Clean
Daily cleaner
Never in your eye
Rub both sides when the lens comes out, then rinse it off completely.
Disinfect & store
Hydrogen peroxide system
Only after full neutralizing
Only in the case that came with the bottle. Wait the full time. Never fill the bowl with it or rinse with it before insertion.
Disinfect & store
Multipurpose / GP solution
Not for filling the bowl
Use one made for rigid (GP) lenses. Fresh solution every night, never topped off.
Nothing
Water of any kind
Never on lens or case
Tap, bottled, distilled, filtered: none are sterile enough. Not even to rinse the case.
Brand names on this page are examples of products wearers use, not endorsements. Your fitter’s instructions and each product’s label come first.
Which product does which job
The most common mix-up is treating every bottle with “clean” on it as the same thing. They aren’t. Here is what each product’s maker says it is for.
| Product | Clean | Rinse | Disinfect | Store | Fill the bowl | Coated lenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible CleanMultipurpose solution (GP and soft)Made by the Hydra-PEG coating maker. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Boston SimplusMultipurpose solution (GP) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Unique pHMultipurpose solution (GP) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Clear Care / Clear Care PlusHydrogen peroxide systemOnly in its own case, for the full soak time. Never a pre-insertion rinse. | Yes | No | Yes | See note | No | Yes |
| Boston Advance CleanerSeparate daily cleanerRub, rinse off, then disinfect. | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| MiraFlowSeparate daily cleanerMaker says it uses alcohol and a fine abrasive. Not on the coating list. | Yes | No | Check | Check | No | See note |
| ProgentPeriodic protein remover30-minute maximum soak, on your fitter's schedule. | Yes | No | Check | No | No | No |
| Tangible BoostMonthly coating treatment (Rx)For Hydra-PEG lenses only. Disinfect overnight afterward. | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Preservative-free salineFor comparisonFine for rinsing a coated lens; don't rub a coated lens with it. | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | See note |
Sources for this chart: Tangible Clean[1][4], Boston Simplus[10], Unique pH[11], Clear Care[15], Boston Advance[12], MiraFlow[13], Progent[14], Tangible Boost[8], saline[16][7], and the coating maker’s compatible and incompatible lists.[5]
The four groups, in plain words:
- Multipurpose GP solutions do it all except fill: you rub with them, rinse, and store the lens in them overnight.
- Separate daily cleaners are for rubbing only. They are rinsed off, and the lens still needs a disinfecting solution.
- Peroxide systems disinfect in a special case that neutralizes the peroxide over a set time. See hydrogen peroxide.
- Periodic treatments (protein removers, Tangible Boost) are occasional extras on your fitter’s schedule. Neither replaces nightly disinfection.
Multipurpose solutions: clean, rinse, disinfect, store
Tangible Clean is the product wearers most often misunderstand. It is not just a rub cleaner. Its maker says it “cleans, rinses, disinfects, stores, and conditions” lenses and that it is FDA cleared for scleral, GP, hybrid, and soft lenses.[1] The FDA’s device database lists it as an over-the-counter rigid gas permeable lens care product.[3] Tangible Science says you can store lenses in it overnight for disinfection after cleaning and rinsing, and that it cannot be used to fill the bowl.[4] It is preserved with polyhexanide 0.0001%.[1]
What each word means for you:
- Clean: you rub with it to lift the day’s film.
- Rinse: you can rinse the loosened film away with the same solution.
- Disinfect and store: the lens sits in fresh solution in a clean case for at least the label’s soak time.
- Condition: it helps the lens surface stay wet and comfortable, the job a GP conditioning solution is designed for.
Boston Simplus and Unique pH are the same type. Bausch + Lomb says Simplus cleans, rinses, disinfects, and conditions GP lenses, needs at least 4 hours of soaking, requires no separate daily cleaner, and should be discarded 90 days after opening.[10] Menicon’s directions for Unique pH are to rub, rinse, and store for at least 4 hours, and to discard the bottle within 90 days of opening; Menicon also lists it as compatible with Hydra-PEG.[11] Check your Tangible Clean bottle for its own soak time and discard date.
Do you still rub with a “no-rub” label? Simplus’s directions put the rub after the soak, just before wear, rather than at night.[10] Many scleral fitters still ask for a nightly rub too, and wearers who skip rubbing often see film build up. Rub when and how your fitter tells you.
Rinse before you fill. Multipurpose solutions contain preservatives. Rinse with sterile, preservative-free saline and fill with a fresh vial, unless your fitter or the label says otherwise. Tangible Science’s own guidance is to fill only with preservative-free saline.[7] More on this in multipurpose and GP solutions.
Separate daily cleaners
These are concentrated surfactant cleaners used only for rubbing. Bausch + Lomb describes Boston Advance Cleaner as leaving lenses “clean, clear, and ready to be disinfected.”[12] In other words: rub, rinse it off completely, then disinfect in a separate solution. Never store a lens in a cleaner, and never let one go in the bowl. MiraFlow’s maker says it uses alcohol and a fine abrasive and is sold only through its website.[13]
Both are on the wrong side of the line for coated lenses: Tangible lists Boston Advance Cleaner as damaging, and says to avoid any solution containing isopropyl alcohol.[5][7] On uncoated lenses, some fitters do use them for heavy film. Ask yours.
