I Wore Monthly Contacts for 10 Years. Then I Switched to Dailies.

I wore Biofinity monthly lenses for over a decade. They were fine. Not great, not terrible. I had my routine down — clean them every night, replace them on the first of each month, keep a spare case in my bag. It worked, and I never really questioned it.

Then one of the optometrists I work with suggested I try Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for a week. Just a trial. No pressure. I figured I would humour her, try them for a few days, and go back to what I knew.

I never went back.

This is not medical advice. I am a licensed optician sharing my personal experience, not prescribing anything. Everyone's eyes are different, and you should always get a proper contact lens fitting before switching lens types. But if you have been wondering whether daily vs monthly contacts actually makes a meaningful difference, here is what I have learned from wearing both — and from fitting hundreds of patients with each type.

Daily vs Monthly Contacts at a Glance

Before we get into the details, here is the big-picture comparison. This is the table I wish someone had shown me years ago.

The key takeaway: monthly lenses are cheaper upfront, but when you add solution and consider comfort, the gap is smaller than most people expect.

The Real Cost Breakdown — Canadian Pricing

Cost is usually the first question I get. "Dailies are expensive, right?" Well, yes and no. Here is what you are actually looking at for popular brands in Canada.

These are ballpark prices from what I see in-store. Your cost will vary by prescription. Astigmatism (toric) lenses typically add $10-20 per box, and multifocal lenses can be $20-30 more.

Do not forget to factor in $8-15 per month for contact lens solution if you wear monthly lenses. That is money dailies wearers never spend. Over a year, that is $96-180 in solution alone.

If you want to compare prices on specific brands, you can browse our contact lens selection to get a sense of current pricing.

When I do the math with patients, the "dailies are twice the price" assumption usually turns into "dailies are about 40-50% more." Still a premium, but not the massive gap people imagine.

Comfort — Why Dailies Feel Better (And It Is Not Just Marketing)

Here is the thing that surprised me most after switching. I thought my Biofinity lenses were comfortable. And they were — for about the first two weeks of each cycle. By week three, they started to feel thicker, slightly hazy, a bit gummy. I had just accepted that as normal.

With dailies, every single morning feels like day one. Fresh lens, fresh moisture, zero buildup. That protein film and dried deposits that accumulate on monthly lenses — even with perfect cleaning — simply do not exist with a lens you opened thirty seconds ago.

This matches what I hear from patients constantly. By week three of a monthly cycle, most wearers describe their lenses as "sticky," "cloudy," or "not as sharp." Some start removing them earlier in the evening because they cannot tolerate them for a full day anymore. That creeping discomfort is deposit accumulation, and no amount of rubbing and rinsing fully eliminates it.

The comfort difference is especially noticeable if you spend long hours on screens. Fresh lenses hold their moisture better, and you are not fighting against two weeks of micro-debris sitting on your cornea. For anyone who has ever described their contacts as "fine in the morning but terrible by 4 pm," this is usually why.

Which Type Is Better for Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes and contact lenses are a tricky combination, and this is one area where daily contacts have a genuine, measurable advantage.

Every time you clean monthly lenses with multipurpose solution, trace amounts of preservative remain on the lens surface. Those preservatives sit against your eye all day. For people with sensitive or dry eyes, that constant low-level chemical exposure can make symptoms worse. Daily lenses skip that entirely — there is no solution involved, so there is nothing to irritate.

The lenses that my patients with dry eyes tend to do best with:

• Dailies Total 1 — Uses a water gradient technology where the lens surface is nearly 100% water. Extremely comfortable for dry eye sufferers.
• Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe — Integrates a tear-like molecule into the lens. My personal favourite and what I wear daily.
• Biofinity (monthly) — If you need to stay with monthlies, this silicone hydrogel lens has high oxygen permeability and tends to be the most tolerable option for dry eyes.

If you have dry eyes, talk to your optometrist about which lens material is best for your specific tear film. Not all dry eye is the same, and the right lens depends on whether your issue is tear quantity, tear quality, or both.

The Convenience Factor

Beyond comfort and cost, there is a practical side to this decision that I did not fully appreciate until I made the switch.

Travel. This one is huge. Monthly lenses mean packing solution bottles, a lens case, and worrying about the 100ml liquid limit on flights. Dailies mean tossing a few blister packs in your bag. Done. No CATSA hassle, no leaked solution in your toiletry bag, no forgetting your case at the hotel.

Sports and the gym. Pop in a fresh pair, work out, toss them. No anxiety about losing a lens that has two weeks of wear left on it.

Irregular wear. This is the one that surprises people most. If you only wear contacts three or four days a week — weekends, social events, sports — dailies are actually cheaper than monthly. With monthly lenses, you are paying for the full 30-day cycle whether you wear them every day or not. With dailies, you only pay for the days you use them. Three days a week works out to roughly 12-13 pairs per month, which cuts your daily lens cost nearly in half.

Budget-first wearers. If you wear contacts seven days a week and cost is your primary concern, monthly lenses still win on price. That is a legitimate reason to stick with them.

What About Insurance Coverage in Alberta?

