The Dilemma: Dailies vs Weekly Contacts
If you’re thinking about switching from glasses to contact lenses, you’ll quickly realize that there are many options available to you. One of the biggest questions you may find yourself asking is, daily or weekly contacts, and what is the difference?
How often you replace your contacts (in this case, daily or weekly) affects their cost, the design and/or materials used to make them, and the effort that goes into their upkeep. Once you have a better understanding of how daily and weekly contacts work and after talking to your eye doctor, it will be easy to decide which type of lens fits your lifestyle.
To assist you in making that decision, we discuss daily and weekly contact lenses in this article, including the pros and cons of each lens and the main differences between the two.
What are daily and weekly contacts?
Daily disposable contact lenses, also commonly known as dailies, are single-use lenses that you throw away after a day’s use. Dailies are designed so that you wear a fresh pair of contacts every day. They shouldn’t be confused with daily-wear contacts, which are reusable.
On the other hand, weekly contact lenses, also known as weeklies, are lenses that can be worn daily for up to 14 days. After 14 days, you throw them away and use a fresh pair of contacts. Some weeklies are also FDA-approved for overnight or extended wear, but these should be replaced after seven days.
What are the pros and cons of daily contact lenses?
Dailies are popular among lens wearers for the following reasons:
1. Dailies are convenient
Because dailies are simply thrown away at the end of the day, you don’t have to worry about accidentally forgetting to replace your contacts. Dailies’ convenient replacement schedule also makes them ideal for travel.
2. Dailies are comfortable
Daily disposable contacts are generally thinner than reusable contacts because they’re not designed to last several days. Thinner lenses allow more oxygen to reach the eyes than thicker lenses, and this translates to better comfort.
3. Dailies are less prone to deposit buildup
Even with regular cleaning, the surface of contact lenses can accumulate deposits over time, causing discomfort and irritation. This is not a problem with daily disposable lenses because they’re thrown away at the end of the day.
4. Dailies are low maintenance
Daily disposable contacts require less maintenance than reusable contacts because they’re meant to be worn for one day only.
When it comes to disadvantages, daily disposable contacts only really have one: cost. Dailies generally cost more upfront than reusable lenses because you can only wear each pair once. That being said, you may be able to save money on lens care products since dailies require little to no maintenance. However, you should still keep lens care products for rewetting purposes.
What are the best daily contact lenses?
Lens.com offers a variety of daily disposable contacts. For your reference, we put together a list of the best-selling daily disposable contacts on Lens.com for 2022.
| Rank | The Best-Selling Daily Disposable Contact Lenses of 2022 on Lens.com |
| 1. | DAILIES TOTAL1® |
| 2. | 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST |
| 3. | DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® |
| 4. | Biotrue® ONEday |
| 5. | Proclear® 1 day |
| 6. | 1-DAY ACUVUE® TruEye® |
| 7. | SofLens® daily disposable |
| 8. | ACUVUE® OASYS 1-DAY with HydraLuxe® TECHNOLOGY |
| 9. | Focus® DAILIES® |
| 10. | 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST for ASTIGMATISM |
Who should wear daily contact lenses?
If you’re new to contact lenses, your eye doctor will likely prescribe daily disposable contacts. Many eye doctors prescribe dailies to first-time lens wearers because dailies are comfortable and convenient. That being said, anyone can wear dailies, including longtime lens wearers. Dailies are also a solid candidate for anyone who doesn’t have the time or patience for a lens care routine, such as busy professionals, healthcare personnel, and shift workers.
What are the pros and cons of weekly contact lenses?
Many lens wearers enjoy using weekly contacts for the following reasons:
1. Weeklies are affordable
Weekly contacts are generally cheaper upfront than daily disposable contacts. This makes them a solid choice for lens wearers on a budget.
2. Weeklies are fairly durable
Weeklies are a bit thicker than daily disposable contacts because they’re meant to last up to 14 days. This makes them more durable and less prone to drying out than dailies.
3. Some weeklies can be worn overnight
Some weekly contacts are FDA-cleared or approved for overnight wear. These contacts are a solid choice for people who sometimes forget to remove their contacts before bed.
4. Weeklies allow flexibility
Some lens wearers only use their contacts for a few hours each day. They may also use their contacts only on certain days. Weekly contacts allow lens wearers like these the freedom to use their contacts only when they really need to without feeling wasteful.
