How often should you change monthly contacts? Two-week and daily lenses, and the lens case

How often: follow the label, counting from the day you open them

Replace your lenses on the schedule from your eye doctor and the product label: monthlies 30 days after opening, two-week lenses after 14 days, dailies after one use. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) puts it simply: keep the schedule your eye doctor gives you for wearing and replacing your lenses.

Type	Replace	Keep in mind
Daily disposable	After one use	Throw them out when you take them out
Two-week	14 days after opening	Clean and disinfect every time you remove them
Monthly	30 days after opening	Not 30 days of wear
Lens case	At least every 3 months	Right away if it cracks

• Dailies: the AAO describes daily disposables as a new pair each day, and the FDA defines “disposable” as used once and discarded.
• Two-week and monthly lenses: the FDA notes that sellers sometimes call these “disposable” too, but they’re actually frequent or planned replacement lenses that you clean and disinfect between wears.
• Monthlies: Alcon’s guidance is never to wear them more than a month after you open the blister pack. If you only wore them ten times this month, they still expire on schedule.
• Extended wear lenses that you sleep in follow a different schedule set by your eye care professional.

If you only wear contacts occasionally, a monthly pair can expire after just a few wears. The AAO notes that some ophthalmologists recommend daily disposables for occasional use, which is worth raising at your next exam.

The lens case: clean it daily, replace it every 3 months

Clean and air-dry your case every time you empty it, and replace it at least every 3 months. The FDA, CDC and AAO all agree on this.

How the FDA and CDC describe it:

1. Once your lenses are in, tip out all the old solution.
2. Rub the case clean with clean fingers and rinse it with fresh multipurpose solution, not tap water.
3. Shake out the excess and let it air-dry upside down with the caps off, or dry it with a fresh, clean cloth.

The FDA points out that lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth, and recommends replacing yours every 3 months or as directed by your eye care professional. The AAO says to replace it right away if it cracks or is damaged.

Solution: fresh every time, never topped off

Empty the case and use fresh solution every time; never reuse or top off old solution. The FDA, CDC and AAO all single this out.

• Fill the case with fresh solution each night before you put your lenses in.
• Don’t use solution past its expiration or discard date, the FDA says.
• Which solution to use and how to rub and rinse your lenses depends on your lens material, so follow your eye care professional’s instructions and the product directions.

Keep water away from your lenses

Don’t let any water touch your lenses: not tap, bottled or distilled water. The FDA says to never use non-sterile water or homemade saline, because exposing lenses to water has been linked to Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment.

• Take your lenses out before showering, swimming or using a hot tub (CDC, AAO).
• Don’t wet lenses with saliva, the AAO says; it isn’t sterile.
• Rinse the case with solution, not tap water.

When to take your lenses out

If your eyes are very red, painful or sensitive to light, or your vision is blurry, take your lenses out and call your eye doctor right away. The AAO lists those symptoms, along with watery eyes or discharge, as possible signs of an eye infection or another serious problem. The CDC also says to remove your lenses and contact your eye care provider if they cause discomfort. When to start wearing them again is your eye doctor’s call.

Common mistakes

• Stretching monthlies past 30 days because you didn’t wear them every day. The clock starts when you open them.
• Saving dailies in solution for tomorrow. They’re designed for one use.
• Topping off the solution. The FDA and AAO both say to discard it and use fresh.
• Rinsing lenses or the case with tap water. The FDA links water exposure to Acanthamoeba keratitis.
• Sleeping in daily wear lenses. The AAO says not to, and the CDC says to avoid sleeping in lenses unless your eye care provider tells you otherwise.
• Keeping the same case until it cracks. Like the lenses, it’s meant to be replaced.

How to remember

You change monthlies a dozen times a year, but rarely on the same date: sometimes you open a new pair early, sometimes a month goes by with only a few wears. The opening date is the first thing you forget, and the case, on a three-month cycle, can quietly stay in use for half a year.

Alcon suggests starting each new pair on a memorable day, like the 1st or the 10th of the month. Track “change monthly contacts” as a monthly item and mark it done each time you open a pair, and add a separate item for the lens case every 3 months. That’s about the same rhythm as replacing your toothbrush, so you can swap both on the same day. Razor blades are another personal item that wears out quickly and is worth tracking alongside.