Contact Lenses: Disposable vs. Conventional
Contact lenses are very convenient to use whether as prescription eyewear (for correcting your vision) or for cosmetic purposes. However, because wearing contact lenses is in every way intrusive, it also poses some health risks.
It is the primary cause of keratitis. Keratitis is an infection of the cornea. This happens when the outer covering of your eyeball touches pathogens from either your fingers, or most likely, your contact lenses. This does not mean that contact lenses need to be off your shopping list, however. Aside from the cosmetic enhancement it can do for you, contact lenses are very convenient because they are easier to wear compared to glasses. What you can do is to make the right choice.
Know that there are different types of contact lenses. You may always choose between disposable vs. Conventional contact lenses. Disposable contact lenses last only after one or a few more uses, while extended wear contact lenses can be worn anywhere between 3 months and a year. You should check the labels before purchasing.
Consider the cost of healthcare vs. Purchasing more contact lenses. In the battle between disposable vs. Conventional contact lenses, sometimes the determining factor for most users is the price. If you only look at the tag, extended wear contact lenses would definitely win the argument. The longer your contact lenses can be used, the less likely you will have to spend money on another pair of lenses. Disposables will wear off sooner and you will need to spend money more frequently on lenses. However, if you consider the fact that extended wear contact lenses can gather more pathogens, and could put your eyes at a greater risk, you will see that disposable contact lenses are worthy investments. They might seem like the costlier option at first glance, but they’re really the smarter, more pro-active and money-saving contact lens type for any age group.
How life altering is the choice to opt for disposable contact lenses? You will certainly have to save money, initially, to keep up with the cost of using disposable vs. Conventional contact lenses. However, the benefits are all worth it. For one, disposables do not need to be maintained in solutions. You can just wear them once and throw them away if you feel like it is no longer hygienic to use them again, even if the packaging says you can use them a couple more times. Extended wear contact lenses need to be well taken care of, and even if the packaging says you can use them for a year, contact lenses are frail objects. They can tear without warning, and once they have even the smallest of tears, it is no longer safe to wear them.
The bottom line is, no matter what type you choose, you will need to practice proper handling and storage of your contact lenses. It is also not recommendable to wear them for longer than 8 hours, and certainly not overnight. Disposable contact lenses just make it easier for users to keep their eyes healthy while using contact lenses even if the initial cost could be higher.