Contact Lens Solution Check List

There are different types of contact lens solutions available in the market, each with different set of usage instructions & cautions. To help prevent your contact lens solution losing its efficacy, follow the check list below:

1. Always read the label on the bottle. It must clearly mention its compatibility with contact lenses.
2. Never leave the cap of your solution bottle empty. Doing so will evaporate the preservative responsible for the disinfection.
3. Never touch the tip of the solution bottle with your fingers, hand or any other object ever.
4. Never share solutions containing hydrogen peroxide with friends. They may confuse it with multi-purpose solution that can harm their eyes.
5. Always use the special contact lens case with hydrogen peroxide that comes with the solution bottle. Throw both the bottle & the case when the solution finishes. Start with the new case as you open the new bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
6. Leave contact lenses in solution for at least 6 hours to allow neutralization when using hydrogen peroxide.
7. Always check the expiry date of contact lens solution. Preferably use pharmacy made solutions.
8. Rinsing solutions neither disinfect contact lenses nor breakdown protein accumulation. If you are not sensitive to preservatives, use only multi-purpose solution to prevent drug interaction.  
9. Saline sterile solution should only be used for soaking contact lenses. Contact lenses can also be stored in saline solution for a short period in emergency. Don’t forget to disinfect using multipurpose solution as soon as possible before inserting your contacts again.

Always consult your doctor before you switch to a new regime of disinfecting your contact lenses. Also, read the label of the solution bottle and all instructions thoroughly at least twice. If you have concerns, stop immediately and consult your eye doctor. 

This is why you should Never Store your Contact Lenses in Water

The first thing that hits your mind for storing contact lenses in absence of the contact lens solution is water. If you also resort to water; STOP! Stop immediately, as contact lenses should never be exposed to water- not even to the tiny droplet! Water carries a rare but horrific parasite “Acanthamoeba Keratitis” that actually feeds on corneal tissues. We advise you to rely on homemade Saline solution for soaking contact lenses instead, when your regular disinfectant is not readily available.  "That space between the eye and the contact lens is a place that this little amoeba really likes to live," says Dr. Andy Howard at LaFollette Eye Clinic.             

Doctors warns against Acanthamoeba that runs in water. They suggests to never shower, swim or wash face when wearing contact lenses. It is not only the pools that carry the risk but tap water too. The parasite devours cornea way too quickly than you might even think- sometimes it takes even less than 24 hours. Unfortunately, there is no over the counter treatment but removing the eyeball in most of the cases.

When you wash or soak your contact lenses in tap water, acanthamoeba from water can cling to your soft contact lenses that may then transfer to your eyes. In seconds, the parasite gets activated to feed on the tissues. The damage is often fatal leading to complete blindness. The symptoms of Acanthamoeba attacks are:

1. Extreme stinging burning sensation
2. Light Sensitivity
3. White spots on the surface of eye
4. Horrific inflammation & redness

According to the Howard; they see about one acanthamoeba keratitis infection every year. This is most common in people who disregard doctors’ suggestions and neglect taking care of their contact lenses. He encourages patients to talk their doctors about the best contact lens solution & contact lens care instructions. He stressed enough on never washing your contact lens cases with water.

Contact lenses are excellent vision correction devices and more than 30 million people are being benefitted. If you are really concerned about your vision; it is only your attitude towards contact lenses you need to improve. Look how people are creating exciting makeup looks using colored contacts whilst staying safe!

Can I Wear Circle Lenses Straight from the Vials?

Circle lenses are required to be soaked in the soaking solution before the first wear. Circle contacts should not be worn right out of the vials as they come floating in isotonic sterile solution & needed to be oxidized before you insert them in eyes.

The isotonic solution is commonly known as saline solution. It is a composition of NaCl, Hydrogen per oxide, buffering agents & some preservatives. It is suggested by manufacturers that contacts should be soaked in the given solution for minimum of the 6 hours. Soaking them overnight makes the lenses soft, supple, moist & comfortable to wear.

