Written by True Eye Experts
Most daily disposable contacts are single-use, meaning they are meant to be thrown away after you take them out at the end of the day.
But many of our patients ask—do you still need to toss them if you only wear your dailies for a few hours before taking them out? Is it okay to wear daily contacts more than once?
The answer to this question depends on what kind of daily contacts you have. That’s because there are daily disposable contact lenses, and then there are daily extended-use contact lenses. There are major differences in the way that these lenses are designed and how often they can safely be worn.
In this article, the True Eye Experts explain what you need to know about reusing daily contacts.
When we talk about reusing daily contacts, it’s important to know which kind we are talking about. There are two main types of lenses:
You can check your lens box if you are unsure which kind you have. The box will have instructions on how often you should dispose of the lenses.
The short answer is no. You shouldn’t wear daily disposable contacts more than once. However, you can safely re-wear daily extended-use lenses for up to a month (or however long your optometrist recommends).
But a common question is what if you only wore your disposable lenses for an hour or two? Is it safe to re-wear them after that?
Unfortunately, the answer to that is also no. You should always throw away daily disposable lenses, even if you only wore them for a little while.
The reason you shouldn’t re-wear daily disposables is that reusing them can come with health risks. Those risks include:
What is the best way to avoid eye irritation and infection? Wash your hands before handling contacts or touching your eyes, don’t sleep in lenses, and don’t reuse disposables.
Disposable contacts are very thin, which means cleaning them isn’t effective—and can actually break down the lens itself, which increases the risk of the lens falling apart during use.
Think of it like this: a daily disposable lens is like a paper plate. Paper plates are thin and get the job done for one meal, but they easily absorb food particles and liquids (like how a disposable lens absorbs bacteria).
Running a paper plate through a dishwasher or even lightly scrubbing it with a sponge doesn’t clean it. Instead, the cleaning process makes the paper break down without removing all the residue. It’s the same with disposable lenses. Re-wearing a disposable lens can expose you to harmful bacteria and put you at risk of infection, even if you clean them.
If you have more contact questions or want to make the switch to monthly lenses, an eye doctor can help! The True Eye team is passionate about helping you and your family see clearly and comfortably. Click here to schedule an appointment at one of our offices in West Central Florida or fill out a contact form here and a member of our team will reach out to you.
Our mission at True Eye Experts is simple — provide the best possible care to our patients. We make sure we’re doing this a few different ways. Our V-Eye-P Exam is one of the most comprehensive eye exams in the industry. We use state-of-the-art medical technology to screen, diagnose, and treat more conditions than most other providers in the area. We have an extensive collection of designer eyewear that can complement any patient’s face, style, and budget, and our advanced contact lens fitting process can help even “hard-to-fit” patients wear contacts comfortably. Book an appointment online at one of our True Eye Experts locations, conveniently located throughout Central Florida. Have questions or prefer to book over the phone? Give us a call today.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Symptoms, Treatment & More
Specialty Eyewear
"I have been getting my eyes checked by Dr. Samuel Teske for years. He is very thorough and thoughtful. The staff is also very professional and attentive. Highly recommend True Eye Experts!"
Everyone at this office is very friendly, helpful, and professional, whether it's helping you buy new frames, being fitted for glasses, or just interacting at the front desk. If something is wrong with my glasses, they are quick to remedy the situation. I would highly recommend this office for all your eye care needs!"
"Dr. Randich is personable and thorough. She spends time educating her patients with warmth and genuine concern. Staff is always friendly, helpful, and quick!"
"Staff was very professional, and the eye exam used the latest technologies. Very impressed with all that was done to check my eyes. Great experience!"
I had an emergency and needed to be seen as soon as possible. They fit me in right away and got my injury addressed and on the road to recovery! The staff is so professional and caring! Everyone had a smile on their faces & was welcoming. Thank you so very much for everything! – Kristen L.