Contact lenses are a popular vision correction option that offer convenience and comfort for many people. However, contact lenses also come with an expiration date, even when still sealed in their original packaging. Knowing how long you can store unopened contacts helps ensure you get the full use of your purchase while avoiding potential problems from using expired lenses.
What is the shelf life of unopened contact lenses?
The shelf life of unopened contact lenses depends on the type of contacts:
- Daily disposables – 1 year from the manufacture date
- 2 week disposables – 1 year from the manufacture date
- Monthly disposables – 1 year from the manufacture date
- Bi-weekly disposables – 2 years from the manufacture date
- Quarterly disposables – 3 years from the manufacture date
- Annual disposables – 4 years from the manufacture date
- Conventional (non-disposable) – 5 years from the manufacture date
This time frame is based on the contact lens material and any special coatings or treatments applied during manufacturing. The shelf life assumes the unopened contacts are stored properly.
Why do unopened contacts have expiration dates?
There are a few reasons why unopened contact lenses expire:
- The contact lens material can degrade over time, even when sealed. Exposure to oxygen, heat, light, and humidity can cause subtle changes in the lens material that reduce comfort and vision performance when worn.
- Disinfectants and other solutions applied to the lenses during manufacturing have a limited shelf life. Their ability to disinfect and keep the lenses sterile declines over months and years of storage.
- Regulations and quality standards require contact lens manufacturers to provide expiration dates based on stability testing. This helps ensure consumers purchase fresh products that provide safe, comfortable vision correction when used as directed.
What happens if you wear expired contact lenses?
Wearing contact lenses past their expiration date raises the risk of problems including:
- Discomfort – The materials may feel drier and irritate your eyes due to material breakdown.
- Poor vision – Lenses could warp subtlety, reducing visual sharpness and quality.
- Eye infections – Outdated disinfectants may no longer protect against bacteria and other microbes that can contaminate lenses and cause eye infections.
- Corneal ulcers – Severe infections and inflammation of the cornea are possible if old contacts introduce harmful bacteria into your eyes.
- Permanent eye damage – In the worst cases, eye infections from expired lenses can scar the cornea or cause vision loss if left untreated.
Using expired contacts also voids any manufacturer guarantees of lens performance and safety. To avoid problems, stick to the expiration dates and proper wear schedule for your lenses.
How to store unopened contact lenses
To get the full shelf life from your unopened contact lenses, follow these storage tips:
- Keep lenses sealed in their original packaging or vials.
- Store at room temperature away from heat, direct sunlight, and humidity.
- Avoid storing in humid bathrooms or near disinfectants and cleaners which can degrade materials.
- Keep lenses in a clean, dust-free area to avoid contamination.
- Don’t mix and match old and new boxes of the same lenses.
- Check expiration dates regularly and discard expired lenses.
How to tell if unopened contacts are expired
Check for these signs your sealed contact lenses may be past their expiration date:
- The expiration date printed on the box or vials has passed.
- There are visible changes in the lens solution such as cloudiness or particles.
- The packaging has become warped, degraded, or damaged.
- There are changes in smell when opening the container.
- There’s evidence of leaking around the vial lid or edges.
- You’ve owned them longer than the listed shelf life for that lens type.
When in doubt, apply the expiration date printed on the box rather than guessing based on storage conditions or packaging integrity. Don’t take risks with your eye health.
Can you use expired lenses if left sealed?
No, you should never knowingly use contact lenses that are past their printed expiration date, even if they remain sealed in their original packaging. The shelf lives are determined based on extensive stability testing data for each lens type. The potential problems from material degradation and ineffective disinfectants still apply even with unopened packages. It’s simply not worth the risks of significant eye health issues. When in doubt, throw them out.
Are expiration dates really necessary for unopened lenses?
