Start with your fitter’s office
Many Canadian practices that fit scleral lenses keep fill saline and solutions in stock, or can tell you exactly where their patients buy them. That’s the simplest route, and your fitter will make sure what you buy suits your lens and any surface coating.
Products licensed in Canada
Contact lens solutions are medical devices in Canada, and Health Canada keeps a public list of licensed devices. A search on October 2, 2026 found active licences for, among others:[1]
- LacriPure saline solution
- PuriLens Plus preservative-free saline
- Boston Simplus Multi-Action Solution, which Bausch + Lomb also lists on its Canadian site[2]
- Clear Care Plus cleaning and disinfecting solution
These are examples, not recommendations, and not every licensed product is stocked everywhere. If a product you used in the US doesn’t come up in the listing, ask your fitter for a Canadian alternative of the same type.
Fill saline
The fill sits against your eye all day, so it must be sterile and preservative-free. Look for:
- Preservative-free 0.9% sodium chloride, plain or buffered
- Single-use vials, or a sealed preservative-free bottle used within its discard window
- Labelled for rinsing and inserting contact lenses
Never fill with water, homemade saline, or a preserved, multipurpose, or disinfecting solution.[4]
Buffered fills are what Canadian wearers most often struggle to find. Some order from Canadian online shops, some from US retailers that ship north, and some use an unbuffered saline instead. Buffered and unbuffered saline suit different people, and switching can change comfort, so ask your fitter first. See filling solutions.
Cleaners, disinfectants, and coated lenses
Rigid lens multipurpose solutions and hydrogen peroxide systems are sold in Canadian pharmacies and online. If your lenses have a surface coating, check with your fitter before using any cleaner: some strip coatings. Products made for coated lenses, such as monthly coating treatments, can be harder to get in Canada. Some wearers order them through their fitter or directly from the maker. See cleaners and coated lenses.
Ordering across the border
Canadian wearers describe a few options:
- Canadian retailers and marketplaces, which sometimes stock US products at different prices
- US retailers that ship to Canada
- Cross-border pickup depots near the border
Shipping can be slow, and duties and fees vary. Buy from the maker or a seller you trust. Wearers have warned each other off buying recalled saline from unofficial sellers after a recall, and off unfamiliar saline brands that appear online during shortages. See shortages, recalls, and counterfeit saline.
Paying for it
The Canada Revenue Agency lists contact lenses to correct eyesight, with a prescription, among eligible medical expenses.[3] Canadian wearers report that private vision benefits usually cover only part of the cost, and some claim the rest, including solutions with a letter from their optometrist, as a medical expense. Ask the CRA or a tax professional what applies to you. See also saving money on supplies.
What wearers say
- Local first works best. Wearers who buy through their fitter or a local pharmacy report fewer surprises than those relying on cross-border orders.
- Stock comes and goes. Popular fills and thick drops sometimes disappear for weeks. Wearers keep a few weeks’ supply and order before they run low.
- Winter is fine. Canadian wearers report wearing scleral lenses comfortably in very cold weather, with wind protection. Just don’t let supplies freeze; see heat, freezing, and your lenses.
What to ask your fitter
- Which fill saline do your patients use, and can I buy it here?
- Is there a buffered option available in Canada?
- Which cleaners are safe for my coated lenses?
- Can you write a letter for my insurance or tax claim?
Common questions
How do I check whether a product is licensed in Canada?
Search Health Canada's Medical Devices Active Licence Listing (MDALL) by the product's name. A licence means the device is authorized for sale in Canada; it doesn't guarantee a store near you stocks it. Licences can also change, so check the date of what you're reading.
Is it OK to order saline from a US website?
Some Canadian wearers do, using retailers that ship to Canada or a cross-border pickup service. Delivery can be slow and costly. Buy from the maker or a retailer you trust, check seals and lot numbers on arrival, and never buy a recalled product from an unofficial seller. Keep a Canadian backup your fitter has approved.
Can I claim scleral lenses and supplies on my taxes?
The Canada Revenue Agency lists contact lenses to correct eyesight, with a prescription, among eligible medical expenses. Some wearers also claim solutions with a letter from their optometrist. Ask the CRA or a tax professional what applies to your supplies.
Does provincial health insurance cover scleral lenses?
Wearers report very limited coverage, varying by province and program, and long waits where funding exists. Many rely on private insurance vision benefits and claim the rest as a medical expense. Ask your fitter what programs exist in your province.