Circle contacts do not necessarily need to be disinfected prior to first use. A simple rinse through sterile saline solution is enough. Contrarily, some people find stinging sensation when contact lenses are not soaked in the multi-purpose solution but in the same solution they came floating in. This happens as some of the preservatives in the isotonic solution may trigger allergic response. To neutralize the circle contacts, it is wise to soak & store them in the multi-purpose solution because it is safe to go in your eyes as well as to keep your lenses moist & comfortable.

After the first wear, you will be needing to disinfect your lenses after each wear. No rub solution or multi-purpose solution keeps your lenses free from protein & lipid debris. This way; every morning you get a clear & fresh pair of lenses that ensure crisp vision. 

What Saline Solution can do when Contact Lenses hurt your Eyes?

Wearing substandard, torn, dirty or expired contact lenses may hurt your eyes temporarily. Removing them immediately should be your top concern. To help cease the stinging sensation, resort to your saline solution. Saline solution is a sterile solution of distilled water & table salt. Saline solution is used for contact lens rinsing. It also heals minor cuts, wounds & relieves discomfort caused by damaged circle contacts.

Saline solution provides ocular lubrication & prevents super infections. Upon wearing contact lenses that are damaged or torn, your eyes get inflamed- to heal which, you need a wash out. Rinsing your eyes with saline solution also helps irritants flush away. Follow the procedure given below:

1. Blink your eyes several times, softly.
2. Pull down your upper eyelid over the lower
3. Rinse your eyes using sterile saline solution
4. Keep your eyes closed for few seconds. Do not rub your eyes

Salt in saline solution helps control the bacteria growth. Since it follows the same composition as of the human body it reduces the damage in tissues that is caused by tap water. Please be very careful about the salt you use. Keep it table salt purchased from local grocery store. Avoid iodized salt, or rock salt as it may contain particles or contaminants that could irritate the eyes. 

You can safely reinsert your contact lenses if the eyes feel fine after the wash-up. Otherwise, give them a rest for a day.

Also Read: Using Saline Solution to Disinfect Contact Lenses

Can I use Home Made Contact Lens Solution?

(Marty Rosamond/Demand Media)

Home made contact lens solutions should only be reverted to, in abrupt situations. Contact lens disinfecting solution is not readily available always, such as during a sleep-over at friend’s or at an outdoor picnic. To meet the sudden emergency, you can rely to homemade saline solution that is merely a solution of sodium chloride and distilled or boiled water.

Keep in mind that homemade saline solutions can NEVER “disinfect” your contact lenses. The solution is fine enough to keep your lenses soaked for a night only. Homemade saline solutions do not contain preservatives or any catalyst that could speed up the process of disinfection. It is unable of protein and lipids breakdown. Due to the absence of enzymes, saline solutions are not as pronounced in disinfection as are regular pharmacy formulated solutions.

Source

If something gets into your eyes and you feel a sudden urge of taking your contact out, you can resort to homemade solution. Never continue using saline solutions for long period of time. If you are unable to get your hands on regular disinfecting solutions and you have no option other than relying on saline solution, then it is better if you prepare a fresh supply every day.

Saline solution does not combat bacteria accumulation. Furthermore, the environment and the containers it is prepared in are not sterilized that run the risk of infections. For optimum health, always keep a sufficient supply of contact lens solution at hand. Store saline solution in a cool and dark place, as light facilitates bacteria growth. 

DIY Contact Lens Solution: What to Expect From?

Contact lens solutions available in the market might be expensive for some; therefore we have been observing more people relying to DIY solutions of contact lenses. DIY solutions often are a reference to homemade saline solution that is generally a mixture of sodium & distilled water. Store bought saline solutions are also resorted for cleaning, soaking & storing contact lenses. Saline solution might be a cheaper alternative to your multi-purpose solution but its usage should be restricted to emergencies only.

Why DIY Solution of Contact Lenses in not always a Good Choice?

Contact lens solution is not always readily available thus you can safely use saline solution instead. A saline solution can clean your contact lenses from superficial dirt & debris but it cannot slow down the bacteria accumulation on your contact lenses. Saline solution is also unable of removing protein debris and minerals deposition from contact lenses. It only promises to prevent your contact lenses from drying out over night when you run out of your regular multi-purpose solution.

