It’s easy to take contact lenses for granted. They’re so convenient and accessible that many of us pop them in each morning without a second thought. In reality, they’re a relatively new medical marvel — the first modern plastic contact lens wasn’t introduced until almost 1950. Or, as Dr. Robert Kinast puts it, “We think of contact lenses as being so normal, but 100 years ago, nobody walked around with little pieces of plastic over their eyes.”
Dr. Kinast, the vice chair of ophthalmology at Legacy Devers Eye Institute and co-founder of GentleDrop, says, “Contact lenses are foreign bodies and should be treated with respect.” To that end, we talked with eye experts to explain how to care for contact lenses and when to replace them.
How long do contacts last?
The lifespan of your contact lenses depends on a few factors. Dr. Meenal Agarwal, optometrist and podcast host, explains, “Soft daily disposables are single-use, so you need to discard them after one day.” At the other end of the spectrum, she says that “hard lenses can last one to two years with proper care.” The most important rule, according to Dr. Agarwal, is to always follow the replacement schedule recommended by your eye doctor.
Soft lenses are the most commonly worn contact lenses, according to Dr. Jovi Boparai, ophthalmic surgeon and co-founder and CEO of CorneaCare. He explains that these lenses “range from daily disposables to weekly, biweekly or monthly.” However, “Rigid gas permeable contact lenses can last much longer, ranging from months to a year.” These lenses are made of hard plastic.
While most contact lenses will last for the intended duration, some factors may shorten their lifespan. For instance, dust and smoke may cling to your lenses and make them unusable. If there is a wildfire in your area or a high allergen count and your lenses start to feel uncomfortable, you may want to toss them early.
How to know if your contacts are expired
The quickest way to gauge whether your contacts are expired is to look at the date on the box. Dr. Boarpai says that unopened contact lenses generally have a shelf life of one to four years from the date of manufacturing.
Beyond reviewing the expiration date, you should pay attention to how your lenses look. According to Dr. Boparai, old lenses may show discoloration or damage. He also warns that expired contacts can develop deposits — meaning a buildup of residue on the lenses.
On the other hand, your contacts may still be expired, even if they look great. Dr. Agarwal warns, “The lenses may look the same as they did on the first day, but that doesn’t mean they’re still safe to use.” In short, you should defer to the expiration date first but also ditch your lenses if there is obvious damage or they become painful.
