Types of Contact Lens Solution You Need to Know

Contact lenses aren’t very unusual these days. In fact, there are over 50 million contact lens users in America alone, according to a study by CDC.

But as common as contact lenses may be, are you sure that you’re using the right type of contact lens solution?

If you own a pair of contact lenses, then you may already be using a certain brand of contact lens solution.

But If you aren’t using a solution, then you should definitely talk to an eye doctor because you’re putting yourself at risk.

Additionally, you should be ready to see a confusing array of different products when you plan on buying a bottle of contact lens solution. 

Though it seems very intimidating, you’ll find that contact lenses aren’t that difficult to take care of.

In fact, you’ll only need to buy the right kind of solution, as well as practice good contact lens care habits.

Additionally, you shouldn’t change your cleaning regimens without consulting your eye physician.

Sometimes, certain brands or products may not be suitable for your contact lenses.

And if you don’t have the right pair, you might end up ruining your contact lenses or even damaging your eyes.

The Different Types of Contact Lens Solution

If you want to keep your vision out of harm’s way, you need to practice the proper contact lens care systems.

According to a WebMD article, around 90 percent of contact lens owners do not follow the ideal hygienic standards of contact lens care.

So if you want to keep your eyes safe, you can start by learning about the right type of contact lens solution to use.

When you compare eyeglasses to contact lenses, a less obvious difference would be the maintenance that each of them need.

In fact, you’ll need a certain type of liquid solution to clean and maintain the quality of your contacts.

Generally, you’ll need a contact lens solution to disinfect your contact lenses and make them safe to wear.

However, as common as these solutions may be, are you aware that there are actually two main types of contact lens solution?

If you aren’t, then keep on reading to learn more about their distinct features and benefits.

Multipurpose Solution

The multipurpose solution is mainly used for cleaning your contact lenses. You can use this type of solution to rinse your contact lenses as well as disinfect your contact lens case.

Additionally, you can also use multipurpose solutions to store your contact lenses. 

Most people who wear soft contact lenses use multipurpose solutions for the care system.

If you happen to be a soft contact lens user, you can follow these easy tips on how to use this type of solution:

• When you take your contact lenses, always remember to rub and rinse them with some fresh solution.
• Always dispose of your old contact lens solution and never practice “topping off” —mixing old solution with new solution.
• Remember to air dry your case and place it face down with a clean tissue underneath.
• Use contact lens solution to clean and disinfect your contact lens case. Never use water to clean your case.

Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

You can use a hydrogen peroxide solution for leaning, disinfecting, and storing your contact lenses.

However, this type of contact lens solution is commonly prescribed by doctors if you are allergic to certain ingredients found in multipurpose solutions.

Read this article if you think you’re allergic to your contacts: Contact Lens Allergy and How to Cure It.

When you’re allergic to multipurpose solution, your eyes will most likely reden and feel irritated when you use it.

When you buy hydrogen peroxide solution, you’ll get a special type of case that comes with it.

The hydrogen peroxide solution reacts with the case in a way that converts the solution into a harmless saline solution.

The hydrogen peroxide solution will require some processing time to turn into a saline solution.

You should never put hydrogen peroxide solution in any other case! Your peroxide-based solution will harm your eyes if it does not convert properly in the right case.

You’ll feel the following problems if your peroxide-based solution does not convert to saline and you wear your contact lenses:

• Burning sensation in your eye
• Stinging pain
• Reddening of the eye

4 tips To Follow When You Use a Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Hydrogen peroxide-based solutions can harm your eyes if you’re not careful. But don’t worry, just follow these tips and you’ll be just fine.

• Read the label and follow the instructions. Like any other product, your solution will have the right guidelines for you to follow, so always take your time to read and understand them.
  
• Always use the special case for your peroxide-based solution. Using other cases will only lead to eye problems. If you lose your special case, just ask the store if they sell the case alone, or just buy a new bottle of solution.
  
• Never practice “topping off”. Don’t mix your fresh solution with your used solution if you want to avoid any eye problems.
  
