2 Week Contact Lenses

Two-week disposable contact lenses are quite popular with Optometrists thanks to their “Goldilocks” factor. These lenses have a wearing time that’s neither too long nor too short, making them ideal for people who don’t want the higher price tag of dailies but find they get reduced wear or increased irritation towards the end of their monthly lens cycle.
As the name implies, two-weekly disposable contact lenses are designed to be used for two weeks before they are thrown away. 

Two- weekly contact lenses need to be removed each night, cleaned with an approved cleaning solution and stored overnight, before rinsing the lens with cleaning solution each morning before insertion.

Two-weekly lenses are a more eco-friendly choice when contrasted with dailies - only 4 lenses and blister cases disposed of every month, as opposed to 60 lenses and blister cases with daily lenses. 
Typically, Optometrists recommend two weekly disposable lenses because they are effective at minimising the buildup of deposits as they are replaced more frequently than monthly disposable lenses. Normally, with a good cleaning routine, a two weekly lens will be right at the point that there is some build up of deposits on the lens, but not enough to cause a problem with irritation or cloudiness at the end of it’s wear time.Many people find that two-week lenses simply work better for their lifestyle, comfort and budget.

Key Points

Buying contact lenses online from Contactlenses.co.uk is both easy and convenient, no need for trips to your Optometrist to collect your lenses, they are shipped directly to your door in recyclable packaging.Order what you need when you need it. No build up of unused lenses.With over 90% of lenses in stock, most orders arrive within just 24 hours of ordering.

Helpful Guide to Two-weekly Contact Lenses

Types of Two Weekly Contact lenses

There is a limited range of two weekly disposable contact lenses, as most manufacturers focus on daily and monthly disposable contact lenses, however two weekly disposable contact lenses are available as

• Regular Hydrogel Contact Lenses made from  gel-like, water containing polymers, enabling the contact lenses to be extremely thin and malleable. see Acuvue 2
• Silicone Hydrogel Contact lenses - Loved by Optometrists as the addition of silicone allows more oxygen to reach the cornea creating a safer, healthier contact lens (1). See Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus
• Toric Contact lenses - have been designed for the correction of astigmatism, see Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus for Astigmatism

Multifocal or coloured lenses are not available as a two weekly disposable contact lens, and currently there are no cheaper substitute lenses in the two weekly category, however wearing a cheaper substitute monthly lenses such as Crystal Aqua Daily as a two weekly lens can work out more cost effective.
Unfortunately due to these restrictions two weekly disposable contact lenses are unavailable or unsuitable for some contact lens wearers.

Our Customers Top 3 Two Weekly Contact Lenses

Acuvue Oasys

Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus from Johnson and Johnson is a premium silicone hydrogel contact lens. They provide unbelievable comfort even in demanding conditions, such as in an air conditioned office, when using a PC, on a plane or long hours of wear. Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus is the #1 selling contact lens in the world.(2)
Available in two fittings 8.4 and 8.8 and a wide range of powers.

Acuvue 2

Acuvue 2 from Johnson and Johnson includes INFINITY EDGE™ technology, offering offers exceptional comfort (3) and superior handling. Available in two fittings 8.3 and 8.7 and a wide range of powers.

Avaira Vitality

Coopervision’s Avaira Vitality is a silicone hydrogel contact lens using Aquaform Technology, Avaira Vitality have a high water content helping to keep the contact lenses and your eyes moist all day.

How Much Do Two Weekly Contact Lenses Cost

Two weekly disposable contact lenses can work out cheaper than daily disposable contact lenses but are a bit more expensive than monthly disposable contact lenses.You will need to factor in the cost of contact lens solutions and a contact lens case when comparing the cost of two weekly lenses.Most two weekly lenses are made from a silicone hydrogel material so if comparing them to monthly contact lenses then that needs to be taken into account also.If you take Johnsons and Johnsons premium silicone hydrogel two weekly, Acuvue Oasys with hydraclear plus at 55p per day and compare it to Alcons monthly Air Optix plus Hydraglyde that works out at 37p per day you can see that monthly contacts would work out cheaper.

Unfortunately at present non branded lenses do not offer a two weekly option, however some of the non branded contact lenses are so cost effective you could wear them as a two weekly disposable lens and they can still work out cheaper, for example Crystal Comfort is a non branded monthly silicone hydrogel contact lens that would work out at just 36p per day if worn as a two weekly disposable contact lens.

