Commonly Used Contact Lens Care Products
It only takes one trip to your neighborhood drugstore to confirm that there is an abundance of contact lens care products available on the market. At first glance shopping for these products can seem to be a daunting task since there are so many choices; however, which products you should use to care for your lenses will depend upon the type of lenses you wear and the cleaning regimen your eye care practitioner has outlined for you.
Saline Solution – Although many lens wearers may refer to all contact lens solutions as saline solution, saline solution is designed for rinsing and storing lenses only. Saline solution does not contain any ingredients that will clean or disinfect your contacts.
Daily Cleaner – A couple of drops of daily cleaner can be used on each side of your lens to remove debris. Daily cleaner acts as a soap for your lenses; therefore, other products will be needed to rinse and disinfect your lenses. Always be sure to rinse lenses of all daily cleaner prior to putting contacts in your eyes.
Protein Removers – Enzymatic cleaners and daily protein removers are used to remove protein build up from your contact lenses. Enzymatic cleaners are available in tablet form and are used in conjunction with saline or disinfecting solution on a weekly basis. Daily protein removers are available in liquid form. Once you have filled your lens case with fresh solution add a drop of protein remover to each side before placing your clean, disinfected lenses to the case.
Multi-purpose Solution – When you use a multi-purpose solution, everything you need to clean, rinse, disinfect and store your lenses is included in one bottle. Even though the product may be labeled as a “No Rub” formula, you should still gently rub the lenses in the palm of your hand with a few drops of solution and rinse them prior to placing them in a case for the night.
Hydrogen Peroxide Solution – Hydrogen peroxide solutions are similar to multi-purpose solutions since they can be used to clean, disinfect, rinse and store your lenses. Some lens holders that require hydrogen peroxide solutions contain neutralizers that convert the solution to water although some may require a neutralizing tablet. When used another product such as saline solution must be used to rinse contacts prior to putting them in your eyes.
Eyedrops – As a contact lens wearer purchasing eye drops or artificial tears can prove to be a tricky task if you do not read the product labels carefully. If you need to rewet your lenses occasionally, be sure to purchase a product designed for contact lens wearers and that can be used while you are wearing your contact lenses. It is important to keep in mind that most artificial tear products cannot be used while lenses are in your eyes.
Today most products are available in versions that are designed for wearers with sensitive eyes. These products are free of preservatives that can cause irritation and discomfort. Some products are free of all preservatives and have an expiration date posted on there containers. Products that are preservative free typically last up to two weeks after the package is opened.
Cleaning and disinfecting devices that both clean and disinfect your lenses through the use of ultrasonic waves, subsonic agitation or ultraviolet light are available. Each device comes with its own unique set of instructions. You should not use a cleaning and disinfecting device for your lenses unless recommended by your eye care practitioner.
Although multi-step cleaning systems are still available, most contact lens wearers along with the approval of their eye care practitioner will choose a multi-purpose solution alternative unless they do not have a choice. Multi-purpose solution systems simplify your lens cleaning regimen since they allow you to clean, disinfect, rinse and store your lenses with one bottle of solution. If you’re interested in learning more about how to care for your contact lenses, read Proper Contact Lens Care.
When purchasing contact lens solution and other care products, it is important that you understand the difference between brand name eye and contact lens products and the store brand versions. Like most other generic or store brand products, generic contact lens care products are often considerably less expensive than the respective name brand products.
While generic products are FDA approved and safe to use, it is important to keep in mind that these products are often made from older formulations of the brand name products so they do not necessarily offer the same advantages of new, brand name products. Additionally, store brand products are made by suppliers and not the store itself so if a better price comes along from a different supplier, the store may switch suppliers or formulations so you may not receive the same product each time you purchase a generic product.
To find more information about wearing contact lenses, review the articles Contact Lens Basics, Understanding Your Contact Lens Prescription and Common Problems Encountered by Contact Wearers.