Cleaning Contact Lenses: How to Wash Soft Lenses

Since the creation of eyeglasses, manufacturers have been at work to create the next innovative lens for vision correction. And that’s why we now have the ever-popular option to use contact lenses over glasses.

In fact, ever since the conception of contacts, its popularity has been skyrocketing throughout the decades.

According to an MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly report, approximately 45 million people in the United States alone wear contact lenses.

However, as popular as they are today, people still have a lot to learn about cleaning contact lenses.

You may be surprised to know that not a lot of people practice hygienic contact lens habits.

In fact, a WebMD article states that 90 percent of contact lens users don’t practice ideal hygienic contact lens standards.

Unless we want a population full of vision problems, we should start learning the right ways of cleaning contact lenses.

But before we learn how to clean them, we need to know the basic types of lenses first.

Hard Lenses

Hard lenses which are also called Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses are made up of permeable materials.

Unlike your typical lens that lasts between a day and a couple of months, RGP lenses last much longer.

You can wear hard lenses for 6 months, so you won’t have to worry about always getting a new pair.

However, as the name suggests, hard lenses can feel rigid to your eyes. So you’ll need a few uncomfortable days to get used to wearing RGP lenses.

As a result, if you have sensitive eyes, you’ll most likely want to opt for soft contact lenses.

Soft Lenses

Soft lenses are the type of contact lenses that you may typically be aware of. They are normally disposable which you can replace according to the type of lens that you have.

Soft lenses often have an expiry date and you typically use a pair for a day to a few months. Unlike hard lenses, soft lenses can bend and follow the form of your eyes.

This makes them very comfortable to wear. The downside to soft lenses is that they are not as strong as your gas permeable lenses.

Additionally, soft lenses are known to have a higher rate of eye infection compared to hard lenses.

So if you want the comfort of soft lenses, you’ll have to learn the correct ways of cleaning contact lenses.

Wash Your Hands

The most crucial and basic rule a lot of contact lens users forget is to wash your hands.

Washing your hands helps ensure that you don’t contaminate or put debris on your lenses. So you should never touch your contacts without washing your hands first.

As easy as this step may seem, you’ll be surprised to know users tend to forget this step.

We don’t blame them, sometimes it can be daunting to constantly wash your hands especially when you’re in a hurry.

And with a task as routine and menial as wearing your lenses, you may really want to skip this step.

However, we urge you to always wash your hands before you handle your lenses.

Your eyes are more sensitive compared to the other external parts of your body.

Which means that they can be more susceptible to infections or other eye complications. And since you really so much on your vision, it would only make sense to take good care of them.

Do you know how much you’re putting your eyes at risk when you don’t follow the right habits? Are you even aware of how many risks and vision complications are associated with eye infections?

If you don’t, we suggest you read up and be a responsible contact lens user. Besides, this is only for your own good.

So keep reading and learn about the proper ways of cleaning contact lenses.

Disinfecting Solution

The next step is to use the right disinfecting solution to use for cleaning contact lenses.

There is a multitude of brands and types of disinfecting solution in the market, which are all generally effective.

But if you feel worried about the solution that you’re buying, simply read the instructions that are on the solution bottle.

Yes, a good tip that people often miss is to simply read the instructions that are present on every contact lens solution.

It’s particularly important that you read the instructions because each brand may have a few variations on how to use their solution.

Rub Your Lenses with Disinfecting Solution

You may feel hesitant about this step, but it’s very important and perfectly safe for your lenses.

Just use your fingers to rub your solution on the surface of your lenses. This will help make sure that you don’t have any particles or residue on your contact lenses after you clean them.

Follow these quick and easy steps to rub your lenses properly:

• Put one of your lenses on the palm of your hand.
• Drop a fair amount of solution on your lens.
• Rub your lens with your index finger for 20 seconds.
• Rub your lens gently and carefully. Rubbing your lens too hard can damage it.

If you don’t rub your lenses, proteins and other tiny particles may build up at the edge of your lenses.

So rubbing your lens with your fingers can help breakdown the protein build up and makes it more comfortable for you to wear.

Additionally, rubbing your lens properly can also clean out any bacteria that may cause eye problems.

However, you should make sure not to rub your lens too hard as it may cause your lens to rip.

Remember, soft lenses are not as strong as hard lenses, so you have to be gentle when you handle them.

Rinse Your Lenses with Disinfecting Solution

It’s important to rinse off any excess particles after your rub your lenses thoroughly.

Rinsing helps ensure that your lens stays crystal clear especially after handling them with your hands.

You can also ensure a cleaner bacteria-free pair of lenses when you practice rinsing them off with a disinfecting solution.

Follow these steps to rinse your lenses properly:

• Put your lens on your fingertip.
• Rinse each side of your lens with a steady stream of solution.
• Rinse each side for at least 10 seconds so that you can properly remove any excess particles from your lenses.
• Put your lens in your case, and then fill it with a disinfecting solution.
• Make sure that you fully submerge your lens in the solution so that all parts of your lens get disinfected.
• Make sure to read the label and instructions on the bottle of your specific disinfecting solution.

Dump Your Contact Lens Solution

Cleaning contact lenses doesn’t only stop after your ub and rinse them. You also need to make sure that you maintain good practices such as disposing of used lens solution.

The solution inside your case contact lens case only works for a period of time. As a result, you should replace them daily to ensure that you keep your lenses clean and germ-free.

