When to Throw Away My Contacts?

While rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses provide better vision correction than the soft, disposable lenses favored by many consumers and optometrists, RGP lenses also require more diligent daily cleaning and sanitizing, since the lenses are designed to last up to four years. If you wear disposable lenses, routine maintenance is still important, but you get to start over with a fresh pair as often as your doctor indicates.

At Designated Intervals

• Since you'll have to see a doctor for your contact lens prescription, ask her how often your contact lenses should be replaced. Disposable lenses are designed to last anywhere from one single use, to 90 days, so find out how long your lenses were designed to last, and adhere to that schedule to ensure optimum eye health and vision.

If They Become Damaged

• Immediately replace your lenses with a new pair if you notice that they're torn or scratched. Torn and scratched lenses are uncomfortable and can damage the eye. Since torn lenses cannot be repaired, throw them away. Damage to the lens might be visible in the form of a small deposit on the lens that's visible to the naked eye. If your contacts are blurry when you put them in, but you know your prescription hasn't changed, or if you can see small black marks on your lenses when cleaning them, they have protein deposits. Different lens wearers produce protein at different rates, so throw away your lenses when the protein causes blurriness, or no longer washes off your lenses.

After Eye Infections

• If you have an eye infection like conjunctivitis, throw away your contacts immediately. Since many eye infections are highly contagious, it's better to wear glasses during treatment, so you don't have to put your fingers in your eyes twice a day. Even with a thorough sterile rinse, the risk of re-infection is too high to be worth the cost of a pair of disposable contacts. Throw your contacts away upon being diagnosed with an eye infection, and don't open a new pair until you have a clean bill of health from your doctor.

After the Expiration Date

• Purchasing contacts in six- to 12-month supplies is common; after all, it's convenient and economical. Retailers also frequently issue discounts to customers purchasing in bulk. However, one drawback to purchasing your contacts this way could be that some of the lenses may expire if you don't wear them as often as the doctor recommends. Before opening any new pair of contacts, check the expiration date printed on the box, and throw out any that expired before that day.