• Let your contact lenses soak in your solution for around 4 to 6 hours before you use them. This will give your contact lenses time to finish the naturalization process.
  
• Never wear your contact lenses immediately after you rinse them with a peroxide-based solution. This will cause eye problems like burning, redness, and a stinging sensation.

Read this article for more contact lens guides: Tips for Proper Contact Lens Care.

Other Types of Contact Lens Solution

Aside from the mentioned multipurpose and peroxide-based solutions, there are other types that you might want to use.

Though they may all have the same purpose, it’s important for you to know that each type has its own pros and cons.

And that’s exactly what we’re here to discuss. So keep reading and learn more about them.

Daily Cleaners

You should take note that there is a distinct difference between cleaning and disinfecting your contact lenses.

So you can use daily cleaner solutions to clean your lenses but not disinfect them. You can use daily cleaners to breakdown and clear away the particles or deposits from your contacts.

This type of solution is very easy to use. Simply put a couple of drops on your open hand and gently spread the solution on your contact lenses.

Remember to read the label of your daily cleaners and follow the intended application for both sides of your contacts.

Additionally, you can rinse off the daily cleaner with other solutions like a multipurpose solution.

This will help disinfect your lenses and let you store them in their appropriate container.

Saline Solution

Similar to daily cleaners, a saline solution cannot disinfect your contacts. However, you can use this type of solution for rinsing.

After you clean and disinfect your contact lenses with the appropriate solution, you can rinse them with a saline solution.

This is particularly useful if you use a hydrogen peroxide-based solution for your lenses. For example, it is good to rinse your contact lenses with a saline solution after you disinfect them with your peroxide-based system.

In fact, this is a very good practice right before you wear your contact lenses.

In addition, you can contact your eye physician and ask if a saline solution is suitable for your contact lens care system.

Protein Remover Solution

Protein remover solutions are also known as enzymatic protein removers. This type of solution can effectively remove particles from your eyes that are collected in you lenses.

As you wear your lenses, tiny specs of debris can eventually clump up and stick on your contacts.

As a result, you’ll need solutions like protein removers to clean off those particles from your lenses.

Read this article to learn the other kinds of contact lenses: 5 Types of Contact Lenses That You Should Know.

The amount of deposit buildup can differ from person to person and the type of contact lenses that you use can also be a factor.

Depending on your situation, your eye physician may suggest that you use protein remover solutions to clean your lenses.

You can buy this type of solution in either tablet or liquid form. In addition, you may need to use this either every day or per week according to the instruction of the product that you buy.

Finally, always consult your eye physician before you decide to buy enzymatic protein removers.

RGP Care System

If you use a pair of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, then you’ll need a different type of care system.

Unlike the most commonly known soft contact lenses, RGP lenses are harder which means that ordinary care systems won’t work.

With hard contact lenses, you’ll normally need different types of solutions for rinsing, cleaning, and disinfecting purposes.

If you use hard contact lenses, you should always ask your eye physician about what types of products to use.

Additionally, you should never use hard lens products on soft contact lenses.

Conclusion

If you feel intimidated with all the products available these days, just look back to this guide for reference.

Remember, brand names can differ, but if you know how to read the label and identify what type of solution it is, you won’t have a problem.

Knowing the basic types of contact lens solution will definitely help you pick the solution for your care system.

In addition, you won’t have to worry about buying two of the same kinds and you’ll know exactly what type of solution you need.

Read this article for more contact lens care tips: Contact Lens Users, Take Care of Your Eyes.

Whether you’re looking for a solution for rinsing or disinfecting, or maybe even for storing, you know what to look out for.

Besides, if you still feel a little doubtful about which solution to use, you can always talk to your eye physician.

Use the information in this guide to start an informative conversation with your eye doctor.

Finally, we hope that you find more understanding and enjoyment with your contact lenses.

References:

Contact Lens Wearer Demographics and Risk Behaviors for Contact Lens Related Eye Infections – United States, 2014

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5779588

Warning Suggested for Contact Solutions

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

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