Choosing Between Disposable vs. Conventional Contacts: What Optometry Practices Should Know

To stay competitive with other optometry practices, you must offer the products and services patients are looking for. Understanding the pros and cons of disposable vs. conventional contacts can help your practice determine which products to recommend to patients.

Disposable contact lenses only last for about a day, while conventional contacts can be worn for longer periods. The latter are sometimes called “monthly contacts.”

These two types of contact lenses consist of different materials, allowing them to last for varying amounts of time. Eye care professionals, including opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists, must know the features and benefits of both types to provide effective recommendations.

Types of Contact Lenses Explained

Many kinds of contact lenses exist across the market, and new styles and technologies continually emerge. The two main types of contact lenses are disposable ones you wear for one day and conventional ones designed for longer wear.

What Are Disposable Contact Lenses?

Disposable contact lenses are single-use daily contact lenses that must be discarded after each wear. These daily disposable lenses are the most convenient option for many contact wearers. Patients don’t need to worry about storing daily soft lenses overnight or cleaning them with contact lens solution after use; they can simply throw them away.

These options may be better for patients new to wearing contact lenses. They often feel more comfortable because they are made of soft, flexible plastics that promote oxygen flow to the cornea.

Understanding Conventional Contact Lenses

Conventional contact lenses refer to any contacts other than daily disposable lenses. Also called planned replacement lenses, these contacts are designed for longer wear. Patients can choose traditional contact lenses that last any of the following amounts of time:

• One week
• One month
• Two months
• One year

Conventional contacts that last a shorter amount of time, such as one week or one month, typically consist of soft plastic polymers like disposable contact lenses. Meanwhile, long-lasting contacts consist of rigid gas-permeable materials. These durable lenses are less likely to tear and can last over a year or more.

Because patients can reuse conventional contacts for more than one day, they need to clean and store them properly when not in use. Placing extended-wear contacts in fresh contact lens solution every night and storing them in a safe place helps them last longer and prevents eye infections.

Comparing Disposable vs. Conventional Contacts

Patients should understand several key differences to determine which products — disposable vs. conventional contacts — are right for their needs and lifestyles.

Cost Differences

Typically, the cost per use decreases as the lifespan of a contact lens increases. Daily disposable contact lenses may seem inexpensive because each pair is cheaper than extended-wear contacts. However, long-term costs tend to be higher because they only last one day.

On the other hand, patients should also consider the additional products necessary to maintain extended-wear contacts, like cleaning solutions and storage cases.

Hygiene and Eye Health

Daily disposable contacts may be the preferred option for patients concerned about eye infections compared to monthly contacts or hard contact lens options. Daily lenses are more hygienic, reducing the risk of build-up and contaminants.

Additionally, optometrists prescribe specific types of contact lenses for certain issues.

• Toric contact lenses address refractive errors to correct astigmatism.
• Multifocal contacts or bifocal contacts offer vision correction for people with multiple prescriptions.
• Spherical contacts treat myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia.

These considerations can impact whether a patient chooses disposable vs. conventional contacts.

Environmental Considerations

Reusable contact lenses may be the better option for patients concerned about the environment. Disposable contacts contribute to plastic waste, though many are now recyclable. Eco-conscious patients may at least prefer monthly disposable contact lenses over daily wear options because they produce less waste.

Of course, patients should consider how the additional products required to maintain monthly contact lenses or hard lenses may offset waste reduction.

Comfort and Convenience Factors

Daily lenses tend to be more comfortable than hard contact lenses because of their soft plastic or silicone hydrogel construction and their oxygen permeability. Yet rigid gas-permeable lenses may provide sharper vision than soft lens options.

Additionally, different contact lens types make sense for different lifestyles. Someone who has a busy schedule or frequently travels may prefer daily disposables for their convenience. Alternatively, someone who has trouble remembering to order new contacts may prefer monthly lenses.

Choosing the Right Lens Type for Different Patient Needs

As an eye doctor, you have a duty to help patients choose the right contact lens type for their needs. Consider these factors when recommending disposable vs. conventional contacts or another type, such as specialty contact lenses.

Suitability Based on Lifestyle

Ask patients about their lifestyle and habits, especially those who have worn contacts in the past. Are they prepared to store monthly disposable contact lenses in a cleaning solution overnight? Would they be tempted to wear daily contact lenses for multiple days instead of changing them out for a fresh pair?

These questions can help you understand a patient’s potential compliance and recommend the right lens material accordingly.

Vision Health and Specific Eye Conditions

Some contacts are better for patients with certain conditions. Those with dry eyes, allergies, or sensitivity may benefit from the sterile nature of daily disposable contacts. These options don’t dry out like other lenses because they are only intended for one-day use.

Meanwhile, traditional lenses are available in a wider range of prescriptions. They’re typically the preferred option for those who need better visual acuity, toric lenses, or complex vision correction.

Enhancing Patient Satisfaction and Compliance With Contact Lens Choices

Recommending the right contact lenses to patients is an excellent way to boost satisfaction. Leveraging Weave’s suite of optometry tools can also help by streamlining communication and supporting compliance.

Enhancing Patient Education With Digital Tools

Informing patients about the right type of contacts — disposable contacts, traditional soft contact lenses, or RGP lenses — is just one of the many forms of patient education you’ll need to conduct. Weave’s email marketing and two-way messaging features can help you keep patients informed with:

• Reminders about follow-up appointments
• Educational content
• Information about care routines
• Promotions about new products (such as colored contacts or stylish reading glasses)

You’ll save time on patient communications while promoting a stronger connection with your patient base.

Scheduling and Payment Convenience

Leverage Weave for online scheduling, whether you book lens checkups or initial fittings. Patients can schedule their appointments on your website. This hassle-free process promotes continuity in patient care.

Meanwhile, Weave’s patient payments software reduces late payments and promotes a more convenient payment experience for patients. It can also automatically send billing and payment reminders, simplifying the process of purchasing replacement lenses.

Help Your Patients Choose Between Disposable Lenses vs. Conventional Lenses

The main distinction between disposable vs. conventional contacts is how long they last. Disposable contacts, or “daily contacts,” last for one day. Conventional contacts, on the other hand, can include monthly lenses or hard lenses that last for extended periods. Each has distinct benefits suited to different patient needs.

Want to explore other ways to improve satisfaction in your practice? Weave’s communication and scheduling solutions help streamline patient education and communicate contact lens offerings. Get a demo today to see how Weave can support your practice.