There are two types of contact lens care systems: multipurpose contact lens solutions and hydrogen peroxide-based care systems. Each system has benefits and prospective downsides.
Review of Solution for Contact Lenses
Multipurpose Contact Lens Solutions
Multipurpose contact lens solutions are dual-purpose liquids that both tidy and sanitize contacts.
Multipurpose solutions likewise are called “no-rub” services, since they are designed to properly clean and sanitize lenses with a basic rinse-and-store approach, removing the need to mechanically rub the lenses to get rid of lens deposits.
Recent research, nevertheless, suggests that rubbing the lenses after dampening them with a stream of multipurpose service offers greater cleaning efficiency. For this reason, numerous eye care specialists recommend including a brief, 10-second period of mechanical rubbing as part of the cleansing regimen with multipurpose services.
Advocates of multipurpose contact lens options say they are more economical and easier to use than hydrogen peroxide-based services, and therefore contact lens wearers are more likely to use multipurpose solutions properly.
But recently there has actually been a global recall of a minimum of one brand of a multipurpose contact lens service because of a break out of fungal eye infections associated with the item.
Still, multipurpose options are the most popular method of contact lens care in the United States. Supporters of multipurpose options state the recall of a single solution was a separated incident which no-rub options are shown safe, reliable and cost-effective for lens cleaning and disinfection.
Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Lens Care Systems
Hydrogen peroxide-based (HPB) contact lens care systems also are popular in the United States.
While HPB systems supply effective lens disinfection, and no item remembers have taken place due to break outs of eye infections associated with their use, these systems have the tendency to be more troublesome than no-rub multipurpose contact lens services.
Eye care experts who recommend hydrogen peroxide-based care systems typically encourage that you first clean your contacts with a different surfactant cleansing option and/or wash them with saline service. So currently an additional step is needed.
Lens disinfection with HPB lens care systems can be a one-step or two-step procedure, depending on the item.
Both one-step and two-step HPB lens care systems need neutralization of the hydrogen peroxide service after lens disinfection and prior to using the lenses. This is due to the fact that hydrogen peroxide is an effective decontaminating agent, however it is toxic to the cornea and must be transformed to saline with a neutralizing agent to prevent eye injury.
See also: Contact Lenses Solutions: Best Way to Clean Soft Contact Lenses
In one-step HPB systems, the lenses are positioned in a holder within a round contact lens case, and the case is filled with a 3 percent option of hydrogen peroxide. The bottom of the case includes a solid disk of a product that right away begins neutralizing the hydrogen peroxide.
In two-step systems, the contacts are put in a lens case filled with just the hydrogen peroxide for a specified time period. A neutralizer is then added to the case to transform the disinfectant to harmless saline.
Hydrogen peroxide care systems are preservative-free and therefore are frequently advised for contact lens users who may be delicate to preservatives discovered in multipurpose contact lens solutions.
Hydrogen peroxide-based lens care systems are not free from debate, however.
Eye care experts who choose multipurpose contact lens services say one-step HPB systems might not expose contacts to full-strength hydrogen peroxide for an adequate period of time for efficient disinfection of resistant microorganisms, consisting of those that cause a major eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis.
They also say two-step HPB systems posture the risk that users will forget the neutralizing step and incur a painful eye injury from exposing their eyes to unneutralized hydrogen peroxide.
Another prospective problem with HPB systems is that after the hydrogen peroxide has actually been neutralized, the option staying in the lens case has no disinfecting ability. It’s possible the case and your contacts can become contaminated if you open the case and after that use it to keep your lenses without including fresh decontaminating option.
Also read: Solutions for Contact Lens Discomfort
Ask Your Eye Doctor
Picking the best contact lens solutions for you is not a decision you ought to make yourself. During your contact lens fitting, your optometrist will inform you which solution she or he feels is best for you.
Likewise, do not change lens care systems before first discussing it with your optometrist.