Most extended health plans in Alberta cover contact lenses to some degree, but the specifics vary a lot between providers and individual plans.

• Alberta Blue Cross typically covers a fixed dollar amount for contact lenses annually. The amount depends on your specific plan, but it applies to both daily and monthly lenses.
• Canada Life varies widely by plan. Some cover specific brands, others reimburse a flat amount. Worth checking before you buy.
• AISH covers basic contact lenses when they are medically necessary. The definition of "medically necessary" can include high prescriptions where glasses are less practical.
• Most other plans work on a dollar-amount-per-year basis rather than covering a specific lens type.

Check your benefits booklet or call your insurance provider directly. The most common question I get is "does my plan cover dailies?" and the answer is almost always yes — your plan covers contacts up to a dollar amount, and it does not distinguish between daily and monthly.

When Monthly Still Makes Sense

I switched to dailies and I am genuinely happier with them. But I would be dishonest if I said monthly contacts are a bad choice. They are not. They are a different trade-off, and for some people, that trade-off makes more sense.

Full-time wearers on a tight budget. If you wear contacts every single day and need to keep costs as low as possible, monthly lenses at $33-65 per month are meaningfully cheaper than dailies at $45-95.

Specialty prescriptions. Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, scleral lenses, and some custom toric lenses are only available as reusable options. If your prescription requires these, daily is not on the table.

Routine preference. Some people genuinely prefer the nightly ritual of cleaning and storing their lenses. It sounds strange, but I have heard it more than once. If it works for you and your eye health is good, there is no reason to change.

Monthly is not bad. It is just a different set of compromises. The right choice depends on your lifestyle, your budget, and how your eyes respond to each type.

Making the Switch — What to Know

If you are considering switching from monthly to daily contacts, here are a few things to keep in mind.

You need a new fitting. You cannot just take your monthly prescription and order dailies in the same power. Daily and monthly lenses have different base curves, diameters, and materials. Your optometrist needs to assess the fit with the specific daily lens you will be wearing.

Ask for trial lenses. Most optometrists and optical stores carry trial packs of popular daily brands. Wear them for a week before committing to a full supply. This is how I got started, and it is the best way to know if a particular lens works for your eyes.

Buy in 90-packs for value. Daily contacts come in 30-pack and 90-pack boxes. The per-lens cost drops significantly with the larger size. A 30-pack is fine for a trial run, but once you have found your lens, 90-packs are the way to go.

Toss your old supplies. Once you switch, dispose of any leftover monthly lenses, your old lens case, and opened solution bottles. Old solution can harbour bacteria, and you do not want the temptation to "just use up" expired monthly lenses on a lazy day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are daily contacts more expensive than monthly?

Per lens, yes. But the total monthly cost is closer than most people think. Monthly lenses run $25-50 for the lenses themselves, plus $8-15 for solution, bringing the real monthly cost to $33-65. Daily contacts cost $45-95 per month with no extra supplies. The gap narrows significantly when you account for everything. See the pricing table above for brand-by-brand numbers.

Can you wear daily contacts for more than one day?

No. Daily disposable contacts are made from thinner material that is not designed to withstand cleaning, disinfection, or overnight storage. Wearing them beyond a single day increases your risk of corneal infections, ulcers, and serious irritation. I have seen patients come in with red, painful eyes because they tried to stretch dailies to two or three days. It is never worth it.

Are daily contacts better for dry eyes?

Generally, yes. A fresh lens every day means no protein deposits building up on the surface, and you avoid the preservatives in contact lens solution that can irritate sensitive eyes. Dailies Total 1 and Acuvue Oasys 1-Day are two of the most recommended daily lenses for dry eye. That said, your optometrist can help determine which lens material is best for your specific type of dry eye.

Do optometrists prefer daily or monthly contacts?

Most optometrists lean toward recommending daily disposables because of the lower infection risk and generally better comfort. But good practitioners consider your whole picture — lifestyle, budget, prescription complexity, and wear schedule. Monthly lenses are not inferior; they are just a different tool for different situations.

Can you sleep in monthly contacts?

Some extended-wear monthly lenses, like Air Optix Night and Day, are technically approved for overnight use. However, most optometrists advise against sleeping in any contact lens. Studies consistently show that sleeping in contacts increases your risk of serious eye infections by six to eight times, even with lenses designed for it. Remove them before bed whenever you can.

How much do contacts cost per month in Canada?

Daily disposable contacts typically cost $45 to $95 per month in Canada, depending on the brand. Monthly contacts cost $25 to $50 for the lenses plus $8 to $15 for solution, totalling roughly $33 to $65 per month. Toric (astigmatism) and multifocal lenses cost more in both categories. These are approximate prices and vary by retailer and province.

What are the best daily contacts in Canada?

The three that consistently get the best feedback from patients I fit are Dailies Total 1 (water gradient technology, outstanding all-day comfort), Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe (excellent for dry eyes and heavy screen users), and Alcon Precision1 (newer lens, great comfort, slightly lower price point). Your optometrist can recommend the best option based on your prescription and how your eyes respond during a trial fitting.