Home / Blog / What is the maximum length of time to wear contact lenses?
In this edition of EveryDay Insight, SightMD focuses on a topic that has not received much coverage in recent times: contact lenses. As a convenient and affordable alternative to eyeglasses for improving the ability to see better, patients who wear contact lenses have many questions. Perhaps the most frequently asked question is..How long can you wear contact lenses?
How long can you wear contacts before replacing them with a new pair?
There is more than one answer to this question, as length of time where you can wear contacts depends on the type of lens. For instance, contact lenses that are designed for daily or on-time use may be worn within as long as a 14-to-16 hour time frame. On the other hand – for the purpose of resting the eyes – an eye care professional may advise you to remove your contacts for one or two hours before retiring for the night – which means less time to wear them.
Also, where daily contact lenses are concerned, you might wonder if they can get two days out of them. Sorry, but the answer there is no. They should never be worn except within the space of a single day, and are not to be reused. (After all, they’re called “daily” contact lenses for a reason.) And, if a pair of daily contact lenses are removed after a few hours, they cannot be put back in on the same day. You will have to open a new pair and place what we’ll call the “tomorrow” contacts in your eyes for the remainder of “today.”
Is sleeping with contact lenses safe?
Sleeping in contact lenses significantly increases the risk of serious eye infections. You should avoid it whenever possible. The risk of complications is still higher when you sleep in them versus removing them every night. The maximum time that any lens has been approved to wear continuously is 30 days. You should never wear a lens longer than that. If you must sleep in your lenses, most eye doctors will encourage you to take them out as often as possible, or at least once per week. Be sure you are wearing lenses approved for extended wear. If you feel tired during the course of the day and feel the need to take a nap, it is best to remove your contact lenses, regardless of whether they are daily or one-time wear types. Falling asleep while wearing your contact lenses may lead to irritated or infected eyes.
How long do contact lenses last?
How long do contacts last unopened? All contacts will have an expiration date clearly printed on the packaging. A new lens will last about three years before it expires. You should never wear a lens that has expired. Provided that you care for them properly, contacts you’ve opened should last a day, two weeks, or a month, depending on the manufacturer’s suggested wear time.
How long can you wear contacts?
While wearing contacts is a safe and effective way to improve vision, there are some things to consider that can make your contacts work well for you. Not the least of which is answering the question, how long can you, personally, wear contacts?Everyone is different, so take your time. Find the right fit for you. Hopefully, we’ve answered some questions you might have had, and that’s a great start to healthy eyes with better vision! If you find that wearing contact lenses throughout the course of the day is too difficult, you might consider alternating them with a matching prescription for eyeglasses: Wear contacts one day, and eyeglasses the next (or vice versa).
Any more questions aboutcontact lenswear? The team at SightMD has the answers. If you are thinking about getting contact lenses, or want to upgrade your prescription,contact us. (No pun intended there.)
FAQs
Contacts meant for daily or one-time use can generally be worn up to 14 to 16 hours with no problem, but your doctor may recommend a contact-free hour or two before bedtime in order to rest your eyes. Contacts designed for continual use can be worn overnight, but, again, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.
What is the longest time you can wear contact lenses? ›
The maximum time that any lens has been approved to wear continuously is 30 days. You should never wear a lens longer than that. If you must sleep in your lenses, most eye doctors will encourage you to take them out as often as possible, or at least once per week.
How long can you stay with contact lenses? ›
If you use daily wear contacts, which must come out before bedtime, you may be able to wear your lenses for eight to 16 hours a day. If you use extended wear contacts, which are lenses you can wear overnight, you may be able to keep your contacts in for up to seven days.
What is the maximum time to wear contacts daily? ›
Daily contacts wear time
The number of hours that you can wear contacts ranges anywhere from eight to 16 hours per day. The exact time depends on a number of things, like how well you tolerate contacts, how dry or sensitive your eyes are, and your overall eye health.
How many years can you wear contact lenses for? ›
Do things change as you age? There is no maximum age limit to when you have to stop wearing contact lenses. You'll find, however, that your prescription requirements may change, as will the quality of your tears, which can lead to dry eyes. This may impact the comfort of your contact lenses.
What happens if you wear contact lenses for too long? ›
Risks of wearing contacts too long
Contact lenses that are left in too long can lead to the following conditions: Corneal ulcers (infectious keratitis): An open sore in the outer layer of the cornea. Hypoxia: A lack of oxygen that can lead to abnormal blood vessel growth into the cornea.
What is the maximum life of contact lenses? ›
So, how long do contacts last? This will depend on the type of lens you have. Disposable lenses will generally last between one day to one month, while hard lenses (RGP and PMMA) can last up to one year or longer. You can start using contact lenses right away with approval and a prescription from your eye doctor.
Can I take a 20 minute nap with contacts in? ›
While it's true that wearing contacts during a short nap is less of a risk than a full sleep cycle, that doesn't mean there's no risk at all. Even a 15-minute nap can seriously reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your eyes, putting you at greater risk of eye infections and corneal ulcers.
What are the risks of extended wear contacts? ›
Conjunctival and corneal infections are real risks; lens loss, breakage, deformation, or discoloration also occur during extended wear.
When should you stop wearing contact lenses? ›
Contact lens wearers usually drop out of contact lenses between the age of 40 to 50. This is due to two primary reasons according to most studies conducted with patients and eye doctors. These two reasons are that patients have a harder time reading up close with their contacts, and that the contacts feel dry.
Contact wearers should take the lenses out for a full day once a week. Many choose a day on the weekend when they are not out in public. Removing the contacts for a full day gives the eyes time to rest. It also allows extra oxygen to reach the eyes during those 24 hours.
Are contact lenses safe long term? ›
Keeping lenses in for extended periods can restrict your eye's oxygen supply (oxygen deprivation or hypoxia). As a result, your eyes may develop new blood vessels to get more oxygen (cornea neovascularization). If these extra blood vessels prevent light from passing through your cornea, it can lead to eye damage.
Are contacts better than glasses? ›
Contacts: Pros
They give you more natural vision than glasses. They move with your eye, and nothing blocks what you see. They don't fog up or get wet when it's cold or rainy. Contacts don't get in the way when you play sports.
What if I wear monthly contacts for longer? ›
Wearing contacts for longer than is recommended can lead to eye infections, corneal problems, hypoxia (a lack of oxygen flowing to the eye), inflammation, pink eye, distorted vision, and potentially even blindness.
Does contact lens have side effects? ›
Symptoms of eye irritation can indicate a more serious condition. Some of the possible serious hazards of wearing contact lenses are corneal ulcers, eye infections, and even blindness. Corneal ulcers are open sores in the outer layer of the cornea. They are usually caused by infections.
Can I wear my contacts more than 30 days? ›
Wearing monthly contacts for more than a month
The proteins found in your lacrimal fluid can accumulate on the surface of your lenses over time, especially if the lenses don't receive proper and routine care and cleaning, or if the lenses are overworn for an extended period of time, despite regular cleaning.
Is it okay to wear contacts for 24 hours? ›
Wearing your lenses for long periods of time can damage your eyes, even if they're daily contacts. The maximum recommended daily use for any contact lens is 14-16 hours, though Dr. Frick will determine the exact number of hours you should wear your lenses. Your eyes, just like any other part of your body, need to rest.
Can you wear 2 week contacts for a month? ›
Two-weeklies are soft contact lenses – just like your monthlies and dailies. However, they are designed to be disposed of every 15 days and replaced with a fresh pair.
