Disposable vs. Regular Contact Lens

People who have vision disorders but don't want to deal with wearing glasses have been wearing contact lenses for many years. However, debate often ensues about which kind of contact lens is better--disposables or regular, longer-term lenses.

Time Frame

• A disposable contact lens is thrown away and replaced every two weeks or less. Traditional contacts are replaced every six months.

Buildup

• The longer a person wears a certain set of lenses, the greater the chance that materials found in tears will build up on the lenses and make them less comfortable. From this perspective, disposable lenses are a better bet.

Prescription

• Certain prescription strengths are only available in traditional contact lenses, which makes them the only option for some people who want to wear contacts.

Cost

• Traditional contact lenses might be more expensive than disposable lenses up front, but disposable lenses have an incremental cost. Factors like prescription strength, lens provider and what cleaning products (if any) are used will affect how much it costs a person to wear contacts.

Maintenance

• Traditional contact lenses have to be put into cleaning solutions to help eliminate buildup and extend their life. Disposables either reduce or eliminate the need for this routine.