Unfortunately, weekly contact lenses have a few disadvantages, including:
- Possible irritation – Even with daily cleaning, weekly contacts can accumulate deposits. Deposits can build up on the surface of the lens, making a once comfortable lens uncomfortable and irritating.
- Greater risk of eye problems – Wearing reusable contacts continuously for several days, even contacts that are approved for sleeping, can pose risks to your eyes because contacts deprive eyes of oxygen. Risks include eye infections, corneal ulcers, and permanent vision loss.
- High maintenance – Because weekly contacts are reusable, you need to regularly clean and disinfect them after each use. This process can be tedious if you have a busy schedule.
At Lens.com, we offer a variety of weekly contact lenses. For your reference, here’s a list of the best-selling weekly contacts on Lens.com for 2022.
| Rank | The Best-Selling Weekly Contact Lenses of 2022 on Lens.com |
| 1. | ACUVUE® OASYS with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS |
| 2. | Biomedics® 55 premier aspheric |
| 3. | ACUVUE® 2 |
| 4. | SofLens 38 |
| 5. | Avaira Vitality™ |
| 6. | ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ |
| 7. | Extreme H2O 54% |
| 8. | Avaira Vitality™ toric |
| 9. | Biomedics® toric |
| 10. | SofLens 59 |
| Most Popular Daily vs Weekly Contacts: Which Is Better for You? Contact Lenses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| All Daily vs Weekly Contacts: Which Is Better for You? Contact Lenses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily vs Weekly Contacts: Which Is Better for You? Contact Lenses With Rebates | |||
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See All Available Daily vs Weekly Contacts: Which Is Better for You? Rebates
| Rebates for Order Amounts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily vs Weekly Contacts: Which Is Better for You? Brand Products | 4 Boxes | 8 Boxes | |
| 1-Day Acuvue Moist 30 Pack | $85 | -- | |
| 1-Day Acuvue Moist 90 Pack | -- | $220 | |
| Acuvue 2 | -- | $180 | |
| Acuvue Oasys 12 Pack | $85 | -- | |
| Acuvue Oasys 24 Pack | $85 | -- | |
| Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with Hydraluxe | -- | $290 | |
| Acuvue Oasys with Transitions | -- | $160 | |
| Avaira Vitality | -- | $160 | |
| Avaira Vitality Toric | -- | $160 | |
| Biomedics Toric | $75 | -- | |
| Biotrue ONEday | -- | $160 | |
| Clariti 1-Day | -- | $290 | |
| Dailies AquaComfort Plus | -- | $290 | |
| Dailies Total 1 | -- | $290 | |
| Focus Dailies | -- | $160 | |
| MyDay Daily Disposable | -- | $210 | |
| Proclear 1 Day | -- | $220 | |
| SofLens 38 (Optima FW) | $75 | -- | |
About Daily vs Weekly Contacts Which Is Better for You Contacts
Who should wear weekly contact lenses?
Weekly lenses are a great choice for lens wearers who can follow a lens care routine. Weeklies are also a solid candidate for cost- and eco-conscious lens wearers because weeklies generate less waste and are less expensive than dailies.
Can you sleep in daily and weekly contacts?
Never sleep in daily disposable contacts. Always remove and throw them away at the end of the day to avoid complications.
Some weekly contacts are FDA-approved for overnight or extended wear, but you can only wear them to bed if your eye doctor says so. And even if you’re allowed to wear them to bed, experts advise giving your eyes a break from contacts every now and then. Contacts, even those that are FDA-approved for overnight or extended wear, can deprive your eyes of oxygen and put you at risk of infections and other eye problems.
Can I switch from daily to weekly contacts, or vice versa?
Yes, if you already wear contacts, you should have no problem adjusting to dailies and weeklies. If you’re interested in switching from daily to weekly contacts, or vice versa, talk to your eye doctor.
Conclusion: which contact lens is better?
Daily and weekly contacts have unique pros and cons, and no two contact lens wearers are the same. Moreover, only an eye care professional (ECP) can determine which contact lens is best for you. So if you’re interested in trying daily or weekly contacts, consult with your ECP.
This information is intended as a resource, not medical advice. Be sure to consult with your ECP to determine your specific needs.