If you use peroxide at night, rinse any cleaner off before the lens goes in the peroxide case. Wearers find leftover cleaner makes the case foam over.
Deep cleaning and protein removers
For deposits that daily rubbing won’t shift, fitters may add a protein remover. Menicon describes Progent as a two-part intensive protein remover for rigid gas permeable lenses, with a soak of 30 minutes at most, followed by a thorough rinse.[14] Some offices do this in the clinic; others send it home with a schedule. Wearers add practical notes: use the larger holder made for big lenses, keep the lens fully covered, and expect it may lighten orientation dots.
Progent is on Tangible’s list of products that damage Hydra-PEG.[5] Don’t use any protein remover on a coated lens unless your fitter, knowing about the coating, tells you to. And if haze persists whatever you do, bring the lenses in: fitters can clean or polish them, or tell you a lens has reached the end of its life.
Coated (Hydra-PEG) lenses
Hydra-PEG is a coating that helps tears spread over the lens. See what a surface coating is. Not sure if yours are coated? Ask your fitter.
Compatible, per the coating maker: Tangible Clean, Tangible Boost, Tangible Fill, Unique pH, Clear Care Triple Action (marked preferred), Clear Care Plus HydraGlyde, Boston Simplus, any rewetting drop compatible with contact lenses, and any preservative-free saline.[5] Tangible says anything not on its list should be treated as incompatible.[6]
Incompatible: Optimum Extra Strength Cleaner, Boston Advance Cleaner, Boston Laboratory Lens Cleaner, and Progent,[5] plus anything with isopropyl alcohol.[7]
Store wet, gently. Tangible says never to store coated lenses dry, to change the storage solution every 30 days, never to rinse or rub them with tap water, and not to rub them with plain saline.[4] It names heavy-depositing tears, incompatible products, vigorous rubbing, tap water, and dry storage as things that shorten coating life.[6]
Signs wearers notice as a coating wears: the lens stops feeling slick, saline beads on the surface instead of spreading, film comes back much faster, and the eye feels dry earlier in the day. These can also mean a fit change or allergies, so tell your fitter. More in how long Hydra-PEG lasts.
Tangible Boost is a prescription conditioning treatment, classified by the FDA as a hydrophilic re-coating solution.[9] Tangible’s directions: rub in Tangible Clean, soak in Boost for 30 minutes once a month, rinse, then disinfect overnight before wear, because Boost does not disinfect.[8] Wearers split: many feel a clear difference when they start early, while others say it did little for a coating that was already worn.
Cleaning your plunger and case
For the case, the FDA advice is to rub and rinse it with fresh solution, shake it out, air-dry it face down, and replace it every 3 months or as your eye care professional directs. Never top off solution, and never expose your lenses to any kind of water.[16] Clear Care’s maker says to throw away the peroxide case with each new purchase.[15]
Plungers have no official method. Wearers commonly wipe them with an alcohol pad and let them dry fully, because leftover alcohol stings. Keep a spare, and replace one that turns sticky or cracked. The lens case guide has more.
What wearers report
- Tangible Clean: the most praised. People like that it’s thin, rinses off easily (its maker describes it the same way[2]), and works as both rub and overnight soak. A few find it blurs for them.
- Boston Simplus and Unique pH: common stopgaps from big stores. Simplus is thicker and needs a thorough rinse; a few wearers felt Unique pH made fogging worse.
- Clear Care: valued for deep cleaning, often paired with a multipurpose rub. Some see film with the HydraGlyde version and not the original.
- Boston Advance Cleaner and MiraFlow: some uncoated wearers say they beat stubborn protein; others found them irritating or hard to rinse.
- Progent: often described as making lenses look new, with complaints about the holder size and lost dots.
- Tangible Boost: mixed, as above.
If this isn’t working for you
| What’s happening | What wearers often ask their fitter about |
|---|---|
| Film back within hours | A nightly rub, a different multipurpose solution, a protein remover if uncoated, lid hygiene, the fit |
| Burning right after insertion | Residue: a longer saline rinse, or a thinner solution |
| Peroxide case foams over | Rinsing the cleaner off before the soak |
| Coated lens suddenly dirties fast | Whether the coating is wearing; Tangible Boost; recoating |
| Itch or redness since new lenses | Sensitivity to a coating or solution; changing one thing at a time |
| Haze nothing removes | In-office cleaning, polishing, or replacement |
The solution troubleshooter goes symptom by symptom.
Do
- Know which of your bottles disinfects and which only cleans.
- Rub gently with a compatible product, as your fitter directs.
- Rinse multipurpose solution off with preservative-free saline before filling.
- Store coated lenses wet, in fresh compatible solution.
- Bring stubborn deposits to your fitter.
Don’t
- Never let water of any kind touch your lenses, case, or plunger.
- Never put a cleaner or multipurpose solution in the bowl.
- Don't use Progent, alcohol-based, or abrasive cleaners on coated lenses.
- Don't soak in Boost or a protein remover longer than the label says.
