Contact Lens Cleaner
Finding the right contact lens cleaner is a matter of trial and error. No one solution can meet the cleaning and hydrating needs for everyone. The perfect solution does not exist. Rather, it is more productive to frame the issue around finding the best solution.
If you suffer from sensitive eyes, wearing contacts could prove problematic. Depending on your level of sensitivity -- and more to the point, what you are sensitive to -- wearing contacts could be a counter-productive. Rather, a pair of stylish glasses could be the best prescription.
Most people interested in contact lenses, however, are more than willing to put up with some level of discomfort. They -- perhaps unwisely -- are willing to put up with dry, irritated eyes if it means they can enjoy more active lifestyles. But it should be noted that what is a mild irritation today could be a full-bore infection tomorrow.
Rather than run the risk of incurring an infection, it would be more prudent to utilize an effective cleaning routine. This routine must be predicated on keeping your hands clean prior to handling your contacts. Furthermore, it must entail rubbing your contacts with a multi-purpose solution, regardless of whether or not you use a no-rub solution.
For the most part, a thorough cleaning routine coupled with an effective contact lens cleaner can reconcile sensitive eyes and contact lenses. This can be problematic depending on what your eyes react to. Pollen and dust irritants require taking steps to filter the air in your home or apartment. Dry eye syndrome sufferers, on the other hand, will require a copious supply of re-wetting drops. These hydrating drops can temporarily alleviate the burning associated with dry eye syndrome.
The combination of cleanliness and effective cleaning solutions can alleviate a number of issues related to contact lenses. Moreover, these two components can alleviate issues related to overly sensitive eyes. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your optometrists to develop a more comprehensive approach to comfortably wearing contact lenses.
The majority of contact solutions available today are called multi-purpose solution. That means you can clean your contacts, rinse them and soak them overnight (disinfect) with the same bottle of contact solution. Some multi-purpose solutions are able to disinfect your contacts in as little as 6 hours.
A certain type of contact solution is saline, which is buffered salt water. Saline can be used for rinsing your contacts only, not for cleaning or storing. It’s easy to make a mistake and buy saline instead of your usual disinfecting solution. Saline contact solution won’t disinfect your contacts, only rinse them. Be sure to use only purchased saline contact solution instead of trying to make your own—purchased saline for contacts is sterile.
Other contact solutions are cleaners only. These products are like soap for cleaning debris from your lenses. Cleaners must be rinsed off your contacts before putting them in your eye or soaking overnight.
Peroxide contact solution is part of a separate cleaning and disinfecting system. Specific solutions and products must be used in order to properly care for your contacts. Special peroxide contact solution is used along with a disc or tablet to cause the peroxide to fizz and disinfect your contacts. After 8 hours, your contacts are cleaned and the peroxide has turned into saline solution by the fizzing chemical reaction.
It’s important to buy and use only the contact solution prescribed by your eye doctor. Don’t try something new or on sale, and don’t mix and match solutions. If you are interested in trying a new contact solution, it’s best to call your eye doctor’s office to ask first. Some contact solutions work better depending on the contacts you wear or your particular needs.