We begin by talking about you and your needs so that we can find you the best lenses and the best value for money. We will help you think about - whether you intend to wear your lenses every day, on regular days (e.g. only for work or sport) or just occasionally for special occasions or special activities. Our advice will differ according to your needs. You should also think about how long you will want to wear the lenses on the days you do wear them. Our recommendation will differ according to whether you wish to wear lenses for less than 12 hours, up to 16 hours, or if you feel sleeping in the lenses is likely either by accident or by design.

Some older lenses take a long time to get used to and you have to build up your wearing time like a stout pair of new shoes. Modern disposable lenses are much easier to get used to – like most modern footwear they need hardly any "breaking in”. For most people daily disposable lenses take hardly any adaptation at all.

When choosing lenses you need to be aware that a contact lens, once opened, must be thrown away after the recommended interval no matter how many times you have worn it. So a monthly lens must be discarded after 30 days, not 30 wears.

How often will you wear your lenses?

Occasionally
If you only want to wear lenses for special occasions, or for infrequent sporting activities such as skiing or scuba diving then daily disposable lenses are the best for your eyes and also the most cost effective. If you are one of a minority of clients who can't wear daily disposables because their prescription isn't yet available we'll usually advise a reusable disposable lens.

Part time
At around 3 or 4 days per week daily disposables start to become more expensive than reusable lenses so if budget is a consideration you should consider the best reusable disposable lenses you can afford to fit with your regular wearing schedule.

Each day
Although daily disposables remain the most convenient and hygienic option for most people, and most would consider them great value, reusable lenses are more cost effective, and in ultra-high oxygen materials are the healthiest option too, especially if you nap or sleep in your lenses.

How long will wear your lenses each day?

Up to 12 hours per day
Standard lens materials such as the Mirage Life family of lenses are OK for 10 to 12 hours per day. Upgrading to silicone hydrogel lenses means your lenses are more comfortable at the end of 12 hours and will remain comfortable if you need to wear them for longer than usual.

12 to 16 hours per day
Modern silicone hydrogel lenses such as the Mirage Synergy family of lenses are comfortable right until the end of the day and are the new standard in contact lenses these days.

16+ hours and [maybe] sleeping in them
The best high oxygen contact lenses can even be slept in and worn continuously for up to 30 days depending on their medical licence. There are comfort and health benefits even if you choose to take them out each night so if you don't want daily disposables we'd still recommend ultra high oxygen lenses even if you'll never sleep in them. Sleep-in lenses are subject to clinical suitability of your eyes.