Yes, expiration dates are essential for maximizing both the safety and performance of contact lenses, including those still in sealed packaging. Testing shows material properties and disinfecting solutions decline over time, even on the shelf. And there are occasional manufacturing defects that can slip through quality control. Setting conservative shelf lives minimizes risks without needing excessive safety margins that would waste too many good lenses. The FDA also mandates expiration dating to protect consumers. So for both health and regulatory reasons, all contact lenses need to have manufacture and discard dates.
Can expired lenses be refunded or exchanged?
Contact lens sellers and eye doctors typically won’t allow returns, refunds, or exchanges for expired contact lens boxes. This helps prevent reselling and redistribution of products past their safe shelf life. However, unopened boxes that pass their expiration date due to infrequent lens replacement may be eligible for an exchange. Most sellers offer a small grace period but will still recommend safely disposing of any outdated products. Read return policies closely and talk to your eye doctor before assuming you can exchange expired lenses.
What should you do with expired unopened contact lenses?
If you discover an unopened box of contact lenses is past its expiration date, properly dispose of the lenses right away. Do not use them or try to return or exchange at your retailer. Recommended disposal methods include:
- Take to your eye doctor’s office for hazardous waste handling
- Mix with water and flush down the drain if allowed in your area
- Seal in a plastic bag and put in regular household trash
- See if your community has medical waste or hazardous waste collection
Removing the expired lenses from your environment prevents accidentally using them later. Dispose of any accompanying lens solutions as well. Be sure to only purchase the quantity of lenses you expect to use before expiration to avoid waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use contact lenses after the expiration date?
No, you should never use contact lenses after their printed expiration date. The shelf lives are set for safety and performance reasons. Expired lenses can increase the risk of severe eye infections, damage, and vision loss.
Do unopened contacts last longer than opened ones?
Yes, unopened contact lens packages typically have much longer shelf lives than lenses once opened. Once exposed to air and moisture, contacts start degrading faster. Opened daily disposables only last 1 day while unopened can last 1 year or longer.
How long can you store daily contact lenses?
Unopened daily disposable contact lenses remain safe and effective for up to 1 year past their manufacturing date if stored properly. Opened daily lenses must be discarded after each use.
Can old contacts be donated?
No, contact lenses past their expiration date should never be donated or passed on to others. There is no way to guarantee they will still be safe and effective. Donating or reselling expired medical devices could spread infections and cause legal liability.
Do contacts expire if sealed in solution?
Yes, contact lenses sealed in their original blister packs or vials with solution will still expire after the time period indicated on the packaging. The solutions gradually lose effectiveness and lens materials degrade over time. Being in a sealed container only slows down the expiration process slightly.
What happens if you accidentally swallow expired contacts?
While swallowing an expired contact lens is unlikely to cause serious harm for most people, it can still be an unnecessary choking hazard. The lens could get stuck in the throat or digestive tract. Seek medical care if you experience any discomfort or symptoms after accidentally ingesting an expired contact.
Can old lenses be used for costumes or decorations?
No, discarded contact lenses should always be immediately thrown away even if for creative uses. Expired lenses may still carry contaminants that could spread infection. Proper disposal protects everyone’s safety.
The shelf life of unopened contact lenses
Contact lens manufacturers extensively test the stability and shelf life of their products. As a medical device, appropriate expiration dating is required to avoid health risks to the millions of contact lens wearers. While tempting to use that last unopened box past its date, it’s simply not worth the potential for eye infections, damage, discomfort, and poor vision. Follow the guidelines for storage conditions and shelf life, and properly dispose of any expired contact lenses.
Conclusion
Unopened contact lenses can typically be safely stored and used for 1 to 4 years after the manufacturing date, depending on the lens type. However, once past their expiration date, the risk of eye health issues makes it critical to properly dispose of unused contact lenses. Never use or try to exchange expired contacts, even if they remain sealed in the original packaging. Follow the expiration dates, storage guidelines, and usage schedule for your particular lenses to maximize both health and your investment in vision correction.