While the phrase “single-use plastics” may immediately conjure images of drink straws and food packaging, there’s another source of pollution hiding in plain sight — your humble contact lenses. Regularly changing them is essential for your health, but your eye care routine doesn’t have to harm the planet. Learn about the environmental impact of contact lenses and how to reduce their adverse effects on your local ecosystem.

How Contact Lenses Impact the Environment

Soft contact lenses come in daily, monthly, quarterly and annual disposal packages. Researchers found full-time, daily disposable contact wearers generate 27% more waste annually than people who choose reusable lenses. 

If you’re concerned about the environment, you might try getting more use out of your contacts by wearing them longer than recommended. Stretching product life spans is a standard way to reduce household waste, but in this case, it can cause vision problems. Wearing older contacts can leave you vulnerable to eye irritation, infections or even issues like torn corneas.

Experts recommend scheduling an annual eye exam to catch signs of vision loss and early health concerns. During your appointment, ask your optometrist to recommend alternative ways to have 20/20 vision without adding to contact disposal waste. While switching to glasses might seem like your only option, plenty of other strategies improve the environment for people who prefer wearing contacts.

Ways to Help the Planet Without Switching to Glasses

You don’t have to stop wearing contacts to align your eye care routine with your green values. Check out a few strategies that effectively support the planet:

1. Choose a Company With Sustainable Values

Many soft contact lens manufacturers understand their products’ environmental impact. They often offset those adverse effects by using sustainable energy at their facilities, donating to environmental charities or directing nonhazardous production waste away from landfills.

Ordering your contacts from a brand making actionable green efforts could better align your eye care with your eco-friendly values. This way you can continue wearing your contacts, glasses and endless styles of sunglasses, especially those which add ultraviolet light protection, all while reducing your carbon footprint.

2. Order Replacements in Recyclable Materials

Your optometrist’s office may offer to ship your new contacts to your door. While this option is convenient, check whether the packaging materials are recyclable or compostable. You might decide to switch to a different brand that uses reusable materials to reduce the waste generated by your contacts.

Speaking of reusable materials, you may also want to opt for non-plastic contact lens cases as an alternative to the traditional plastic contact lens cases. This action will further reduce your environmental impact.

3. Partner With a Contact Recycling Program

Research shows around 32% of Americans recycle household items, and many businesses strive to meet that complex need. Contact lens recycling options have emerged as a competitive industry. See if there are drop-off sites near your home or if you can arrange recurring pickups with a company that specifically recycles contact lenses. Until biodegradable and compostable contacts become a possibility, recycling is a better way to manage your disposable contacts and cases. 

4. Discuss Surgery Options With Your Ophthalmologist

Eye surgery isn’t possible for everyone, but you could be a candidate, if an ophthalmologist approves. Schedule a consultation to discuss potentially getting LASIK eye surgery. The procedure gives you 20/20 vision by reshaping your corneas.

This procedure has health risks, so it’s not ideal for everyone. Talk to an ophthalmologist about your health history to see if permanently correcting your vision can eliminate contact lens waste for good.

Merge Your Eye Care Preferences With Your Green Lifestyle

Having imperfect vision doesn’t automatically make plastic pollution an ongoing part of your routine. Explore your eye care options to improve your environmental impact. Whether you get your contacts from a company that invests in green initiatives, recycle your used lenses or look into LASIK surgery, you can find a better path forward without relying on glasses again.