Why the case matters
Contact lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth.[1] Your lenses sit in the case for hours every night, so whatever grows there can end up in your eye the next morning. Good case habits are a large part of keeping that risk down.
Peroxide cases are not interchangeable
This is the rule that causes the most painful mistakes.
A hydrogen peroxide system, such as Clear Care, works together with its own case. The case has a neutralizing disc built in, and that disc turns the peroxide into water and oxygen over the soak time.[3] Alcon’s FAQ is blunt about it: there is no substitute for the case in the box.[4]
- Use the new case that comes with every new bottle. The FDA warns that an old case may not neutralize the peroxide, which can cause stinging, burning, irritation, or eye damage.[3]
- Don’t put peroxide in a regular flat case. Without the disc, nothing neutralizes it.
- Keep the peroxide bottle apart from your saline and multipurpose solution. Most peroxide bottles have a red tip and cap so you can tell them apart.[3]
If you use both kinds of solution, for example multipurpose on most nights and a peroxide deep clean once a week, keep a separate case for each and label them.
Choosing a regular case
Scleral lenses are much bigger than soft contacts. In an international practitioner survey, the mean lens diameter was 16.2 mm, with a range from 11.8 to 23.0 mm.[5] Not every case is deep or wide enough. Use the case your fitter gave you or recommends. If you’re buying one yourself, take a lens with you to your next visit and ask your fitter to confirm it fits. Ask the same question about the basket in a peroxide case.
A few features make life easier: clear left and right markings, caps that seal without leaking, and a design that’s easy to rub clean and dry.
Cleaning the case
Each time the lenses come out of the case, the FDA advises rubbing the case clean with clean fingers, rinsing it with fresh solution, and air-drying it. Flip it over and shake out the excess solution, then dry it with a fresh, clean cloth or leave it to air-dry.[1]
For a Clear Care case, Alcon says to discard the leftover solution, rinse the cup and holder with fresh Clear Care, and let them air-dry. Don’t rinse with water, which can carry germs and irritants.[4]
Never use water of any kind on the case: tap, bottled, or distilled.[1] And never let a case dry with old solution or residue still inside.
Replacing the case
Replace your case every three months, or as your eye care professional directs.[2] Replace it sooner if it’s cracked, the caps don’t seal, or it looks stained or filmy. Keep a spare so you’re never tempted to stretch an old one.
Every night, fresh solution
Discard all leftover solution after each use and never reuse it. Don’t top off what’s in the case.[1] For how the case fits into the rest of your day, see the daily routine and cleaning and disinfecting.
Common mistakes
- Using an old peroxide case with a new bottle of solution.
- Putting multipurpose solution in a peroxide case, or peroxide in a regular case.
- Rinsing the case under the tap.
- Leaving solution sitting in the case all day.
- Keeping a case because it still looks clean.
- Storing the case in a damp spot where it can't dry.
Common questions
How often should I replace my lens case?
The FDA advises every three months, or as your eye care professional directs. With a hydrogen peroxide system like Clear Care, Alcon says to throw the case away with each new purchase and use the new case that comes in the package.
Can I use a regular case with Clear Care?
No. Peroxide cases have a neutralizing disc built in. Without it, the peroxide isn't neutralized and can cause stinging, burning, or eye damage when the lens goes in.
Can I put multipurpose solution in my Clear Care case?
Ask your fitter before using any solution in a case it wasn't made for. The simplest rule is one solution, one matching case.
My case looks clean. Do I still need to replace it?
Yes. Cases can be a source of bacterial growth, and a film you can't see can still be there. Replace on the calendar, not on looks.
How long can lenses stay in a peroxide case?
Alcon says lenses can stay in an unopened Clear Care case for up to 7 days. After that, discard the solution and disinfect the lenses again before wearing them.