How much contacts lenses

The contact lens rule: a guide for prescribers and sellers. Published June Contact lens hygiene compliance and lens case contamination: A review. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. Contact lens-related corneal infections - United States, Corneal infections associated with sleeping in contact lenses - six cases, United States, Demographics and behaviour of patients with contact lens-related infectious keratitis in Singapore. Annals Academy of Medicine. American Optometric Association. Cost of contact lenses.

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Some people choose to wear contact lenses as an alternative to glasses. The cost of contact lenses varies and depends on lens prescription and the type of lens a person chooses. Typically, contact lenses correct vision issues. Many lenses improve various types of refractive errors and other conditions, including:. A person may also wear contact lenses to promote eye healing. Contact lenses may not suit everyone. For example, if a person has dry eyes or inflammation of the cornea keratitis or eyelid, contact lenses may further irritate or incorrectly fit their eye.

As such, an eye doctor may advise against using contact lenses. It is difficult to determine the exact cost for contact lenses since various factors play a role, including:. A person may use their health savings account HSA or their flexible savings account FSA to pay for their contact lenses, but most health insurers do not provide vision benefits.

Some insurance plans may offer vision care as an optional extra for an additional fee. In these cases, plans may cover the cost of contact lenses, and a person should contact their plan provider to confirm coverage and check the claiming process. The primary type of tinted contact lenses available include:. The length of time a person can wear contact lenses without taking them out may also vary by type and affect cost. Options include:. Over 45 million people wear contact lenses.

Contact lenses are safe for most people to wear. But complications, such as an eye infection, can develop without proper care. An individual must obtain a prescription for contact lenses from a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist. It is not legal to purchase decorative or cosmetic contact lenses in the United States without a prescription. An individual can buy contact lenses in person at a retail store or by ordering online.

Below are several brands of contact lenses, along with information on the types of lenses sold. The brand or type recommendation is based on what your doctor learns about your eyes and their professional opinion about which lenses will fit you best. If daily maintenance and proper storage at night sound like too much hassle, daily disposable lenses may be a great fit for you.

Dailies typically come in a box of Make sure to not use dailies for more than a day. If you need to stretch a box, you can instead take some days off from wearing your contacts and switch to your glasses. However, you still need to soak them overnight in a saline solution.

Typically, weekly or biweekly contacts come in a pack of six. Theoretically, contacts that last for 2 weeks would cost half as much as ones that last for 1 week. Instead, try to switch to your glasses for a few days per week. However, this also means that it can be a bigger issue if your contacts break. Also, keep in mind that some people feel that monthly contacts make them more vulnerable to dry eyes. Be ready to pop on your glasses if your eyes start to feel dry or irritated.

Thus, they require a lot of care and commitment. Keep in mind that while the per-box cost for yearly contact lenses might be higher than that of other types, you only need one box to lasts an entire year. However, they may take some getting used to. You should also keep in mind that if they end up breaking, the replacement cost can be significant.

For example, lenses that last you months to a year may end up cheaper in the long run, but they also require a larger commitment to daily cleaning and proper storage.

Ultimately, the best way to determine the cost of contact lenses that suit your eyes and lifestyle is to talk with your eye doctor. Kathryn Watson is a freelance writer covering everything from sleep hygiene to moral philosophy. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children, and her website is kathrynswatson.