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Monthly disposable contact lenses are one of the most popular vision correction treatments.
You can wear monthly contacts for approximately 30 days. Once 30 days have passed, you’ll throw those lenses away and open new ones. Monthly lenses are typically worn throughout the day, then cleaned and placed in contact solution overnight.
Monthlies are available in a wide range of prescriptions and lens types (including toric and multifocal). They can correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), and astigmatism.
Dr. James Dello Russo has been a practicing Optometrist for twenty-two years and administrative director for the New Jersey Eye Center in Bergenfield, NJ.
We asked Dr. James for his top recommendations for monthly contact lenses. Here's what he said:
Dr. Dello Russo's Recommendations | |
---|---|
Best Overall - | Alcon TOTAL 30 |
Best for Astigmatism - | Biofinity Toric |
Best for Dry Eyes - | Alcon TOTAL 30 |
Best for Heavy Screen Users - | Alcon TOTAL 30 |
Best Multifocal - | Biofinity Multifocal |
Best for Extended Wear - | Air Optix Night & Day Aqua |
Best Colored Contacts - | Air Optix Colors |
Dr. James Dello Russo's main advice about wearing monthly lenses is to take lens hygiene seriously.
"Contact lenses are medical devices, FDA approved to be used with contact lens disinfecting solutions," Dr. James says.
Learning how to properly care for your contact lenses will keep your eyes healthy and minimize risks of irritation or infection.
Always get an eye exam and contact lens fitting from an eye care professional before purchasing contact lenses online.
Dr. James' top pick for monthly contacts is the Alcon TOTAL 30.
The lens "affords excellent oxygen permeability and utilizes something called celient technology. The lens mimics the corneal ocular surface to resist lipid and bacterial adherence to the contact lens surface to inhibit lens depositing...it approaches 100% on the lens surface allowing for a smooth contact lens surface and reducing lens discomfort," says Dr. James.
Biofinitys toric contacts are Dr. James' recommendation for people with astigmatism. They have a "very stable design to keep the lens from shifting off axis of astigmatism to minimize fluctuation of vision during blinking and eye movement," he says.
Bonus: Some patients can use Biofinity Toric Monthly lenses for up to 7 days/6 nights of continuous wear. Not all patients can achieve the maximum wear time. Speak with your eye care practitioner for more information.
*Biofinity Toric XR lenses are available for people with astigmatism and high prescriptions.
According to Dr. James, Alcon TOTAL 30's superior ocular surface wettability makes them the best monthly option for patients with dry eyes.
Yet again, Acon TOTAL 30 takes this category. They block over 90% of UVA and 99% of UVB, which reduces the amount of blue light that gets to your eyes. Their breathability and wettability also keep your eyes comfortable even if you're working on a screen all day.
People with presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) often need multifocal lenses. Dr. James chose Biofinity Multifocal lenses because they have the widest prescription parameters, and are available in a Multifocal Toric version for those with astigmatism.
Air Optix Night & Day Aqua are FDA-approved for daily wear and up to 30 nights of continuous wear*. This allows you to create a flexible wear schedule that can adapt to any busy lifestyle. They also allow more oxygen flow than any other soft contact lens.
*Important Safety Information: Not all patients can wear the lenses for extended wear. Approximately 80% of patients are able to wear the contacts during the day and at night. Always follow the eye care professional’s recommended lens wear, care and replacement schedule. Overnight wear of contact lenses has been shown to increase the risk of certain serious contact lens–related complications.See more AIR OPTIX Safety Information.
Air Optix Colors can transform your eyes to one of 12 different colors. Their silicone hydrogel material allows a high flow of oxygen to reach your eye. They also prevent protein deposit buildup using SmartShield® technology.
Vision Center recommends getting a professional contact lens fitting from a qualified eye care professional before purchasing any contact lenses online.
For all contact lenses, follow instructions given by your eye care professional. Each contact lens manufacturer and lens cleaning solution will have its own set of instructions as well. Follow these as well as the replacement schedule for each of your lenses.
Here are some best practices for caring for taking care of your contact lenses:
For more specific instructions, speak with your eye doctor. They will provide you with the best routine based on your contacts, lens solution, eye prescription, and lifestyle.
Monthly and daily contacts are two of the most popular soft lens types. Monthly lenses are thicker and get replaced every 30 days. Daily disposable lenses are thinner and get thrown away at the end of each day.
Both of these are viable options for people who need vision correction. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Monthly contact lenses are less expensive, create less waste, and are far more durable than dailies. However, they are more prone to buildup of proteins and lipids and require more maintenance than dailies.
Monthly contact lenses typically cost between $45 and $75 for a 6-pack (six months’ worth). Contacts with special features such as toric lenses for astigmatism, multifocal lenses for presbyopia, transition lenses, colored lenses, etc., will be more expensive.
You’ll also need to buy a contact case and contact lens solution. These can be purchased at your eye doctor’s, at a pharmacy, or online for $10 or less.
Other types of contact lenses include rigid gas permeable (RGP), weekly disposable, and daily disposable lenses.
The Vision Center team spends several hours researching and writing every review page. We scour the internet and base all of our recommendations on:
Every review is then edited for medical accuracy by our medical reviewer, Dr. Melody Huang, O.D..
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1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online.
GlassesUSA has a huge selection of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses.
Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices.
Liingo Eyewear is another great option to buy glasses online.
EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6.
All Vision Center content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed optometrist to ensure the information is factual and meets industry standards.
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