Do Contact Lenses Expire?

Contact lenses can help improve your vision without the need for thick eyeglasses. But wearing expired ones may take a toll on your eye health. In this short blog, let us look into everything you need to know about the lifespan of contact lenses and why you should check a contact’s expiration date every time you order eye contacts online.

Yes, Contact Lenses Expire

To give you a short answer: Yes, contact lenses expire. While some last for a year, others are designed to be worn for at least one day or a week. In most cases, you can find the expiration dates on the lens’ foil cover, whether you order eye contacts online or in a physical store.

One thing you should remember, though, is you should not wear expired contact lenses because they pose a risk to your eyes. As the packaging of your contact lenses ages, they deteriorate and contaminate the content—leading to eye health issues or complications.

Types of Contacts and Their Lifespan

At Oh, My Lens, we offer a wide range of contact lenses, depending on your need and preference. Here are some of the different types of contacts and how long they last:

• Daily Contact Lenses (Soft): You can wear them for one day and then dispose of them after use.
• Monthly Contact Lenses (Soft): These last for one month, but you must remove them daily and place them into the right contacts case with the solution.
• Extended Wear Contact Lenses (Soft): You can use this type of contact lens overnight. Its lifespan reaches up to 30 days.
• Non-Prescription Contact Lenses (Soft): These are colored contact lenses (e.g., blue contact lenses) used for fashion. They usually last about 30 days.

What Should You Do If You Unknowingly Wore Expired Contact Lenses?

First, don’t panic. The consequences aren’t serious if it’s your first time wearing expired lenses. Just take them off the moment you notice they’re expired. And the best next step to take is to seek medical attention, especially when it irritates your eyes.

It is also important to know that you shouldn’t use an expired contact lens solution either. Once the solution is past its expiration date, its pH level may change, and it wouldn’t be that effective in disinfecting your lenses.

See the World from a Brand-New Perspective with Oh, My Lens!

You can order contacts online through Oh, My Lens. We offer a myriad of choices so you can find the right lens for you! You can shop by color, base curve, or diameter. Not just that, we also have contact lenses for farsightedness, astigmatism, or even cosplay. Get a pair or two today!