The way you clean your contacts depends on the type of lens you use. Cleaning your contact lenses begins with removing them from your eyes.
Please follow the cleaning instructions given by your doctor, and use the cleaning solution prescribed to you by your doctor. Switching cleaning solutions can cause irritation, lens intolerance and blurred vision. If you have questions regarding your cleaning solution, please contact your doctor.
Tips for removing or applying your contact lenses
Prior to removing or applying your contact lenses, remember to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry your hands on a clean, dry towel.
Never use tap water or saline only to clean your contact lenses or contact lens case. Tap water contains bacteria that can lead to infections. A disinfectant solution is needed to clean contact lenses.
Never “top off” or add new solution to solution already in a contact lens case as this can lead to eye infections.
Cleaning soft contact lenses
Multipurpose soft contact lens cleaner
- Remove lens and add two to three drops of solution to lens in the palm of your hand. Rub lens for 10-15 seconds to remove debris.
- Add new solution to contact lens case each night, and cover contact lens.
- After applying your lenses, discard any remaining contact lens solution, and allow the case to air-dry face-down on a clean paper towel.
- Cases should be replaced every month — they can hold bacteria and increase the risk of eye infections.
Hydrogen peroxide solution
- Hydrogen peroxide solutions are preservative-free, as the main ingredient is hydrogen peroxide.
- After removing your lens, add two to three drops of solution to the lens in the palm of your hand, and rub the lens for 10-15 seconds to remove debris.
- Fill the cylinder case to the fill line, and add your lenses to the basket. Each side of the basket is labeled to use for the right or left eye.
- The solution will bubble for a few seconds once the case is closed. Allow the lenses to soak for at least six hours or up to seven days if needed. This time allows the hydrogen peroxide to neutralize to saline.
- If you don’t allow your lenses to soak for at least six hours, the hydrogen peroxide will still be present and cause burning and irritation when applying your lenses.
- Hydrogen peroxide cases should be replaced every 90 days to keep the neutralization process in the case working appropriately.
Cleaning hybrid contact lenses
Multipurpose soft contact lens cleaner
- Remove lens and add two to three drops of solution to lens in the palm of your hand. Rub lens for 10-15 seconds to remove debris.
- Add new solution to contact lens case each night and cover contact lens.
- After applying your lenses, discard any remaining contact lens solution, and allow the case to air-dry face-down on a clean paper towel.
- Cases should be replaced every month, as they can hold bacteria and increase the risk of eye infections.
Hydrogen peroxide solution
- Hydrogen peroxide solutions are preservative-free, as the main ingredient is hydrogen peroxide.
- After removing your lens, add two to three drops of solution to the lens in the palm of your hand, and rub the lens for 10-15 seconds to remove debris.
- Fill the cylinder case to the fill line, and add your lenses to the basket. Each side of the basket is labeled to use for the right or left eye.
- The solution will bubble for a few seconds once the case is closed. Allow the lenses to soak for at least six hours or up to seven days if needed. This time allows the hydrogen peroxide to neutralize to saline.
- If you don’t allow your lenses to soak for at least six hours, the hydrogen peroxide will still be present and cause burning and irritation when applying your lenses.
- Hydrogen peroxide cases should be replaced every 90 days to keep the neutralization process in the case working appropriately.
Cleaning scleral and gas permeable lenses
Scleral lenses can be cleaned with multipurpose gas-permeable disinfectant solutions or hydrogen peroxide solutions.
Application and removal tools should be cleaned daily with alcohol pads and allowed to air dry on clean paper towel before putting back in the case.
Multipurpose gas permeable contact lens solution
- Remove lens and add two to three drops of solution to lens in the palm of your hand. Rub lens for 10-15 seconds with your pinky finger to remove debris.
- Be gentle when rubbing the lens to avoid cracking or breaking the lens.
- Add new disinfectant solution to contact lens case each night and cover contact lens.
- After applying your lenses, discard any remaining contact lens solution, and allow the case to air-dry facedown on a clean paper towel.
- You can rinse the lens to remove remaining solution with preservative-free saline vials and wipe clean with a paper towel, if needed.
- Contact lens cases should be replaced every month, as they can hold bacteria and increase risk of eye infections.
Hydrogen peroxide solution
- Hydrogen peroxide solutions are preservative-free, as the main ingredient is hydrogen peroxide.
- After removing your lens, add two to three drops of solution to the lens in the palm of your hand, and rub the lens for 10-15 seconds with your pinky finger to remove debris.
- Be gentle when rubbing the lens to avoid cracking or breaking the lens.
- Fill the cylinder case to the fill line, and add your lenses to the basket. Each side of the basket is labeled to use for the right or left eye.
- The solution will bubble for a few seconds once the case is closed. Allow the lenses to soak for at least six hours or up to seven days if needed. This time allows the hydrogen peroxide to neutralize and convert to saline.
- If you don’t allow your lenses to soak for at least six hours, the hydrogen peroxide may still be present and cause burning and irritation when applying your lenses.
- Hydrogen peroxide cases should be replaced every 90 days to keep the neutralization process in the case working appropriately.
- Be sure your scleral lenses fit in the hydrogen peroxide case without causing the lenses to break.
- Special scleral hydrogen peroxide cases are available if your lenses don’t fit in the case that’s included in the solution package.