Have you stood in a drug store unsure which solution is best for your contact lenses?
There are multiple contact lens solutions available. These are used for storage and cleaning contact lenses and include hydrogen peroxide, saline solutions, rigid gas permeable solutions, daily cleaners, and multi-purpose solutions.
Contact lens solutions will be prescribed by your eye doctor if you wear monthly, bi-weekly, yearly contact lenses or rigid gas permeable lenses.
Only use solutions that have been approved by your eye doctor.
Using the correct contact solution, ensures your lenses will be fresh, clean, and ready to use the next morning – but using the wrong one can cause serious complications.
It is critical to properly care for lenses and always follow your doctor’s instructions.
The right solutions will mean your eyes are less prone to inflammation and infections, and your contact lenses will feel more comfortable.
Multi-purpose contact lens solutions
Multi-purpose solutions are a one-stop-shop for cleaning, disinfecting, rinsing, and storing your contact lenses.
You can perform all these actions with just one bottle of multi-purpose solution.
Multi-purpose solutions are acceptable for all soft contact lenses, and can even be used for daily disposable lenses, which are single-use lenses disposed of at the end of the day.
Do not use RGP solutions for soft lenses and vice versa.
There are specific multi-purpose contact lens solutions for rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses that are more convenient than two-step systems.
Rigid gas permeable contact lens solutions
You’ll need a specific RGP contact lens solution to clean RGP contact lenses.
Solutions for RGP lenses have unique formulations for the RGP materials.
Do not use solutions for soft lenses for RGP lenses.
Rigid gas permeable lenses are mostly constructed of silicone and do not contain any water. As a result, a different kind of cleaning solution is required for these lenses.
Wetting, cleaning, and disinfecting rigid gas permeable contact lenses necessitates the use of a hard contact lens solution.
If you wear RGP lenses, your eye doctor will recommend the best lens care strategy for you.
Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you to learn more about which contact lens solution is best for you.
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Hydrogen peroxide contact lens solutions
Contact lens solutions containing hydrogen peroxide often provide a deeper clean and a greater level of hygiene than other solutions.
These solutions are also helpful for people who have sensitive eyes as they may not have the preservatives as in many of the multi-purpose solutions.
For disinfecting soft lenses, hydrogen peroxide solutions are much stronger and provide an easier and deeper clean, so many eye doctors still prescribe for certain patients.
However there are a few drawbacks to hydrogen peroxide systems: the cleaning process takes longer to work, usually at least 4 -6 hours or overnight.
Hydrogen peroxide solutions effectively clean the lenses but need to be carefully used to ensure your eyes do not sting.
Hydrogen peroxide solutions are most commonly associated with soft lenses, but some hydrogen peroxide solutions are also appropriate for RGP lenses.
Always check with your optometrist before using a hydrogen-peroxide solution, especially if you have never used one before.
Hydrogen peroxide solutions come with a unique contact lens container that includes a basket with a catalytic disc that fits inside.
Daily cleaners
If you have sensitive eyes, daily cleaners are a great option because they provide a more thorough clean as compared to only rubbing with the storage solution.
This cleaning will remove deposits and debris from the contact lens’s surface.
Daily cleaning solutions are only used for cleaning the lenses, but won’t disinfect them, so do not store the lenses in this solution.
Additional items, such as multi-purpose solutions, will be needed to rinse, disinfect, and store the lenses.
Saline solutions
Saline solutions, which are made up of a sterile mixture of salt and water, are gentle, preservative-free contact lens solutions.
Saline solutions are suitable for rinsing lenses, but never for daily cleaning or storage.
All types of lenses, including RGP lenses, can be used with saline solutions. After applying hydrogen peroxide solution, they will offer your lenses an effective rinse, and they may also be used to clean and refresh daily.
Saline solutions are not used for cleaning or disinfecting your lenses due to their disinfectant-free construction. Instead of saline, you’ll always need to use a contact lens solution first. This will protect your eyes from irritation.
LEARN MORE: Optical and Contact Lenses
Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you to learn more about which contact lens solution would be best for you.
Using the correct contact solution, ensures your lenses will be fresh, clean, and ready to use the next morning – but using the wrong one can cause serious complications.
