Cleaning and maintaining contact lenses use many different types of contact lens cleaners. In order to maintain healthy eyes, and prevent potentially serious difficulties, contact lens cleaners eradicate grit and other pollutants from the lenses, disinfecting and reducing irritants.
In fact, types of cleaners can vary depending on the different kinds of contact lenses; the use of a certain cleaner will depend on the make of the lens. In this way, the care and maintenance instructions of one’s eye care professional should be carefully understood and followed.
The multi-purpose solution is one of the most typically used cleaners. These solutions do all the contact lens cleaning. Not only are they useful for contact lens storage, but they are also relied upon in the cleaning and disinfecting of the lenses.
However, one cannot use these all-purpose cleaners with just any style of contact lens. Before using such cleaners, check with the eye specialist to make certain it’s right for your needs.
Another very widely-used contact lens solution is hydrogen peroxide-based. By going after microorganisms more aggressively, they disinfect and protect the eyes from harmful germ infections.
These hydrogen peroxide solutions utilize both single step and double-step cleaning processes and certain storage requirements. The contacts must be rinsed carefully before applying them to the eyes, or discomfort and irritation might occur.
A tougher type of cleanser uses enzymes. These enzymatic solutions actually scrub off protein buildup that can accumulate on contact lenses. Used more sporadically than the daily-use variety of solution, these small tablets are placed in storage solution and go to work on the lenses overnight. It’s necessary to remove the protein buildup that accumulates on lenses or irritation and eye damage can result.
One of the most commonly known cleaners is saline solution. This, however, is a rinse, meant to remove any irritants before applying the lens to the eye. It is not a cleaner by itself. Therefore it should be understood that saline solution alone is no an adequate measure for the regular maintenance and care of contact lenses and a healthy eye habit.
A new hands free alternative is using sonic cleaning. This is known as ultrasonic contact lens cleaner.