Two Weekly Contact Lenses Compared To Monthly And Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

The Four main differences between Two weekly disposable contact lenses and monthly  or daily disposable contact lenses are

Wearing Mode -Two weekly disposable contact lenses have been designed to be robust enough so that they can withstand the handling required for up to 14 days, whereas monthly lenses have been designed to be a little more robust enabling them to withstand 30 days of handling and Daily lenses have been designed to be thrown out after just one wear. Dailies, two weeklies or monthlies are not designed to be worn overnight - if you want to wear contact lenses overnight then ask your Optometrist about continuous wear contact lenses.

Care - Two weekly disposable contact lenses require removing each night, cleaned with an approved contact lens solution and stored overnight, then the next morning they need to be rinsed before insertion for up to 14 days. This also applies to monthly disposable lenses except monthly lenses can be worn for up to 30 days. Whereas with daily disposable contact lenses there is no cleaning and rinsing required, you simply insert a fresh new pair every morning.

Convenience - Two weekly disposable contact lenses may not be the most convenient contact lens choice, because as mentioned above they do require time and attention each day, although, once you become familiar with your nightly and morning routine this only takes a couple of minutes.

Cost - Two weekly disposable contact lenses are generally more expensive than monthly lenses but cheaper daily lenses even when the cost of contact lens solution is taken into account

Getting The Best Out Of Your Two Weekly Contact Lenses

For many people two weekly replaceable contact lenses are recommended by their eye care professional for eye health reasons, but a large portion of wearers find they are the right lens for their lifestyle and budget. Whatever the reason you are wearing two weekly lenses there are some steps you can take to get the most out of your lenses.

A good cleaning and storing routine will help maintain comfort, vision and all the health benefits of a two weekly lens

It is recommended that with two weekly lenses you

• Always wash and dry your hands before handling lenses
• Remove lenses every night and soak them in an approved solution.
• Never expose lenses to tap or swimming pool water
• Gently rub lenses clean with solution before putting them in
• Throw away lenses as soon as they reach their expiration date
• Avoid rubbing your eyes

When you are fitted with two weekly contact lenses your optical practice will provide a demonstration of how to insert and remove your contact lenses along with guidelines of how best to clean and care for your lenses.You will normally find full instruction on insertion, removal and cleaning in all two weekly contact lens packaging.

Here’s our quick guide, or reminder, of how to inert, remove and care for your two weekly contact lenses

A simple five step process will get your contacts in

• Clean your hands.
• Remove the contact lens from its case.
• Separate your upper and lower lid.
• Place the contact lens on your eye.
• Blink slowly to allow lens to settle

A simple four step process will get your contacts out.

• Clean your hands.
• Pull down your lower eyelid.
• Pinch the contact lens gently.
• Look up and slide the lens downwards

That may not sound that easy, but once you get used to it you will be able to do in a matter of seconds, however, if you are new to two weekly contact lenses you may benefit from our in depth guide on How to remove Contact Lenses.

Mastering how to insert and remove your lenses will come with time and practice.

Every night two weekly contact lenses need to be removed, cleaned with an approved contact lens solution and stored in a contact lens case with fresh solution using a procedure similar to this:

Morning

• Wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling your contact lenses
• Remove your contact lens from it’s storage case, apply a few drops of your recommended solution on the front and back of the lens and rub gently with your index finger
• Insert your contact lens
• Empty your contact lens case of solution and let it air dry

Evening

• Wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling your contact lenses
• Remove your contact lens from your eye, apply a few drops of your recommended solution on the front and back of the lens and rub gently with your index finger
• Store the lens in your contact lens case and submerge with fresh solution

This may all seem like a lot to take in, but caring for your contact lenses soon becomes a simple routine at the end of the day, and many people prefer two weekly or monthly contact lenses as they are generally cheaper and more eco friendly than daily disposable contact lenses.

FAQ's

References

1. Hydrogel vs Silicone Hydrogel Lense
   Author:Dr. Russel LazarusPublished: November 4, 2021
   https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-opto...
   
2. Euromonitor International; Eyewear 2022 Edition; Value sales at RSP, all retails channels, 2020 data.
   
3. JJV Data on File 2018. ACUVUE® Master Brand Claims on Clinical Performance and Overall Material Properties
   
4. Influence of tear protein deposition on the oxygen permeability of soft contact lenses
   Se Eun, So Ra Kim, Mijung Park
   Published Feb 9 2017
   Influence of Tear Protein Deposition on the Oxygen Permeability of Soft Contact Lenses - PubMed (nih.gov)
   

Author: John Dreyer Optometrist Bsc(Hons), MCOPTOM, DipCLP
John qualified from Aston University in 1980, he has authored for Contactlenses.co.uk over the last 20 years, bringing his expertise to visitors to the site and providing valuable optical advice to customer questions throughout the years. He has been featured by several leading publications including The Express and ITProPortal