- Don't change your system without talking to your fitter.
Mistakes that come up again and again
- Storing lenses overnight in saline. Saline rinses and fills. It doesn’t disinfect.
- Using a separate cleaner as if it were a storage solution. It only cleans.
- Skipping overnight disinfection because the lens was rubbed. Rubbing cleans; you still need to disinfect.
- Inserting without rinsing off a multipurpose solution. A lens that burns or stings on insertion should come out.
- Putting a cleaner or protein remover in the fill. It would sit against your cornea for hours.
- Peroxide shortcuts. Peroxide goes only in the case from that bottle, for the full soak time, and never on a lens before insertion un-neutralized.
- Rubbing with dish soap or hand soap. Household soap isn’t a lens cleaner.
- Switching products because the store was out. Call your fitter’s office first, especially with coated lenses.
Common questions
Can Tangible Clean be used to store my lenses overnight?
Yes. Tangible Clean is a multipurpose solution, and its maker says it cleans, rinses, disinfects, stores, and conditions lenses. Tangible Science describes it as a solution you can store lenses in overnight for disinfection after cleaning and rinsing. Use fresh solution in a clean case every night, follow the label's soak time, and rinse it off with sterile preservative-free saline before you fill.
Is Tangible Clean just a rub cleaner?
No. Many wearers use it only to rub their lenses before a peroxide soak, which works, but it is a full multipurpose disinfecting and storage solution, FDA cleared for scleral, GP, hybrid, and soft lenses. Some people use it alone; others pair it with peroxide on some nights. Your fitter decides which suits you.
Do I still need a separate cleaner if I use a multipurpose solution?
Usually not. A GP multipurpose solution is also the cleaner: you rub with it, then store in it. Boston Simplus's own directions say no separate daily cleaner is required. Some fitters add a separate cleaner or a periodic protein remover for people whose lenses film up quickly.
Do I rinse the multipurpose solution off before filling the lens?
Yes, unless your fitter or the label tells you otherwise. Multipurpose solutions contain preservatives, and the bowl holds whatever is on the lens against your eye for hours. Rinse with sterile saline, then fill with a fresh vial of preservative-free saline. Never fill the bowl with a multipurpose solution or a cleaner.
Can I use Clear Care on a Hydra-PEG coated lens?
Tangible Science lists Clear Care Triple Action (marked preferred) and Clear Care Plus HydraGlyde as compatible. Like any peroxide, it goes only in its own case, for the full soak time, and is never used to rinse a lens before insertion. Some coated-lens wearers alternate peroxide with a compatible multipurpose solution.
Is Boston Advance Cleaner safe on Hydra-PEG lenses?
No. Tangible Science names Boston Advance Cleaner, along with Optimum Extra Strength Cleaner, Boston Laboratory Lens Cleaner, and Progent, as products that damage the coating. Boston Simplus, a different Boston product, is on the compatible list.
Can I rub a coated lens?
Yes, gently, with a compatible product. Wearers often say daily rubbing matters even more once they learn deposits build up as a film. Tangible Science warns that vigorous rubbing shortens coating life and that rubbing a coated lens with plain saline, which has no surfactant, may damage the coating.
Can I clean my lenses with saline only?
No. The FDA says sterile saline is for rinsing only, not for cleaning or disinfecting. Saline also isn't a storage solution: lenses left overnight in saline are not disinfected.
Can I use dish soap or hand soap to clean my lenses?
No. Household soaps aren't lens cleaners, can leave residue that burns, and can damage a coating. Clean lenses only with the products your fitter prescribed, and use a plain, lotion-free soap on your hands.
Why are my orientation dots fading?
Wearers most often blame intensive protein removers and abrasive cleaners, and some notice dots lightening over many months of normal care. If a dot is hard to see, ask your fitter rather than redrawing it yourself.
How often should I deep clean my lenses?
There is no single schedule. It depends on how quickly your lenses deposit, the lens material, and whether they're coated. Uncoated lenses may get a periodic protein remover on your fitter's schedule; coated lenses usually can't, so fitters lean on gentle daily rubbing, compatible solutions, and Tangible Boost if prescribed. Stubborn haze is a reason to bring the lenses in.
Is Tangible Boost a disinfectant? Can I soak overnight in it?
No to both. Tangible Boost is a prescription monthly treatment for Hydra-PEG coated lenses with a 30-minute soak. Tangible says to clean the lenses with Tangible Clean before and after, then disinfect overnight before wear. Don't stretch the soak.
Can I store coated lenses dry?
Tangible Science says never to store Hydra-PEG coated lenses dry, because drying and rehydrating can damage the coating, and to change the storage solution every 30 days. Uncoated lenses are sometimes stored dry, but follow your fitter's instructions.
How should I clean my plunger?
There's no single official method, so follow your fitter. Wearers commonly wipe the plunger with an alcohol pad and let it dry completely, because leftover alcohol stings. Never rinse it with tap water, and replace it if the rubber turns sticky or cracked.
Are ultrasonic or vibrating lens cleaners OK?
Most wearers and fitters advise against them. They aren't a disinfecting step, and they aren't made for scleral lenses. If you're curious, ask your fitter first.