Saline solution is in appropriate to be used on long-term basis for cleaning, soaking & storing your contact lenses. It contains salt & disinfected water (Distilled water) that keep your circle lenses hydrated. However, saline solution runs risk of disturbing the water-content ratio in contacts. Only revert to saline solution or other alternatives when by no means you are able to access a good quality pharmaceutical contact lens solution.

Note: Cleaning properties of saline solutions and other alternatives of contact lens solution offer short term service. Since the cleaning properties are not as pronounced as of the enzymatic solutions; it is advised to only use the solutions, specially formulated to cleanse & disinfect contact lenses. If emergency strikes; use saline solution at your own risk. 

4 Contact Lens Life Hacks

You will be surprised to realize that contact lenses do not only help you alter your vision but also offer awesome life hacks to cut down the tedious jobs in various of your life matters. If you wear contact lenses; trust us, you have got hundred of the reasons to be thankful to your contact lenses.

• Recycle Old Contact Lens Cases

Contact lens cases should be replaced every 3 months. This leaves you with a drawer full of old contact lens cases. Don’t throw this garbage of old contact lens cases as they can be ingeniously recycled. Old contact lens cases can be used as a perfect travel-sized kit for ointments, collecting accessories like cufflinks, buttons, tops etc. You can even recycle these cases for carrying sauces at picnics or turn it into a first aid box to carry saline solution at a go for sports.

P.S Saline solution is also used to heal minor wounds.  

Also Read: Recycle used contact lens cases or Make an Ear-Bud Detangler

• Got Minor Wounds? Resort to Contact Lens Solution

Since contact lens solution is basically a disinfectant; it can be safely used to cleanse small wounds and minor injuries. It kills germs, washes away impurities and helps surface tissues recover quickly. Contact lens solution effectively cleanses scratches & minor bruises.

• Having Nasal Congestion? Resort to Saline Solution

Saline solution is the same solution used in ordinary nasal congestion sprays. If you have bad sinuses with clogged nasal passages, feel free to instill a drop or two of saline solution in your nose to help clear the nasal passages. It removes the mucus & decongests the clogged passages.

• Got Chunky, Beady Mascara & Eye liner? Let Saline Solution Revive its Gone Life

Have your mascara or liquid eye liner gone crazy? If it has dried or become chunky and beady, don’t be too hasty at throwing it in the bin. Revive a new life to your dried out liquid makeup using your ordinary saline solution. It helps diluting the mascara and makes it perfect to be used again.

What contact lens life hacks do you have to share with us?

How Long to Soak Contact Lenses Before the First Use & Why?

Contact lenses and circle lenses come; packed in vials or blisters containing an isotonic sterile solution. It is most commonly known as saline solution; made up of NaCl, Hydrogen per oxide, buffering agents & other bacteria killing chemicals. This isotonic solution is only meant to keep contact lenses sterile& soft till before the first use.

Saline Solution doesn’t Disinfect Contact Lenses

It is necessary to soak contact lenses for 6-8 hours in multi-purpose solution or in disinfectant before the first use. This is done to neutralize them before letting them come in contact with your eyes. The saline solution is normally used to rinse circle lenses. Remember it only rinse circle lenses and is not capable of disinfecting them.

The best habit is to soak your contact lenses in solution for over-night. This way they become soft whilst the solution replenishes and prepare contact lenses to get acquainted with human eyes overnight.

What if I wear Contact Lenses directly out of the Box?

As mentioned earlier; the isotonic solution in which contact lenses come in is not safe for your eyes. Wearing contact lenses directly after taking them out of the vials will burn your eyes, sting them leading to excess watery eyes.

Which disinfectant should I use to soak my Contact Lenses In?

There are several quality solutions available. We recommend ABBOT’s Complete Blink n clean multipurpose solution to soak, rinse, disinfect & store contact lenses.

Warning: Do not confuse multi-purpose solution with your eye drops. Multi-purpose solution is not a replacement of your eye drops.