Explanation: Why Do Contact Lenses Expire

Observation

Contact lenses are classified, as packaged in medical wraps. The lenses are sterilized and packaged in sealed containers before distribution to health care providers and consumers. Over time, the seal of contact lenses can lose its effectiveness & deteriorate, which can lead to contamination of the solution and the lenses inside.

Even, contaminated lenses might lead to everything (from irritation to infection or worse). For such reasons, all the packaged contact lenses will have a printed expiration date. Technically speaking, the lenses themselves don't expire. Sure, they might dry up a bit, but the actual issue is contamination or visual delay.

During the manufacturing of contact lenses, each lens gets sterilized and packed in an air-tight blister along with the saline solution. Brands then display the maximum amount of time they can grant that the saline solution & packaging might keep their condition.

Conclusive Takeaway

Beyond the expiration date posted on the contact lens packaging, manufacturers cannot guarantee that the lenses are safe to wear; thus, expired contact lenses must not be used aspect-wise.

As the packaging ages & deteriorates, the contents of the packaging lenses & the saline solution can become compromised and contaminated.