Why Daily Disposable Contact Lenses Should Be Your Go-To Option

In a recent Ryan Reflects solo episode, I dove into a topic that continues to shape the future of optometry: daily disposable contact lenses. While adoption rates are growing, the truth is that many patients are still in monthly or two-week replacement lenses. And yet, daily disposables offer unmatched health benefits, comfort, convenience, and compliance.

So how can we as optometrists confidently prescribe and position daily disposable contact lenses for our patients? Here’s my take.

The Case for Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

1. Health and Safety

Daily disposables eliminate the risks that come with solution storage, lens buildup, and extended wear. A fresh lens every day means fewer complications, better long-term corneal health, and greater peace of mind for patients worried about their future candidacy for contacts.

2. Convenience

Patients love simplicity. No cases, no cleaning solutions, no stress when traveling or replacing a lost lens. At the end of the day, lenses are discarded and tomorrow brings a new, sterile pair.

3. Comfort

Let’s be honest: every lens feels great out of the blister pack. The challenge comes at the two-week or end-of-month mark, when buildup, dryness, and discomfort creep in. With daily disposables, patients enjoy consistent comfort all day, every day.

4. Lifestyle Fit

Dailies are perfect for:

• New wearers (no bad habits formed)

• Part-time wearers (occasional use without waste)

• Allergy sufferers or those prone to dryness

• Busy, on-the-go patients

Plus, compliance skyrockets when lenses are replaced daily. Patients are more likely to return annually, boosting both their eye health and your practice’s financial stability.

Overcoming Patient Pushback

Of course, not every patient will immediately transition. Some have worn two-week or monthly lenses for decades, are price sensitive, or simply feel “fine” in their current modality.

Here’s how I address those barriers:

• Ask probing questions: How do your lenses feel at the end of the day? Toward the end of the wear cycle?

• Plant the seed: Provide daily disposable trials, even for satisfied monthly wearers. Let them experience the difference firsthand.

• Highlight hidden costs: Remind patients about the ongoing expense of solutions, cases, and the risks of non-compliance (over-wearing, infections, emergency visits).

• Frame with lifestyle: Position dailies as a flexible option for vacations, allergy season, or busy stretches of life.

Practice Growth Through Dailies

Daily disposables aren’t just better for patients, they’re better for practices too:

• Greater compliance = more consistent annual visits

• Higher professional service fees and margins

• Reduced dropout rates, as patients stay comfortable and engaged

• Stronger reputation as a practice that prioritizes innovation and patient care

And don’t forget: rebates often sweeten the deal for patients, making daily disposables more affordable than they might assume.

Final Thought

If you aren’t proactively offering the latest contact lens innovations, patients will find them elsewhere, whether through competitors or online retailers. By confidently prescribing daily disposables, you demonstrate your value as a trusted eye care professional while giving patients the healthiest, most convenient, and most comfortable option available.

That’s a win for them, a win for you, and a win for our profession.