Contact Lens FAQs: Cost, Maintenance, and Care Tips

Question 1

How old do I have to be to wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Lots of teens and even some children wear contact lenses. Successful lens wear depends more on responsibility and attitude than age. Seeing an eye care professional will help you figure out whether contact lenses are right for you.

Question 2

Are contact lenses comfortable to wear?

Accepted Answer

We can't speak for the 45 million people that wear contact lenses in the United States, but in over 40 clinical trials against other contact lenses, ACUVUE[^®] contact lenses have never been beaten in comfort[^+].†Clinical trial results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov, a website maintained by the NIH, were reviewed as of April 30, 2025. The 47 clinical trials evaluated subjective comfort as a primary or secondary endpoint for the ACUVUE[^®] OASYS Brand family (including daily disposable families), the 1-DAY ACUVUE[^®] MOIST Brand family (within the category of hydrogel daily disposable), and the ACUVUE[^®] VITA[^®] Brand family, vs. competitors’ products.

Question 3

Can contact lenses get lost behind my eye?

Accepted Answer

No they cannot. A membrane called the conjunctiva covers the white of your eye and connects to the inside of your eyelid so there’s no chance that a contact lens can go behind your eye.

Question 4

Can contact lenses get stuck to my eye?

Accepted Answer

This is very unlikely. Contact lenses can usually be removed easily using the method your eye care professional recommended. All it takes is practice and patience.

Question 5

Can contact lenses pop out of your eye?

Accepted Answer

Not likely. With proper fitting, contacts should stay in place almost all the time. Even on that rare occasion when a contact lens moves out of place, it usually stays on your eye until you can move it back.

Question 6

Can contact lenses scratch your eye?

Accepted Answer

Such contact lens related problems can occur but they are rare when they are fit and prescribed by a qualified eye care professional. Proper care, handling and replacement of the prescribed lenses can help reduce the chances of complications.

Question 7

Why do I need a prescription for contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

A contact lens is legally considered a medical device, which is why you need a prescription. Only a qualified eye care professional can properly measure you for vision correction and determine which size and type of contact lens is best for you. Also, safely wearing contact lenses requires periodic monitoring of your eye health and vision needs. Typically, an annual examination is recommended for renewal of your contact lens prescription.

Question 8

Is my contact lens prescription different than my eyeglass prescription?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A prescription for contact lenses requires different information than a prescription for eyeglasses. Along with the level of vision correction, a contact lens prescription will include a measurement of the base curve and diameter of your eyes. These are fitting specifications, and they can be brand- and material- specific.

Question 9

How do I get a contact lens prescription?

Accepted Answer

Start by scheduling a contact lens appointment with an eye care professional. Your first contact lens fitting takes a little longer than a regular eye exam—about 90 minutes. Be sure to let the office know you want a contact lens fitting, not just a regular eye exam. Want to find an eye care professional near you who carries ACUVUE®? Find a nearby one here.

Question 10

What is a base curve?

Accepted Answer

The base curve is the back curvature of a contact lens. It is used to determine the best and most comfortable natural fit to your eye.

Question 11

What is diameter?

Accepted Answer

Diameter is the distance across the surface of your lens, from edge to edge. Your eye care professional will determine the correct diameter for you during your exam.

Question 12

Are contact lenses more expensive than glasses?

Accepted Answer

Contacts can be surprisingly affordable. And with vision insurance, out-of-pocket costs may be even less. Plus, replacing a lost contact lens from your supply can feel easy compared to the hassle and unexpected cost of having to replace lost or damaged glasses.

Question 13

Is it difficult to take care of contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Advances in technology have made contact lenses even more convenient than before. Caring for them is easy with multipurpose lens solutions that make cleaning, disinfecting and storing your contacts more simple and more effective. For the most convenient way to wear contacts, consider daily disposable contact lenses (such as ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day).

Question 14

Can I continue using my glasses if I start wearing contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Of course. You can still wear contacts or glasses, alternating for specific activities, needs or preference. However, even if you choose to wear contact lenses full-time, it's recommended that you have a pair of glasses in your current prescription just in case.

Question 15

I don't need glasses all the time. Why should I wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Even if you only wear glasses part-time, contact lenses can offer a convenient and easy alternative for certain activities like playing sports. Unlike glasses, in normal wearing conditions, contact lenses won't smudge, steam up, fall off or break.

Question 16

Can I wear contacts while participating in sports or recreational activities?

Accepted Answer

Game on. Contacts offer crisp, clear, reliable vision—and you won’t have to worry about them fogging up, falling off or breaking during a game like glasses can. Remember that contact lenses should never be worn during water activities like swimming.

Question 17

Are eye infections common when wearing contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Contact lens-related health problems can occur, but they're rare. Infections are most commonly related to poor cleaning routines or other lens-care-related issues. If you follow your eye care professional's directions for proper wear and care, you should be fine.

Question 18

What’s the difference between daily disposable and frequent replacement lenses?

Accepted Answer

Daily Disposable contact lenses are used for one day and then thrown away. They typically do not involve the use of lens solution.Frequent Replacement lenses are reused for two weeks to one month (depending on the lens and your eye care professional's recommendation) and require cleaning and disinfection every day.Extended wear means the contact lenses are approved for overnight wear of up to six nights/seven days (based on your eye care professional's recommendation and under strict supervision). Some lenses are approved for even longer wear periods, but we believe that a shorter wear cycle and more frequent replacement of the contact lens is safer and more comfortable.

Question 19

What’s the difference between Toric and astigmatism contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

They are actually the same. Toric lenses specifically correct for astigmatism.

Question 20

What is hydrogel?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogel is a soft, water-holding polymer plastic used to make contact lenses.

Question 21

What is a silicone hydrogel?

Accepted Answer

Silicone hydrogel is a soft contact lens material that generally allows more oxygen to pass through the lens.

Question 22

What does Dk and Dk/t mean?

Accepted Answer

Dk, or oxygen permeability, is the rate that oxygen can flow through a contact lens material. Dk/t or oxygen transmissibility, determines how much oxygen gets through a lens of a particular thickness.

Question 23

Do ACUVUE® contact lenses contain PFAS?

Accepted Answer

Johnson & Johnson does not use PFAS ingredients in our ACUVUE® soft contact lenses.

Question 24

I've been told I have astigmatism. Can I still wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Astigmatism is no longer a barrier to wearing contact lenses. ACUVUE® offers several contact lenses that correct for astigmatism: ACUVUE® OASYS 1-DAY for ASTIGMATISM, ACUVUE® OASYS for ASTIGMATISM, 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST for ASTIGMATISM, and ACUVUE® VITA® for ASTIGMATISM.

Question 25

Can I wear contact lenses if I’ve had cataract surgery?

Accepted Answer

Only your eye care professional can tell for certain. If your eye care professional feels that contacts are still an option, we believe that ACUVUE® is an excellent choice.

Question 26

If I’ve had LASIK or another refractive surgery, can I still wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Only your eye doctor can tell for certain. LASIK surgery permanently alters the shape of your eye, but doesn’t prevent the development of presbyopia, so you may still need vision correction at some point. If your eye doctor feels that contacts are still an option, we believe that ACUVUE® is an excellent choice.

Question 27

How do allergies affect contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

The eye's response to allergens like pollen and dander can make contact lenses more difficult to wear. Allergens may accumulate on the contact lens causing additional discomfort. We recommend daily disposable lenses like ACUVUE® MOIST which are fresh and clean every day.

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