CONTACT LENS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Contact lens options differ by lifestyle, length of time they’re meant to be worn and replaced, and the type of vision correction needed. There are many varieties of contact lenses, but your eye doctor can help you decide which lens is right for you.

Yes. Especially, DAILIES TOTAL1^® contact lenses. With Water Gradient Technology, only a cushion of moisture touches your eye, giving you exceptional comfort. 

Though the cost of contact lenses varies based on individual vision needs and duration of lens wear, Alcon offers contact lenses that best fit your vision needs and budget. Alcon also offers a free* trial on most of our contact lenses, so you can try before you buy.

*Eye exam may be required before lens trial. Professional fees may apply. Offer available at participating offices.

If your health insurance plan includes vision coverage, you’re usually fully or partially covered. Benefits provided by vision coverage often include a contact lens discount (e.g., 15% off) at participating retail stores, or directly from an eye doctor. Other plans may offer an annual allowance to cover the cost of your contact lenses and an eye exam. Contact your individual insurer to find out about your specific coverage.

The cost of your contact lenses depends on your individual needs and duration of lens wear. However, Alcon offers a variety of contact lenses to fit your budget and your vision needs. You can also try most of our contact lenses before you buy with a free* trial offer.

*Eye exam may be required before lens trial. Professional fees may apply. Offer available at participating offices.

Our Find An Eye Doctor page makes it easy for you to find an eye doctor that is experienced in fitting Alcon contact lenses.  

Children can safely and successfully wear contact lenses when they are responsible enough to care for them. DAILIES^® and PRECISION1^® contact lenses are especially easy to use as they require no lens care. Consult your eye doctor for proper guidelines to help your child get started.

Contact lenses are designed for easy wear and comfort, so they should not hurt your eyes. If they do, you should talk to your eye doctor as soon as possible. Alcon’s family of contact lenses are created with advanced technologies designed to give you a comfortable contact lens wearing experience.

Regular eye exams are an important part of preventive healthcare. Your contact lenses require continued care too. Many eye and vision conditions present no obvious symptoms, so most people are unaware that a problem exists.

Wondering where to get an eye exam? Start with a visit to our Find An Eye Doctor page.

Toric contact lenses are specially designed for people with astigmatism. It is a common myth that people with astigmatism cannot wear contact lenses, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Ask your eye doctor about toric contact lenses like PRECISION1^® for Astigmatism.

It’s easy. Alcon has a 60-day Platinum Total Satisfaction Guarantee. If you don’t love your new contact lenses, you can return them to your place of purchase for a full refund^†. Download our Platinum Total Satisfaction Guarantee form for more information.  

^†Purchase Alcon contact lenses risk free for 60 days. If you are not 100% satisfied, you can return the lenses to your eye care professional for a full refund. Alcon will also reimburse you up to $60 (in the form of a VISA® pre-paid card) toward your fitting fee. Additional restrictions apply. See Official Claim Form for full terms & conditions.

First and most important, be sure to consult with your eye doctor on the best ways to manage allergies with your contact lenses. 

Over-the-counter eye drops like Pataday^® may help relieve your allergy-related symptoms. (You should not put these kinds of drops in while wearing your lenses. Remove contact lenses before using Pataday^®, then wait at least 10 minutes before re-inserting lenses.)

Some helpful tips:

If your eyes are itchy, do not touch or rub them. Wash your hands often with soap and water and dry them with a lint free towel before handling your lenses. Switch to glasses on days your eyes may feel uncomfortable.

Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use contact lenses. You put them in in the morning and toss them at night. It’s that simple.

Daily disposable contact lenses are designed for one day single use. Put in a fresh new pair every morning, toss them at night before bed, and you'll be good to go.

No. Daily contact lenses are made to be worn only once. Start each day with a fresh pair and toss them away at the end of the day.

Daily disposable contact lenses require no lens care and should only be worn once. Every day should start with a fresh pair and end with throwing them out before bed.

Starting every day with a fresh new lens is healthy for your eyes. However, with the proper care, monthly replacement contact lenses can be a great option for you, too. Ultimately, your eye doctor will determine which type of contact lenses are best for you based on your prescription, vision needs and lifestyle.

