Monthly contact lenses are a convenient vision correction option, designed for 30 days of use before disposal. They require diligent maintenance and strict adherence to hygiene protocols to ensure eye health and prevent serious complications over the four-week wear period.
Insertion and Removal Techniques
The process of inserting and removing monthly contact lenses must always begin with thorough hand hygiene. Wash your hands with a non-cosmetic, plain soap and water, avoiding moisturizing or perfumed products that can leave a film on the lens surface. Dry your hands completely with a clean, lint-free towel, as tap water is a source of microorganisms that can cause severe eye infections.
To insert the lens, place it on the tip of your dominant index finger and check its orientation; the lens should form a perfect bowl shape with the edges pointing straight up. If the edges flare outward, the lens is inside out, and you must flip it before proceeding. Use the middle finger of the same hand to pull down your lower eyelid, and use the opposite hand’s index finger to hold the upper eyelid open.
Gently place the lens directly onto the colored part of your eye, or look upward and place it on the white part of your eye just below the iris. Once the lens is on the eye, slowly release your eyelids and blink a few times to allow the lens to center itself. Always handle the same lens first—for example, the right eye—to prevent mixing up prescriptions.
For removal, start by washing and drying your hands again, then look up or to the side to shift the lens from the sensitive center of your eye. Use the index finger and thumb of your dominant hand to gently pinch the lens at its edge, causing it to fold slightly. This “pinch method” allows the lens to lift cleanly off the eye’s surface. If the lens is difficult to grasp, you can first use your index finger to slide it down onto the white part of your eye before pinching.
Essential Daily Cleaning and Storage
Since monthly lenses are reused, they require meticulous cleaning every time they are removed to prevent the buildup of tear proteins, lipids, and environmental debris. The most effective method is the “rub and rinse” technique, which should be performed even if your multipurpose solution packaging claims to be “no-rub.”
Place the lens in the clean palm of your hand and apply a few drops of fresh contact lens solution. Gently rub the lens surface with your fingertip in a back-and-forth motion for at least 10 to 20 seconds, which physically dislodges microorganisms and deposits that the solution alone cannot penetrate. After rubbing, rinse the lens thoroughly with more fresh solution for several seconds before placing it into the clean case.
Always use fresh disinfecting solution to fill the case completely, ensuring the lens is fully submerged. Never reuse old solution or “top off” the liquid, as this practice significantly dilutes the disinfectant and introduces contaminants. Once the lenses are inserted in the morning, empty the used solution from the case and rinse the case with fresh solution. Wipe the case dry with a clean tissue, and store it open and upside down with the caps off to allow it to air-dry thoroughly. This process helps inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.
The contact lens case is a common source of contamination, as microorganisms can form a protective layer called biofilm on the plastic surface. This biofilm accumulates over time, increasing the risk of severe infections like microbial keratitis. Therefore, you must replace your contact lens case entirely at least every three months.
Adhering to the Monthly Schedule and Safety Precautions
Monthly lenses are approved for a maximum of 30 days of wear after the blister pack is opened, regardless of how many times the lens was worn. The lens material is engineered to maintain its integrity, oxygen permeability, and resistance to deposits for that duration. Wearing them past the 30-day mark causes the lens to degrade, reducing oxygen flow to the cornea and increasing surface irregularities where deposits can build up.
This deterioration directly elevates the risk of eye complications, including corneal inflammation and sight-threatening infections. It is advisable to mark your calendar or set a reminder on your phone for the exact date of disposal to ensure the lenses are replaced on time. Never attempt to wear monthly lenses while sleeping, unless they are a specific type of lens approved by your eye doctor for extended wear.
Sleeping in non-approved lenses restricts oxygen supply to the cornea, increasing the likelihood of a serious eye infection by six to eight times. You must also remove your lenses before any water exposure, including swimming, showering, or using a hot tub. Water can harbor a parasite called Acanthamoeba, which adheres to the soft lens material and causes a painful, difficult-to-treat infection known as Acanthamoeba keratitis.
If you ever experience symptoms such as unusual redness that does not clear quickly, persistent pain, sudden blurred vision, excessive tearing or discharge, or unusual sensitivity to light, remove your lenses immediately. These symptoms are warning signs of a potential infection or corneal issue and require prompt consultation with an eye care professional. Keep the removed lenses in their case so your doctor can examine them to help determine the cause of your symptoms.