Do You Need a Contact Solution or Saline Solution?

Contact Solution vs Saline Solution

Do you own a pair of contact lenses? Whether they’re for vision correction or cosmetic purposes, you need a contact solution for your lenses. After all, you can’t safely wear your lenses without disinfecting them with the right solution. However, did you know that there are other types of contact lens solution that you can buy? For example, you shouldn’t mistake a saline solution as a disinfecting fluid.

There are many kinds of contact lenses available in the market. As a result, you can also expect to find various contact lens care products. Although, this shouldn’t come as a surprise considering how popular contact lenses are these days. And with all the variety in the market, beginner users may find it hard to pick the right solution. Luckily, we’re here to tell you why a saline solution is different from your typical lens solution. Additionally, we’ll also talk about the other types of contact solution and their application.

The Difference Between Contact Solution and Saline Solution

First of all, we normally use a contact solution to disinfect our lenses when we’re not using them. For instance, it’s good practice to store your lenses in their case with a fresh solution before you go to bed. This is because the formula in your disinfecting solution removes dirt and bacteria build up on your lens. Which means that your lens won’t be safe to use if you don’t clean them with contact lens solution.

As for the saline solution, you still use them for your lenses. However, this solution is not meant to disinfect your lenses. In fact, you should never substitute a saline solution as your disinfecting formula. Why? It simply cannot compare to the cleaning capabilities that you have with a regular contact lens solution. But this doesn’t mean that a saline solution is useless. On the contrary, a saline solution has a more specific purpose for contact lens owners.

Saline Solution

Unlike a disinfecting solution, a saline solution is a simple formula that you can use to rinse your lenses. In other words, you can only use this solution to rinse your lenses and make them safe and comfortable to wear. A saline solution doesn’t have any cleaning agents which means that you can’t use it to store, clean, or disinfect your lenses. To put it simply, this solution is mainly for rinsing purposes.

Why would you need a saline solution if it can’t clean your lenses like a regular solution? Some specialized lenses may require strong types of disinfecting solution. As a result, it can be hazardous or uncomfortable to wear your lenses after storing them. For this reason, you need to rinse your lenses with a saline solution before putting them on. As a result, your lenses will be free from any irritating chemicals that could harm your eyes. Read on and learn more about other types of contact lens solution.

Different Types of Contact Solution

With millions of people using contact lenses, you can expect to find lots of different brands and products. In fact, there are different kinds of contact lenses for you to choose from. For example, you can get colored contact lenses that can make your eyes look amazing. Additionally, more lenses also means the production of more lens-care products. In other words, there’s a plethora of products that you can use to maintain the quality of your lenses. Keep reading to find out which contact solution suits your contact lenses best.

1. Multi Purpose Solution

If you’re looking for ease and comfort, a multi purpose solution is right up your alley. This solution has an all-in-one formula that you can use to rinse, clean, store, and disinfect your lenses. It sounds like a pretty convenient product, right? After all, this is arguably the most common type of contact solution you can get. And you have to agree that the convenience it provides suits our modern fast-paced lifestyle.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Do you think you’re allergic to your contact lenses? This may sound surprising, but you can actually be allergic to either your lenses or your solution. Luckily, there are different workarounds to dealing with allergies. For example, you can use a hydrogen peroxide solution if you have any lens solution allergies.

This is a special type of disinfecting solution that doctors may prescribe if you’re allergic to your lenses. This solution comes with its own lens case and materials for you to disinfect your lenses. In fact, you should carefully follow the instructions for peroxide-based solutions as misuse can lead to lens damage. Misusing this solution can also lead to eye irritations that you definitely want to avoid. However, the upside to a peroxide-based solution is its ability to effectively disinfect your lenses.

Tips for Hydrogen Peroxide Contact Solution

Most peroxide-based solutions can harm your eyes if you’re not careful. Luckily, we have just the tips you need to make sure your lenses are safe to use.

Read the label and instructions – The first and most important tip is to properly follow instructions. You’ll mostly find these instructions on your solution’s packaging. Just read them carefully and make sure you follow each and every step with care.
Only use the case for your solution – Hydrogen peroxide solutions always come with a special type of case. The case that you get is unlike your regular lens case so you should take good care of it. After all, using a regular case for a peroxide-based solution can lead to eye problems. If you lose your case, you can either purchase a special case or buy a new set of solutions.
Don’t ever practice “topping off” – Topping off is the term used for adding a fresh set of solutions to your old ones. This is a very bad practice that can lead to serious eye problems. That’s why it’s always advisable to dispose of your used solution and add a fresh set everytime.
Soak for 4 to 6 hours – With a peroxide-based solution, you need to fully soak your lenses for 4 to 6 hours. This depends on the brand and instructions of your specific product. It takes the solution this amount of time to effectively neutralize and be safe for use. Removing your lenses before the recommended time can lead to eye irritations and vision problems.
Don’t wear your lenses right away – You should never use your lenses just right after you wash them. This rule applies even when you’ve soaked your lenses for more than 6 hours. Using your lenses immediately after they’ve been soaked with a peroxide-based solution can lead to eye irritation. The best thing to do is to rinse off your lenses with the right solution before you wear them.

3. Daily Cleaners

When it comes to contact lens care, you should know the difference between a cleaning vs a disinfecting solution. For starters, daily cleaners is a good example of a solution that can clean but cannot disinfect your lenses. With this in mind, you shouldn’t use daily cleaners when you store your lenses in their case. On the other hand, daily cleaners are very convenient when you need to clean your lenses while you’re on the run.

Daily cleaners can effectively breakdown deposits on your lenses to make them clear and comfortable to use. In fact, it’s so quick and easy to use that lots of people rely on daily cleaners. All you have to do is add a few drops of cleaners on your hand and then spread them on your lenses. Just remember to follow the instructions on the label and apply the solution to your lenses carefully.

4. Protein Remover Solution

If you have a lot of deposit build up on your lenses, you’ll need a protein remover solution. Also known as an enzymatic protein remover, this is the best solution to remove dirty particles on your lenses. Small particles from your eyes eventually build up on your lenses as you wear them all day. As a result, they may accumulate and affect the quality of your lenses. When this happens, you can use a protein remover to take off all the dirt from your contacts.

Everyone has their own rate of deposit build up. Some have very large build ups while most people have few. As a result, you may not necessarily need to use a protein remove solution unless your doctor recommends it. Additionally, the type of contact lens that you use can also affect the amount of dirt you can build up. So it’s always advisable to follow the precautions and guidelines that your eye doctor provides.

Contact Solution Conclusion

From daily cleaners to saline solutions, each type of formula has its own applications. That’s why it’s important to know the basic types of solution that you can get for your lenses. Additionally, knowing more about these solutions can also help you use them more effectively. So you should pick out the right contact solution for your contact lens needs. After all, the safety and comfort of your lenses relies heavily on how you take care of them. So buy the right lens care products and keep enjoying your vision.

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