The four products, at a glance
| Product | What it’s for | What it’s not for |
|---|---|---|
| Preservative-free saline | Filling the lens before insertion; rinsing | Cleaning, disinfecting, or overnight storage |
| Daily cleaner | Rubbing off the day’s deposits | Filling the lens or disinfecting |
| Disinfecting solution | Killing germs overnight in the case | Filling the lens (and, if it’s peroxide, never rinsing a lens or going in your eye before neutralizing) |
| Artificial tears | Wetting the eye, as your fitter directs | Filling the lens, unless your fitter says so |
Always use the products your eye care professional recommends, and follow their labels.[1]
Filling saline: sterile and preservative-free
The saline you put in the bowl of the lens stays against your cornea for as long as you wear the lens. That is why it needs to be sterile and preservative-free.
Preservatives keep multi-dose bottles sterile, but they can be hard on the eye. A review of benzalkonium chloride (BAK), a preservative used in many eye drops, describes damage to the cells of the cornea and conjunctiva with exposure, which gets worse with long-term use.[5] That research is about medicated eye drops, not lens saline, but it is the reason scleral lens fillers are made without preservatives.
Single-use vials are the usual choice. A report of Acanthamoeba infections in scleral lens wearers recommended sterile saline, preferably single-use.[6] In an international survey of scleral lens practitioners, 67% of the patients they described used single-use vials of non-preserved saline.[7] Open a fresh vial for each insertion and throw away what’s left.
Buffered or non-buffered?
Not all preservative-free saline is the same.
- Non-buffered saline is plain sterile sodium chloride solution. It’s the most common choice and usually the least expensive.
- Buffered saline is pH-adjusted to be closer to your natural tear film. Some people with sensitive eyes or dry eye find it more comfortable.
If your eyes sting or feel uncomfortable soon after insertion, mention which type you’re using. Switching type is a simple thing for your fitter to try.
“Off-label” sterile saline
You may hear about sterile, preservative-free saline sold in single-use vials for other purposes, such as respiratory care or wound rinsing, and used by some wearers as a cheaper filler. These products are not made or labeled for use with contact lenses. The FDA advises using the lens products your eye care professional recommends and following all labeling.[1] Ask your fitter before using one. If cost is a concern, tell them: they may know of options that suit you.
Never make your own saline, and never use water of any kind. The FDA warns against homemade saline and non-sterile water.[1]
Daily cleaner
A daily cleaner lifts protein, oil, and debris off the lens before it hardens into buildup. Use a few drops and rub each side gently, then rinse as directed. See cleaning and disinfecting for technique.
Disinfecting solution
This is what your lenses are stored in overnight. It’s either a hydrogen peroxide system or a multipurpose solution. Both clean and disinfect.[2] Peroxide must be fully neutralized in its own case before the lens goes in your eye, and it must never be used to rinse a lens.[2] Most peroxide bottles have a red tip and cap so you can spot them.[2] Keep that bottle well away from your saline.
Saline is not a disinfectant. Use sterile saline only for rinsing, not for cleaning or disinfecting.[1]
Artificial tears
Many fitters suggest a drop of artificial tears before removal to help loosen the lens, and some suggest drops during the day. Ask which product to use: the FDA advises checking with your eye care professional before using any medicine or eye product with your lenses, even one sold without a prescription.[3]
Keep it all in date and in its bottle
- Don’t use any solution past its expiration or discard date.[1]
- Don’t pour solutions into smaller containers. It can affect sterility and can lead to using the wrong solution by mistake.[1]
- Keep one unopened backup of every product. Running out is when people reach for something they shouldn’t.
For filling technique, see filling the lens and avoiding bubbles.
Common mistakes
- Filling the lens with multipurpose solution or preserved saline from a multi-use bottle.
- Storing lenses overnight in saline.
- Rinsing or filling a lens with hydrogen peroxide solution.
- Saving a half-used saline vial for later.
- Making homemade saline or using any kind of water.
- Pouring solution into a smaller travel bottle.
- Switching products without asking your fitter.
Common questions
Can I fill my lens with multipurpose solution?
No, unless your fitter specifically tells you to. The fluid in the bowl of the lens sits against your cornea all day, so it needs to be sterile and preservative-free. Multipurpose solution is for cleaning, disinfecting, and storing.
What's the difference between buffered and non-buffered saline?
Non-buffered saline is plain sterile salt water and is what most wearers fill with. Buffered saline is pH-adjusted to be closer to natural tears, which some people with sensitive or dry eyes find more comfortable. Your fitter can tell you which to try.
Can I use cheaper sterile saline vials sold for other uses?
Some wearers ask about this. Those products aren't labeled for contact lenses, and the FDA advises using the products your eye care professional recommends. Ask your fitter before using anything that wasn't made for your eyes.
Which artificial tears can I use with my lenses in?
Ask your fitter for a specific product. The FDA advises checking with your eye care professional before using any eye product, even one you buy without a prescription.
I put Clear Care straight into my eye by mistake. What do I do?
Alcon says to remove your lenses right away and rinse your eye with large amounts of water or sterile saline for a few minutes. If burning or irritation continues, call your eye care professional right away.