How long can you wear contacts?

If you’ve ever wondered, “How long can you wear contacts?” (without your eyes calling 911), you’ve stumbled upon the right corner of the internet. The short answer? It depends heavily on the type of lenses you’re using and how they’re designed. Some can handle a 12-hour shift without blinking an eye (pun intended), while others might need to tap out by dinner. 

Below is a handy cheat sheet, but keep reading below for the full story.

• Standard contacts (daily wear): Around 12–16 hours per day

• Dailies: One-time use and can usually up to 14–16 hours if your eyes are comfy

• Night contacts (extended wear): Up to 7–30 nights of continuous wear (only if the lens is approved for overnight)

• Bi-weekly contacts: Can be worn up to 2 weeks (14 days) before tossing

• Monthlies: Need to be replaced every month (30 days) with no exceptions

• New lens wearers: Aim for shorter spurts at first — maybe 4–6 hours a day — then build up gradually to a typical 12-hour routine

Remember: “Can” is the absolute max you might manage with a certain lens, while “should” is what eye care professionals actually recommend. Why the difference?

Look at it this way. Just because you can eat leftover pizza for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and as a midnight snack doesn’t mean it’s a top-notch life choice. The same principle applies to your contact lenses — pushing them past their intended duration can cause all sorts of drama for your eyes.

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What are the risks and consequences of overwear?

Overwear is when you wear your contact lenses for longer than the recommended daily or weekly (or monthly) timeframe. It can mean wearing them for too many hours in a single day or continuing to use the same pair long after the replacement deadline.

In a nutshell, if you overwear your contacts, you risk the four horsemen of ocular annoyance: dryness, irritation, infection, and possible vision damage. More specifically, you can develop corneal issues like keratitis, an infection or inflammation of the cornea that can cause pain, redness, and (in worst-case scenarios) long-term vision impairment.

Want the full scoop? We’ve got a whole piece on keratitis and the dangers of overwearing your contacts. But the bottom line? Give your eyes the breaks they deserve.

How long should you wear contacts?

Let’s talk about day-to-day wear, as in “how many hours a day can I wear these contacts on my eyeballs before my eyes tap out?” The exact number varies by person (and lens), but your prescription and manufacturer recommendations are the law. 

Certain folks do great wearing lenses for 14 hours every day, while others feel dryness creeping in after 8 hours. Also, remember the difference between “can” and “should.” Sure, your monthly lenses “can” last up to 16 hours daily, but for many people, 12 hours feels better — and your eyes don’t hate you at the end of the day.

Recommended wear time (should): 8–14 hours per day (depending on lens comfort, dryness, etc.)
Maximum wear time (can): 12–16 hours per day, as long as there’s no discomfort

If you push beyond that 16-hour mark regularly, your eyes might feel as parched as a cactus in the desert. If you’re noticing regular dryness, irritation, or blurry vision well before day’s end, check out these contact lens problems to watch out for. Sometimes, a lens upgrade or different replacement schedule can make a world of difference.

What contacts can you wear overnight?

Yes, you can snooze in some lenses — but only certain contact lenses are FDA-approved for overnight wear, meaning they’re made of highly breathable materials (think silicone hydrogel) that allow extra oxygen to reach your corneas while you sleep. Examples include monthly or biweekly lenses labeled specifically for extended wear. Here are four must-knows for overnight lens usage:

1. Extended wear approvals: Always ensure your lens brand is explicitly approved for overnight use. If it’s not, your eyes could be starved of oxygen all night.

2. Reduced daily hassle: Extended wear lenses can offer convenience if you’re traveling or you’re the type who dozes off with zero warning (hey, power nappers!).

3. Higher infection risk: Even with FDA-approved lenses, sleeping in contacts bumps up your risk of infection. That’s why many pros suggest removing them at least once or twice a week for a cleaning break.

4. Example: Check out monthly lenses such as Air Optix® Night & Day® Aqua.

If you want to embrace the “I woke up like this” vibe, chat with your eye care professional to see if extended wear is safe for your eyes. Sleeping in lenses that aren’t approved (or wearing them longer than recommended) is pretty much asking for a 3 a.m. meet-and-greet with an irritated cornea.

Is 12 hours too long to wear contacts?

Usually, 12 hours is fine for most daily or monthly contact lenses, as long as they’re approved for all-day wear and your eyes aren’t drying out faster than a flower in a sauna.

Some people happily keep their lenses in for 14 hours; others can push 16 with zero drama. If you’re using, say, extended wear lenses, 12 hours is practically a warmup — they’re often designed to handle 24 hours (and beyond).

On the flip side, if you’re dealing with standard dailies or monthlies that aren’t specifically high-oxygen or extended wear, wearing them for 12–14 hours might be the upper limit. Keep a close watch on dryness. If your eyes start screaming “No more, please,” it’s time to swap them out for glasses.