Putting fresh solution in your case is one good contact lens habit that you should learn to practice.

This will help you avoid any unwanted eye problems that may even lead to eye damage and vision loss.

So remember to throw out your solution after you use them overnight.

Air Dry Your Lens Case

After you throw out last night’s solution, don’t forget to dry out your case. You wouldn’t want any contaminated solution left in your case, do you?

Additionally, always keep your case facing upwards when you leave it to dry. This position allows the solution from the case to properly dry out which keeps your case germ free.

Don’t Reuse Contact Solution

Contact lens solution disinfect your lenses, but it only stays fresh for a limited time.

This means that at some point, your contact lens solution loses its disinfecting properties.

That’s why you should never reuse your contact lens solution. Cleaning contact lenses properly only work when you use fresh disinfecting solution every time.

Contact lens solutions are very affordable and readily available in stores. As a result, there’s no reason for you to reuse them and put your eyes at risk of infection.

Don’t forget to clean your case

So you wash your lenses with a disinfecting solution. You read the labels and instructions, follow them correctly, and even rub your lenses thoroughly.

Additionally, you change your contact lens solution every day and let the case air dry whenever you do it. You’re doing a good job, the next good habit to add is to clean your contact lens case.

Like your contact lenses, you also need to rinse and rub your case to make sure it doesn’t store any bacteria. In fact, you should practice cleaning your case at least once every week.

This will help ensure the cleanliness of your lenses. After all, they do sit in their case whenever you’re not using them.

So it only makes sense that you ensure the cleanliness of their container too. Follow these steps to clean your case properly:

• Remove your lenses from your case.
• Add some disinfecting solution to your case.
• Use your finger to rub any protein build up.
• Throw away the solution.
• Rinse your case with more solution to rinse out excess bacteria.
• Leave your case face up to air dry.

Cleaning contact lenses and cleaning your case are two very important habits to practice.

Additionally, you should also replace your case at least every 3 months or so. Don’t worry, you can easily buy a case from any trusted eye physician.

Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

A hydrogen peroxide solution is non-preservative and is very effective in cleaning your lens.

As a result, hydrogen peroxide solutions keep your lenses safer from protein build-up, tiny debris, and bacteria.

However, some people may argue that using hydrogen peroxide solution makes their lenses feel dry. In fact, this type of solution may not be very popular with people who have unusually sensitive eyes.

This is because hydrogen peroxide solutions are very strong and can burn your eyes. 

So follow the first step in using contact lens solutions and read the label of the bottle thoroughly. Hydrogen peroxide solutions generally come with a special case that has a built-in disk inside.

The disk interacts with the solution and turns it into pure sterile water. This is important so that you don’t burn your eyes after you clean them with the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Additionally, the process to purify the solution takes about 6 hours to properly work.

If you’re a first-time user, the case that comes with the hydrogen peroxide solution can seem intimidating. But don’t worry, it’s very simple to use. You can flip down the opposite sides of the case to place your lenses inside it.

You’ll notice that one side has an “R” written on it which indicates that it’s for your right lens. The other side has an “L” which is for your left lens.

That’s basically where you put your lenses before you submerge them in the solution cup. Follow these steps to properly clean your lenses with a hydrogen peroxide solution:

• Remove the contact lens from the cup.
• Put your right lens on the appropriate side of the case.
• Do the same with your left lens.
• Close the case, and then rinse the lenses with a stream of hydrogen solution on each side.
• Rinse the case for at least 5 seconds on each side to effectively remove any dirt or bacteria on your lenses.
• Fill the lens cup with hydrogen solution up to the indicated marker. Make sure you don’t fill the cup above the marker to avoid the solution from spilling.
• Place your lens case inside the cup.
• Close the cup and wait until bubbles start to appear. 
• Leave the cup in a safe location for 6 hours.
• Your contact lenses should be ready to use after 6 hours.

When you fill the cup with the solution, it should be enough that the lenses are fully submerged with the hydrogen peroxide solution. This ensures that your lenses will be properly disinfected.

Next, don’t ever shake the lens cup after putting the solution. The solution will naturally start to bubble up as soon as it comes into contact with your lens case. This is a perfectly natural part of the process.

Finally, you should always make sure that you let the solution rest for at least 6 hours. Leaving it that long ensures that the solution turns into sterile water which makes it safe for your eyes. 

Additionally, always dispose of your old lens case whenever you buy a new set of solutions. You can’t reuse the cases of hydrogen peroxide solutions.

Because the element in your case that activates the solution and turns it into sterile water eventually wears off. 

If you accidentally put hydrogen peroxide in your eye, make sure to immediately take out your contact lenses.

Then, rinse your eyes with water. Contact your eye provider to make sure that you didn’t get a corneal burn.

Conclusion

Cleaning contact lenses may not always be fun, but it’s a crucial part of keeping your eyes safe from harm. Enjoy your contact lenses and always be a responsible user.

Remember, your eyes are a delicate and important part of your body. And there’s only so much that science can to keep them safe after complications arise.

So it’s always better to practice good contact lens habits that help prevent eye problems. Additionally, make sure to spread the word and teach your friends the proper way of cleaning contact lenses. Stay safe and enjoy your vision!

References:

Warning Suggested for Contact Solutions

https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20080610/warning-suggested-for-contact-solutions#1

Risk Behaviors for Contact Lens–Related Eye Infections Among Adults and Adolescents — United States, 2016

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6632a2.htm

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