Your guide to two-weekly contact lenses

Having trouble deciding whether to pick daily or monthly lenses? What if we told you there is another option that you might have overlooked? That’s right, two-weekly (or biweekly) contact lenses might be the perfect option if your lens-wearing routine falls somewhere in between. If you haven’t considered two-weeklies before, we’ve put together this lens guide to teach you a little more about this unique lens style. 

To kick things off, Roshni Patel, Lenstore’s Head of Profession Services and Lead Optometrist, answers the 5 most FAQs about two-weekly contact lenses.

Ask the expert – two-weekly contact lenses

What are two weekly contact lenses?  

Two-weeklies are soft contact lenses – just like your monthlies and dailies. However, they are designed to be disposed of every 15 days and replaced with a fresh pair. They are meant to be removed each night, cleaned and disinfected, like monthly disposables.

What are the benefits of two-weekly contact lenses?

Two-weekly contact lenses are a good in-between for those who are unsure if dailies or monthlies are a better option for their wearing needs. They are similar in price to monthly disposables. However, at the same time, they are replaced more frequently (every 15 days rather than 30), which from a hygiene perspective is beneficial.

There are also 6 lenses in a box rather than 3, which means there will always be a few spares, should you rip or lose one. Fewer blister packs and packaging also means there is less waste, which makes them more eco-friendly than standard daily disposables.

Can you sleep in two-weekly lenses?

The ACUVUE Oasys family of two-weekly lenses are licensed for extended wear, but this must be done under your optician's instruction. If used for this purpose, the lenses must be disposed of after 6 nights/7 days and replaced with a fresh pair.

Are two-week contact lenses cheaper?

This all depends on how often you want to wear them. For those who want to wear lenses most days, two-weekly or monthly disposables are a more cost-effective option than daily lenses.

Are two weekly contacts safe?

Yes. All contact lenses are safe to use, provided you are wearing them as prescribed and following the correct handling and care instructions by your optician.

Details about two-weekly contact lenses

What vision correction do two-weekly lenses provide?

While the number of lens manufacturers that offer two-weekly lenses is much lower than that of other types of lenses, there are still available options to suit most types of vision correction. Depending on your lens prescriptions, bi-weekly lenses are sold to help correct these common vision refractions: 

• Myopia (short-sightedness): when distant objects appear blurred 
• Hyperopia (long-sightedness): when up close objects appear blurred 
• Presbyopia: when objects up close appear blurred due to the age of the eye 
• Astigmatism: when objects appear blurred due to a variation in eye shape

What types of two-weekly contact lenses are there?

Similar to other soft contact lens styles, two-weekly lenses are designed to correct a wide range of vision needs – with the most common options being: 

Spherical – contain the same power throughout the lens surface. Suited for people with prescriptions for myopia or hypermetropia, spherical is generally the most common lens style. 

Toric – featuring different powers in sections of the lens, toric contact lenses factor in the eye’s shape to correct astigmatism.   

Multifocal – features multiple prescriptions into one lens to correct presbyopia and allow wearers to have clear vision at different distances.

What are two-weekly lenses made of?

Like most modern soft contact lenses, bi-weeklies are made from two common water-based polymers – hydrogel and silicone hydrogel. The flexibility and absorbency of these two gel-like materials allow healthy amounts of oxygen and moisture to reach your eyes during wear. 

To learn more about each material's pros and cons, check out our comprehensive article on the differences between hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses here.

What are the most popular two-weekly lenses?

Using the helpful reviews left by our customers, here’s a list of Lenstore’s top-selling two-weekly contact lenses. If one of these popular picks seems like a good option for your vision needs, ask your eye care professional if they’re suitable to try.

ACUVUE OASYS

Designed for spherical lens wearers who are often in front of digital devices, ACUVUE OASYS 2-week lenses provide long-lasting comfort. Featuring Hydraclear Plus technology that reduces dryness by mimicking the eyes’ natural tear film and Class 1 UV protection, ACUVUE OASYS lenses both protect and comfort your eyes throughout the day.

ACUVUE OASYS for Astigmatism

The toric version of the 2-week ACUVUE OASYS lenses mentioned above features all the same lens technologies like Hydraclear Plus and UV protection but also includes Eyelid Stabilised Design to adjust the lens position quickly and accurately for wearers with astigmatism.

ACUVUE OASYS Multifocal

The newest addition to ACUVUE’s lineup of biweekly contact lenses, OASYS Multifocal, is an upgrade on the manufacturer’s previous two-week Oasys for Presbyopia lenses. These new multifocal lenses feature Pupil Optimised Design to help you experience clear vision at all distances alongside Hydraclear plus technology and Class 1 UV blocking protection offered in all other OASYS lenses.

How much do two-weekly contact lenses cost?

As expected, price-wise, 2-weekly lenses tend to fall between monthly and daily lenses. While not as expensive as specific daily disposables and not as cheap as a monthly variety, two-weekly lenses are still a very cost-effective lens option for regular lens wearers. When ordering online at Lenstore, you can purchase a 90-day supply of two-weekly lenses for about £40 (6x lenses per box – one box per eye).

Because of the additional values and parameters of toric and multifocal lenses, prices are slightly more expensive than standard spherical lenses. On average, you should expect to pay around £50-60 for a 3-month supply of two-weekly lenses for presbyopia or astigmatism.

To further cut down on your costs on your bi-weekly contacts, subscribe to our convenient Auto Reorder service and save 5% off all your future lens orders.

How can I switch to two-weekly contact lenses?

If you currently have a prescription for a daily disposable or monthly lens and are considering switching to a two-weekly variety of lenses, the best way to see if they’re a good fit for you is by booking an appointment with an optician. After your vision and eye health assessment, you’ll likely be offered some new lenses to trial, with a follow-up appointment to review your adjustment to the new lens type.  

If you think you’re ready to try two-weeklies, schedule a checkup today.