Many folks can wear dailies for 12 hours or more (Looking at you, Dailies® AquaComfort Plus® and 1-Day Acuvue® Moist®). Others do better switching to glasses after dinner. In short, it depends on your eyes, your lens brand, and whether you’re binge-watching 4 hours of TV in a row with minimal blinking.

How long should you use a pair of extended wear contacts?

Extended wear contact lenses are designed to be worn continuously for multiple days — sometimes up to 7 days, sometimes up to 30 nights, depending on the brand. These lenses rely on materials that deliver extra oxygen to your eyes. That said, you can’t just keep them in for months without switching. Here are some variations to keep on your radar:

• One-week extended wear. Some lenses, like Bausch + Lomb Ultra, let you sleep in them for up to 6 nights straight. After that, you toss them and start a fresh pair.

• One-month extended wear. Other lenses such as Acuvue® Vita™ are designed for up to 30 days of continuous wear. If your schedule is bananas, you can theoretically go a whole month without taking them out. 

Even with extended wear, your eye care professional might suggest removing them weekly for a deep clean or eye break. Always follow their advice to keep your corneas happy and moist.

So, how long should you use a single pair? Exactly as labeled. If it’s a 1-week lens, replace it every 7 days, no excuses. If it’s a 1-month lens, chuck them after 30 days, whether you wore them continuously or not.

What happens if you wear 2-week contacts longer?

Two-week contacts (called biweekly lenses) are meant to be replaced every 14 days. Push them to 21 or 28, and you’re basically ignoring their best-by date. These lenses are made from materials that degrade after about two weeks of daily wear. Once you blow past that mark, four things can happen: The lens surface accumulates protein deposits, oxygen flow plummets, fit becomes less reliable, and your odds of infection spike.

In other words, if you’re wearing 2-week contacts beyond 14 days, you’re playing lens roulette. Don’t do it. Budget is always a factor, but so are your corneas. Treat them right, and they’ll give you a lifetime of crisp sight.

Is it bad to wear contacts longer than a month?

If your contacts are monthly disposables, the limit is typically 30 days. Period. 

Using them longer invites dryness, blurred vision, protein buildup, and a quadruple risk of eye nasties. In short, if you’re ignoring the month mark, you’re basically inviting your eyes to star in a horror film (but they’re the only ones not enjoying the show).

How long can you wear one pair of contacts?

Let’s wrap up by mapping out the big takeaways. Below is a quick cheat sheet of how long each pair of contacts should last, plus some daily guidelines:

Daily disposable lenses

• Wear time per day: Up to 16 hours (but many folks max out around 12–14).

• Use span per pair: 1 day only—toss after wearing once!

• Good for: Low-maintenance routines, fresh-lens feeling, zero cleaning.

Biweekly lenses 

• Wear time per day: Usually 12–14 hours, maybe up to 16 if comfortable.

• Use span per pair: 14 days max. Don’t stretch it to 21 or 28.

• Good for: Reliable schedule, moderate cost savings, easier routine than monthlies.

Monthly lenses

• Wear time per day: 12–16 hours is typical; dryness or late-night Netflix binges may cut that down.

• Use span per pair: 30 days. Once you hit day 31, toss them.

• Good for: Busy schedules, less frequent replacements, but a daily cleaning ritual is required.

Night contacts (extended wear)

• Wear time per day: Potentially 24 hours for up to 7 or even 30 nights, depending on brand and approval.

• Use span per pair: Replace on the lens schedule (weekly or monthly).

• Good for: Those who loathe removing lenses daily, provided your eye care professional approves it.

Standard daily-wear

• Wear time per day: 12–14 hours, with 16 hours as a borderline “pushing it” zone.

• Use span per pair: Depends on whether they’re weekly, monthly, or something else. Stick to the label!

• Good for: Traditional, tried-and-true contact lens setups—just remember to remove them nightly.

New lens wearers

• Wear time per day: Start with 4–6 hours to let your eyes adjust, then slowly climb to 12–14 hours.

• Use span per pair: Follow the lens type specifics (daily/weekly/monthly).

• Good for: Minimizing that “my eyes feel like sandpaper” vibe until you’re used to lenses.

Pushing your lenses past recommended limits might save a few dollars in the short term, but it could cost you an eye infection (or worse) in the long run. 

If you’re asking the dreaded question, “why are my contacts so blurry after 12 hours?" give your corneas a break. Swap to glasses for a hot minute or talk to your eye care professional about switching to a different lens type or replacement schedule.

And if you’re ready to restock? Swing by 1-800 Contacts. Because seeing clearly shouldn’t be a high stakes guessing game. Oh no, we think it should be easy and comfy. Go forth and blink freely, folks!

Did you know you can order contacts online? 

Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts! 

Original publish date: 5/4/22

Updated: 4/24/25