Contact lens solutions

Contact lens solutions perform a number of important roles in maintaining safe and comfortable contact lens wear. By including a variety of ingredients they can help to remove lens deposits, kill micro-organisms, and condition the surface of lenses.

There is a staggering array of contact lens solutions available, the suitability of each depending not only on the type of contact lens, but the type of patient and how they wear their lenses and you should be guided by the ECP on this before recommending solutions to patients.

Soft daily disposable contact lenses are the only type that do not require cleaning or storing in solution; they should be discarded after each use. However, they can be rinsed in saline or soft contact lens multipurpose solutions if required. All other lens types should be cleaned after each period of wear and stored safely in the correct solution until next required. Preservative-free solutions might be best for patients with sensitive eyes or those prone to allergy.

Indications for use

• Multi-purpose ‘all-in-one’ solutions require the patient to rub, rinse and soak the lens to disinfect it. They are simple to use, readily available and can be used with any type of lens as long as it is stipulated on the bottle. However, they may cause irritation for some patients
• Two-step systems comprise a cleaner and a conditioner for storing the lenses and may be recommended for a deeper clean. Care must be taken to rinse off the cleaner as it can be toxic to the surface of the eye. This type of system is more common with RGP lenses nowadays
• Peroxide-based systems use hydrogen peroxide along with a specific case, or tablet, to neutralise the peroxide turning it into water and oxygen – which is why these solutions bubble. Typically, it takes four to six hours of soaking to disinfect the lenses and ensure that the peroxide is fully neutralised. This method is less suitable for someone who needs to be able to apply their lenses at short notice, or who takes short breaks from lens wear during the day. Peroxide-based systems offer very good cleaning, can be used with any lens type, and have a minimal risk of hypersensitivity
• Enzymatic liquid cleaners or tablets can be used with any lens type for additional removal of protein deposits from the lens surface
• Saline is sterile water plus salt and does not contain any active ingredients for cleaning. It is, therefore, only suitable for rinsing or refreshing lenses or filling hybrid or scleral lenses before application.

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