Contact lenses are an incredible feat of science and technology. Just think about it: Contacts are thin and flexible enough to fit comfortably on your eye. And yet they can bend light to help even those with strong prescriptions see clearly. Thanks to technological advancements, contact lenses can even be multifocal. That means they can correct for up to three different vision zones in a single lens! That’s incredible power in something just slightly thicker than a sheet of paper!

Beyond sheer technological achievement, there’s a lot to know about contacts. If you’re thinking about wearing contacts for the first time or need to change the type of contact you wear, there are a lot of factors to consider. 

From lens types to wear duration, cost, and more, we’ll help you better understand your choices.

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What Are the Main Factors to Consider When Choosing Contacts?

The main factors to consider when choosing contact lenses are:

• Lens material
• Lens wear duration
• Replacement schedule
• Special features or specialty lenses

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Contact Lens Material

All contact lenses are made of thin, flexible material that allows oxygen to reach the eye. There are two types of lenses: soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses.

• Soft contact lenses are the most common choice. Their thin, flexible feel makes them comfortable to wear. However, soft contact lenses are more prone to buildup of dirt and germs than hard contact lenses. That’s why they need daily cleaning and frequent replacement.
  
  
• Hard contact lenses are also called rigid gas permeable, or RGP, lenses. They’re made from a slightly stiffer type of breathable plastic. They may feel less comfortable initially and take time to adjust to. However, they are less prone to buildup. They also offer crisper vision for some vision needs.

Learn more about soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses. 

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Contact Lens Duration and Replacement Schedule

Contact lenses are meant to be worn for a specific period of time, usually one day, before you need to take them out. This is called lens wear duration. They also have to be replaced with a new pair after a certain period of time. This is called a replacement schedule. While two different factors, they are often grouped together. And you may be more familiar with these concepts as:

• Daily disposable lenses: These are soft contact lenses that you throw out after a single use. The big benefit of daily disposable lenses is that you don’t have to clean and store them every night. But you do need to keep a large supply on hand. This can make these lenses more costly compared to weekly or monthly lenses of the same brand.
  
  
• Biweekly or monthly disposable lenses: These soft contact lenses are worn every day for up to two weeks or one month, respectively, and then discarded. They must be cleaned and stored every night. Because they last longer, they’re cheaper than daily lenses of the same brand. They also may be more environmentally friendly. Keep in mind that you will need to stock contact lens cleaning supplies.
  
  
• Extended-wear lenses: These lenses may be approved for overnight wear for people with specific vision needs or lifestyle factors. Some brands can be worn for several days to up to a month without taking them out for cleaning, storage, and an overnight eye break. How long you can wear them will depend on the lens and your eye doctor’s recommendation. However, most eye doctors don’t recommend sleeping in contacts due to increased infection risk. Talk to your eye doctor if you’re interested in extended-wear lenses. 

Learn more about daily, biweekly, and monthly contact lenses.

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Specialty Features

Your eye doctor will tell you if you need specialty contact lenses. They are mostly used for people with large amounts of astigmatism, dry eye, or other eye problems. Specialty contact lenses include:

• Toric contact lenses for astigmatism
• Scleral contact lenses, sometimes used for keratoconus (an eye condition that affects the cornea)
• Ortho-k contact lenses
• Hybrid contact lenses

Learn more about specialty contact lenses. 

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Bottom Line

There are lots of factors to consider when you are thinking about wearing contact lenses. Work with your eye doctor to figure out what type of contact lens is best for you. And remember, it’s not an either/or. Many people wear both contacts and glasses, depending on the occasion. The most important thing is clear, comfortable, and healthy vision! 

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Once you have your contact lens prescription, shop our contacts. We’ve got daily, weekly, or monthly options from top brands like Acuvue, Dailies, Air Optix, and Biofinity.