You might find a forgotten box of contact lenses tucked in the back of your bathroom drawer. The packaging looks completely fine from the outside, so you naturally wonder if those older lenses are still safe to put in your eyes. Our team at Vision Care Grayslake wants you to know that while expired lenses may look normal, they’re no longer guaranteed to be sterile or safe to wear.
Contact lenses do expire, and you should always check the date on the box before putting them in your eyes. Over time, the sterility of the sealed package and the stability of the solution can no longer be guaranteed, making your lenses unsafe for daily wear, and signaling that it’s time to order new contacts.
The Truth About Contact Lens Expiration Dates
Understanding Saline Solution
Manufacturers place different contact lens types inside small plastic blister packs filled with a saline solution. This liquid keeps the lens soft and ready for your eye, but over time, this solution breaks down and loses its ability to protect the material, which can make expired contact lenses uncomfortable or even unsafe to wear.
How the Seal Works
The plastic blister pack also features a special foil seal to block out dirt. After the expiration date, manufacturers can no longer guarantee the package remains sterile. Putting an old lens on your eye can introduce unwanted germs directly to your delicate eye surface, which is why proper contact lens care is so important.
How to Check if Your Contacts Are Expired
Finding the expiration date only takes a few seconds. You can look at the side or bottom of the original cardboard box for a date printed near the lot number. Most boxes show a printed year and month to help you track your supply.
You can also check the individual blister packs for these same numbers. The foil cover usually displays a small hourglass symbol next to a specific year and month. You should immediately discard any packs with smudged or missing dates, as it won’t be easy to tell when they expired, and you could accidentally use a lens past its date.
Shelf Life Versus Wearable Life for Lenses
The Lifespan of Unopened Packages
New boxes of lenses usually stay good for 1–5 years from the date they leave the factory. You can easily keep them ready for use by storing them in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Always leave the blister packs completely sealed in their original packaging until you need them.
The Lifespan of Opened Lenses
When you open the seal, the expiration rules change. How long you can wear your contacts safely depends on the wear schedule designed for your lenses. For example, daily disposable lenses go in the trash every single night.
Some soft lenses can last up to a full month when worn every day. You clean these reusable lenses every night and store them in fresh contact lens solution. You should always replace your contacts as recommended by our team or the manufacturer.
Symptoms Associated with Expired Lenses
Wearing old contacts can create a physical reaction in your eyes. Lenses and solutions that are no longer guaranteed to be safe or sterile can increase the risk of irritation or, in more serious cases, eye infections such as corneal ulcers.
Your eyes communicate clearly when something is wrong. If you wear expired contact lenses, you might notice several uncomfortable signs:
- Corneal swelling
- A gritty feeling, like sand is in your eye
- Eye pain
- Light sensitivity
If you experience any of these, take out your contact lenses right away. Taking a break can help your eyes to rest and recover, and you can switch to your glasses while you wait to see the eye doctor.
What to do with Old Contacts and Solutions
Disposal Methods for Old Materials
You can discard expired lenses into your household trash. Flushing contact lenses down the sink or toilet introduces small plastic particles into local waterways, which isn’t great for the environment. Simply toss the old blister packs directly into the garbage can.
You should apply the same careful approach to your bottles of liquid. Always use a fresh cleaning solution to store your active lenses overnight. An old bottle of liquid loses its ability to clean effectively, so we recommend you replace it right away.
How to Keep Your Supply Ready
Try to manage your supply by organizing your boxes at home. A good habit is to use your lenses in the exact order you purchased them. You can place the newest boxes in the back of your drawer to keep the older dates in front.
Schedule Your Contact Lens Fitting and Exam
Our team at Vision Care Grayslake wants to help your entire family enjoy clear vision in a welcoming environment. Whether you need to update your prescription or are looking for a fresh supply of contact lenses, we’re here for you. Schedule an appointment today.
