This is because if hydrogen peroxide touches the eye, it will sting and burn the eye temporarily. This solution often comes in a bottle with a red cap that is easy to identify so that it is not mistaken for a bottle of saline. The best way to store them overnight and kill possible bacteria on their surfaces is in a hydrogen peroxide solution that will clean the lenses while you sleep. Monthly and biweekly lenses will need to be stored in solution overnight for up to 30 or 14 days, respectively. The only time this may be done is if daily disposable contact lenses are used and are thrown away immediately upon exiting the water after a short time frame of use (i.e. This exposes your eyes to dangerous organisms that have the ability to damage the front surface of the eye permanently. Lakes, swimming pools and ocean water have a variety of bacteria and chemicals that can stick onto the lenses. Ideally, these cases are also replaced every month or, at most, every 3 months. The best routine would be to dump out the rest of the solution, rinse the case out with contact lens solution, wipe the case and lids dry, and turn them upside down on a clean tissue.

It is important to remember to clean the cases after each night of use.

So, whether you need to rinse the lenses in order to remove debris or rewet them, make sure to never use tap water.ĭO Clean and Replace Your Contact Lens CaseĬontact lens storage cases (for monthly or biweekly lens wearers) are hot spots for bacterial growth and about 50% of cases will be contaminated. Tap water is especially concerning as there are microbes in the water that can adhere to the lens and cause an infection. In fact, the lenses should only be in contact with specific disinfecting solutions or saline. It is important to remember that contact lenses should never touch tap water. Increased amounts of time outside their packaging can increase infection rates, induce more eye dryness, and cause irritation. This means, for example, that even if you only wore the lenses 4 days out of the 30, you still need to discard them. Many people mistake the discard time for the number of days that the lenses are in the eyes but the best way to prevent infection is to discard the lenses according to the designated schedule. If you are wearing monthly lenses, make sure to discard them 30 days after opening the package. Overnight, the eye receives less oxygen and thus is less able to protect itself from invading microbes. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common risk factors for infection. This is often a tough one to remember for patients as it can be easy to accidentally fall asleep in the lenses.

This will remove the protein and fat deposits that build up on the lens during the day After this step, you can insert it into the peroxide or saline solution to be stored overnight. The best way to clean them is to place the lens in the middle of your palm, add some solution, and rub both sides of the lens with your middle finger. DO Rub and Rinseįor those that are not wearing daily disposables, cleaning the lenses before going to bed is a key step in the hygiene routine. Below are some of the most important Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind when taking care of your lenses and ensuring that your eyes are protected from infection. With the simplicity of these medical devices today, it is easy to forget the importance of maintaining the best hygiene practices for contact lens use. The amazing lens materials available and the various uses for contact lenses have contributed to their success. The use of soft contact lenses in today’s society has grown exponentially since their initial development.

Hydrogen peroxide contacts cleaner