Sometimes patients will ask me what type of contacts I wear. The answer is Focus Dailies. There are two reasons for this.
First, they are incredibly healthy. When contact lenses are worn repeatedly, their characteristics change. Even when cleaned properly, they are more likely to attract bacteria. My friend, Dr. Justin Bazan, posted about this here. Also, tiny oily and protein deposits will make the re-worn lens less breathable and the vision less clear. This is especially true for people who have allergies or dry eyes. Additionally, some people are sensitive to the contact lens solutions. The best way to deal with this is simply stop using them. For all the above reasons, I call Daily Disposable contact lenses "the great problem solver" for troubled contact lens patients.
The second reason I personally wear Focus Dailies is that they are extremely convenient. I don't wear lenses everyday, so I don't really like to keep track of how long it has been since I have opened them. Also, I travel a lot to go to eye care meetings and it is much easier to toss a few extra lenses in my suitcase than to bring solutions and contacts.
There are certain categories of patients who do extremely well in Daily Disposable contact lenses. They frequently are the best choice for children who are getting their first contacts. It simplifies the process and ensures that they have have a clean lens at all times. College students tend to love the convenience. People who do specific activities, such as camping find it extremely useful.
When I first mention that Dailies would be a good choice for patients because they are healthier and more convenient, they sometimes ask me if they are significantly more expensive. I tell them them that these benefits cost less than a dollar a day and once you factor in that fact that you don't have to
buy solutions and cases, it works out to about 6 cents more per eye:
Focus Dailies | Acuvue Oasys | |
Annual Supply (number of boxes) | 8 | 8 |
Cost of Solutions | $0 | $90 |
Lens Retail Price Per Box | $50 | $36 |
Cost of 8 boxes | $400 | $288 |
Annual Supply discount | $40 | $29 |
Total Lens and Solution Cost | $400 | $320 |
Rebate | $70 | $60 |
After Rebate Cost | $330 | $289 |
Cost per eye per day | 45 cents | 39 cents |
Because Daily Disposable lenses have become so popular among doctors and patients, they now are made for almost every type of visual need: patients who are nearsighted or farsighted, patients with astigmatism, and even patients who need bifocal contacts. You can read about these options at www.dailies.com.
So to celebrate Focus Dailies being the Feature of the Month, when you order your Focus Dailies, mention that you saw the Feature of the Month on the Internet and you will receive $5 off per box that you order in January. That is an additional 10% savings!
Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.
I fit a daily disposable as the best and first option for the majority of my patients. To this day, I have yet to have a daily disposable wearer come in with the typical contact lens associated red eyes. A fresh, clean, contact everyday makes sense on so many different levels.
The industry has finally developed the technology to affordable mass produce them and they have reached a consumer price point where EVERYONE can afford them. It often costs less than a dollar a day, and with a little financial finagling, they can be budgeted into anyone’s monetary allowances.
Daily disposables eventually will be the only options as common sense, practical data and scientific evidence all converge on the idea of a healthy, comfortable, convenient contact lens modality.
I actually used to wear Acuvue contact lenses, and have changed recently to Ciba Vision Focus Dailies toric lenses. There are really easy to use, you just wear them for a day then throw them away. Also the are more comfortable than the acuvue ones, but i guess this might vary from one person to another.
I actually used to wear Acuvue contact lenses, and have changed recently to Ciba Vision Focus Dailies toric lenses. There are really easy to use, you just wear them for a day then throw them away. Also the are more comfortable than the acuvue ones, but i guess this might vary from one person to another.