Reusable contact lenses should be cleaned, disinfected, and stored in fresh solution that is approved for the specific lens type. Never store lenses in water, homemade saline, rewetting drops, or previously used solution. Daily disposable lenses are not designed to be cleaned or stored for another day.
Check the Lens Type First
Care instructions differ for soft reusable lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, hybrid lenses, and specialty designs. Follow the lens labeling, the care-system directions, and the instructions provided at the fitting. Do not switch products simply because two bottles appear to serve the same purpose.
How to Store Reusable Soft Contact Lenses
- Wash hands with soap and water, then dry them with a clean lint-free towel.
- Remove one lens and place it in the clean palm of your hand.
- Apply fresh multipurpose disinfecting solution and rub and rinse the lens as directed.
- Place it in the correct side of a clean case and fill the well with fresh solution.
- Repeat for the other lens, close the caps, and allow the full disinfection time stated on the label.
Never top off old solution. Mixing fresh solution with liquid left in the case reduces the effectiveness of the care routine.
Saline Is Not a Disinfectant
Sterile saline can be part of a labeled care process, such as a rinse after a lens has already been disinfected. It does not kill enough microorganisms to clean, disinfect, or safely store reusable lenses by itself. Homemade saline should never be used.
Using a Hydrogen Peroxide System
Hydrogen peroxide systems can clean and disinfect compatible contacts, but they require the special case provided with the product. That case neutralizes the peroxide during the required soak. An ordinary flat case cannot perform this step. Never place non-neutralized peroxide directly in the eye or on a lens immediately before insertion.
Clean and Replace the Case
After inserting the lenses, discard the used solution. Rub and rinse the case with fresh disinfecting solution, empty it, and leave it open and upside down on a clean tissue to air-dry. Replace the case at least every three months or sooner if it becomes cracked, damaged, or visibly soiled.
Keep Lenses Away From Water
Remove lenses before showering, swimming, or using a hot tub. Do not rinse lenses or their case with tap, bottled, distilled, lake, or ocean water. If a soft lens is exposed to water, remove it as soon as possible and follow the appropriate discard or full cleaning and disinfection instructions for that product.
Storage During Travel
Carry the original labeled solution bottle, a clean case, backup lenses if appropriate, and current glasses. Do not pour solution into an unsterile travel container. Keep sealed blister packs and care products within the storage conditions printed on their labels and away from a hot vehicle or direct sunlight.
When a Stored Lens Should Be Discarded
Discard a lens that is torn, dried out, misshapen, contaminated, past its replacement schedule, or stored in an unapproved liquid. If a lens causes pain, persistent redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or reduced vision, remove it and seek prompt professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can contact lenses be stored in saline?
Saline alone does not disinfect lenses and should not replace an approved care system.
Can daily disposable lenses be stored overnight?
No. Daily disposables are designed to be discarded after one day of wear and replaced with a fresh lens.
How often should a contact lens case be replaced?
Replace it at least every three months, or sooner when the care product or eye-care professional recommends it.