Yes. Wearing contact lenses for most sports may improve your peripheral vision and lessen concerns that your glasses may fall off or break. Your eye doctor can help you determine the best type of contact lenses based on your particular sport or activity.

No. Throw your lenses away before bed each day. Sleeping in daily disposable contact lenses increases the risk of certain contact lens-related complications.

Yes. Always remember to only use them as directed. To maintain healthy eyes and get the most comfortable vision possible, schedule regular visits with your eye doctor.

Yes. And the more you use them, the easier it is. Here are some tips for putting in and taking out contact lenses. 

That depends on the brand. AIR OPTIX^® contact lenses are made of silicone hydrogel materials. The unique structure of these materials allows plenty of oxygen to flow through the contact lenses so they feel comfortable and breathable.

You can ONLY wear your AIR OPTIX^® plus HydraGlyde^®, AIR OPTIX^® plus HydraGlyde^® Multifocal, AIR OPTIX^® plus HydraGlyde^® for Astigmatism, AIR OPTIX^® for Astigmatism and AIR OPTIX^® NIGHT & DAY^® AQUA, AIR OPTIX^® AQUA, and AIR OPTIX^® AQUA Multifocal if directed by your eye doctor. Overnight wear of contact lenses has been shown to increase the risk of certain serious contact lens–related complications. Always follow an eye doctor’s recommendations for lens wear, care and replacement schedule, along with the products directions for use.

Monthly replacement contact lenses are reusable lenses that you wear every day. Take them out every night to clean, disinfect, and store with contact lens solution. Then after a month, or as directed by your eye doctor, throw them away and start with a fresh new pair. Some monthly replacement lenses, including some AIR OPTIX^® lenses, may be worn overnight while you sleep or for continuous wear as advised by your eye doctor. Make sure you always follow your eye doctor's recommendation on how to wear and care for your lenses and check the product directions for wear instructions.

Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use contact lenses. Simply put them in in the morning and throw them away at night before going to sleep. Monthly replacement contact lenses are reusable lenses that require you to take them out every night to clean, disinfect, and store with contact lens solution. After a month, or as directed by your eye doctor, throw them away and start again with a fresh pair.

Monthly contact lens prices can vary, but AIR OPTIX^® plus HydraGlyde^® brand contact lenses from Alcon offer outstanding performance that is easy on your wallet.

Once you have a prescription from your eye doctor, you can buy contact lenses at your eye doctor's office, major vision centers, or online. If you do not have an eye doctor, you can Find An Eye Doctor here.

It is important to always clean, disinfect, and store your monthly replacement lenses with a contact lens care solution that cleans and disinfects. We recommend OPTI-FREE^® PUREMOIST^® Multipurpose Disinfecting Solution or a hydrogen peroxide-based solution like CLEAR CARE^® PLUS Cleaning and Disinfecting Solution to care for your monthly replacement contact lenses.

Always follow your contact lens care solution product instructions on how to clean your lens storage case. Immediately after lenses are removed, discard the old solution from the case. The recommended steps from here may vary depending on the lens care disinfecting solution being used. Read the instruction sheet accompanying the product. Usually, these steps include rinsing the case out with fresh solution and then air drying the case with the caps or lid off.

Your eye doctor will teach you how to insert and remove your contact lenses. But if you need more help, this video can support you in your contact lens wearing journey.

No. Do not put contact lens care cleaning and disinfecting solution directly into your eyes. Always follow the instructions for your contact lens care cleaning and disinfecting solution. To re-wet your contact lenses once they are on your eyes, we recommend using OPTI-FREE^® Rewetting Drops for an extra burst of moisture whenever your lenses need it. Learn more about our contact lens solutions here.

According to the CDC there is no evidence to suggest contact lens wearers are more at risk for acquiring COVID-19 than eyeglass wearers. Contact lens wearers should continue to practice safe contact lens wear and care hygiene habits.

No, you cannot legally buy contact lenses in the United States without a current, valid prescription.