection and vision loss if not managed properly. The FDA recommends removing and cleaning extended wear lenses at least once a week. However, even though these contacts are intended for more long-term use, it's important to understand the potential risks. These are best for those that heavily favor their contact lenses over traditional glasses. While it is best for your eye health to change your contacts daily, these contacts are designed for extended use. On the other hand, there are extended wear contacts that can be worn weekly or monthly. So, if you switch between contacts and glasses, opt for the daily lenses that are disposed of at the end of each day. When you first get your contacts, you'll have a choice between contacts that are made for daily use, weekly use or monthly use.ĭaily contact lenses are ideal for anyone who only wears their contacts occasionally. In general, the more time you allow your eyes to breathe without contacts the better. For these people, it's best to wear contacts for a period of the day and replace the contacts with glasses. What’s there to see with your eyes closed anyway?!įor those who suffer from chronic dry eye, contacts should be taken out after a few hours of use. Even though these contact lenses are approved for use while sleeping, it’s still best to remove them and give your eyes a break. They work by transmitting more oxygen to your eyes overnight. There are contacts that have been FDA approved for safe usage overnight. This is due to the fact that wearing contacts overnight increases the risk of eye infections significantly. That being said, wearing contacts to bed should be avoided with regular contacts. This gives your eyes the much-needed opportunity to breathe without the contacts. While some contacts provide the ability to last into the night, it's always best to remove your contacts prior to sleeping. Of course, this can range based on the person and their particular contact lens. In general, most people can wear contacts for 14-16 hours each day. Here’s a brief guide to the safe usage of contacts, including how long you can wear them and how often they need to be replaced. Many contact wearers don’t follow the rules of use, however, which can cause them issues. When worn correctly, contacts are a safe and effective means of correcting your vision on a day-to-day basis. Many people ask questions like, how long can you wear contacts? Or, how do you know when it’s time to replace your contacts? Either way, welcome to a whole new world of seeing clearly without glasses! Whether you just got your first pair of contact lenses or you’ve worn them for a few years, you may have some questions about using them.
