The rules that protect your eyes
Incorrect care of contact lenses and solutions can increase your risk of eye infections and corneal ulcers.[1] These are the habits the FDA and lens manufacturers spell out:
- Wash your hands before you touch your lenses, every time.[1]
- Rub and rinse your lenses as your eye care professional directs.[1] In a report of infections in scleral lens wearers, not rubbing the lens during cleaning was among the risks the authors identified.[6]
- Fresh solution, every time. Don’t top off the solution in your case; discard what’s left after each use and never reuse it.[1]
- No water, no saliva. Don’t expose your lenses to tap, bottled, or distilled water. Tap and distilled water have been linked to Acanthamoeba keratitis, a hard-to-treat corneal infection. Saliva isn’t sterile either.[1]
- Saline is for rinsing, not cleaning. Sterile saline rinses and fills; it doesn’t clean or disinfect.[1]
- Look after the case. Rinse it with fresh solution, shake it out, and let it air-dry upside down. Replace it every three months, or as directed.[1]
- Keep solutions in their own bottles, and don’t use them past the expiration date.[1]
If you use hydrogen peroxide (like Clear Care)
Hydrogen peroxide solutions are generally preservative-free, which can suit people who are sensitive to preservatives.[3] But they take care:
- The peroxide must be fully neutralized before the lens goes in your eye, or it can sting, burn, or damage the eye.[3]
- Use the new case that comes with each bottle. An old case won’t neutralize the peroxide properly.[3]
- Soak for the full time. For Clear Care, Alcon’s instructions say at least 6 hours, or overnight.[4] If you need your lenses sooner than that, ask your fitter about a backup solution for those days.
- Never rinse lenses with the peroxide before putting them in.[4]
Bottles of hydrogen peroxide solution usually have a red cap or tip to set them apart.[3] Keep them away from your saline so they can’t be mixed up.
Weekly and monthly jobs
- Replace your lens case every three months, or as your fitter directs.[2]
- Replace plungers on the schedule your fitter gives you, and clean them the way they show you.
- Do any deep cleaning your fitter has prescribed, on their schedule.
- Check expiration dates on every bottle and box of vials.
- Keep a backup of every product. Running out is when people reach for something they shouldn’t.
Makeup and other products
Put makeup on after your lenses are in, and take your lenses out before you remove makeup. Apply hairspray, cologne, and other sprays before you insert your lenses.[5]
Common mistakes
- Topping off yesterday's solution instead of emptying the case and refilling.
- Rinsing lenses or cases with tap water, or wetting lenses with saliva.
- Rinsing lenses with hydrogen peroxide solution before putting them in.
- Using an old case with a new bottle of hydrogen peroxide solution.
- Pouring solution into a smaller travel bottle.
- Using solutions past their expiration date.
- Skipping the rub because the lens looks clean.
Common questions
Do I need both a daily cleaner and a disinfecting solution?
Usually, yes. The cleaner, with rubbing, removes the day's film and deposits; the disinfecting solution kills germs overnight. Your fitter will tell you which products to use and how often.
Can I store my lenses overnight in saline?
Saline is for rinsing and filling, not for cleaning or disinfecting. Store your lenses in the disinfecting solution your fitter recommended.
How long do lenses need to soak in Clear Care?
Alcon's instructions say at least 6 hours, or overnight, so the peroxide has time to neutralize. Always follow the label on the product you use.
How often should I replace my lens case?
The FDA advises every three months, or as your eye care professional directs. Replace it sooner if it's cracked or looks dirty.
When should I put on makeup?
After your lenses are in. And take your lenses out before you remove your makeup.