How to Store Contact Lenses: A Guide for 2024
The entire work about contact lenses doesn’t just end at cleaning. Knowing how to store your lenses will help keep you in good eye health. Whether you wear daily disposable lenses or extended ones, you must understand how to store them correctly to preserve their quality and avoid eye infections.
In this article, we’ll explore the various ways to store contact lenses, covering things like solution types and risks associated with an improper care system. If you follow these steps, you can safeguard your vision and enjoy your contact lens experience.
Introduction to Proper Contact Lens Storage
When it comes to proper contact lens care, endeavour to store your lenses in the right solution for safe and comfortable wear. While contact lens care takes time and effort, failure to do so often results in multiple complications and infections.
Importance of Proper Storage
One benefit of taking care of your contact lenses is preventing eye infections. Storing in a clean contact lens case with a fresh solution is necessary. It reduces the build-up of bacteria and other microorganisms.
Keeping your lenses overnight in a solution helps them maintain their eye moisture so that your eyes experience comfort and great vision. When your lenses are hydrated, they won’t dry out. The hydration removes any discomfort and potential damage to them.
Let’s not forget that lens damage can happen. When you leave your lenses exposed to air, you risk physical damage such as tearing.
Risks of Improper Storage
When you practice improper storage of your contact lenses, there are some resulting risks:
- Contamination: You can have bacterial or fungal contamination in your lenses increasing your risk of a serious eye infection like keratitis.
- Dryness: When you store your lenses in an adequate contact lens solution or even expose them to air, you may face discomfort wearing them. In some other cases, they risk damage.
- Poor storage habits can also shorten the lifespan of your contact lenses.
- Improper storage of lenses degrades the effectiveness of cleaning solutions. It reduces their potency to clean the lenses properly.
Essential Supplies for Contact Lens Storage
For effective storage of your contact lenses, there are must-haves. These essential tools help elongate the lifespan of your contact lens and also help prevent eye complications. Let’s look at a few of them:
Contact Lens Case
A contact lens case is essential for your contact lens storage, especially if you’re a contact lens wearer who relies on them for vision correction. This small case is a container designated to clean and store your contact lenses when not in use.
Soft contact lenses and rigid gas-permeable lenses require careful handling. So, your contact case provides an enclosed environment shielding your lenses from external contaminants.
Multi-Purpose Solution
Just like the name, this is an all-in-one lens care system. You’ll usually find it among soft contact lenses wearers. With one solution, you can clean, rinse, disinfect, and store your lenses.
Most multi-purpose solution manufacturers advertise their product as a no-rub. However, studies show that the best way to use your contacts is through rubbing and rinsing.
Saline Solution
A saline solution is not a cleaning or disinfecting solution. You can use it to rinse and store contact lenses. This solution contains water and salt in a specific proportion. Most eye care professionals recommend it for lens care systems because of its compatibility with most contact lens materials.
While there are commercially prepared saline solutions, you can prepare your own at home. A homemade saline solution is a mixture of distilled water and non-iodized salt in specific proportions. If you opt for a homemade solution, use a sterile solution to avoid contamination.
Lens Cleaning Solution
Your lens cleaning solution can also be a hydrogen peroxide solution. If you have sensitive eyes, this is the solution for you. The hydrogen peroxide solution is a powerful disinfecting solution.
To use the hydrogen peroxide-based systems, do the following:
- Neutralize the hydrogen peroxide before you wear contacts to avoid burns and irritation.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to neutralize.
- Always use the provided case.
- Do not rinse your lenses with a peroxide solution.
- Always remember that it takes 6 hours of neutralization before wearing contact lenses.
Step-by-Step Guide to Storing Contact Lenses
In your contact lens wear journey, let’s explore some step-by-step guides to storing contact lenses.
Wash and Dry Your Hands
A common principle in contact lens care systems will remain – always wash your hands. Dirty hands can transfer bacteria and other harmful organisms to the lenses. The lenses come in direct contact with the eyes and expose you to eye infections.
Clean and dry hands are a criteria for handling contacts. After washing your hands, rinse and dry thoroughly with a lint-free towel or air dry your hands to avoid transferring debris.
Rinse Your Contact Lenses
Avoid using tap water or saliva to rinse your contact lens solution because they may contain bacteria. After rinsing, fill your contact lens case with a fresh solution.
Fill the Lens Case with Solution
Your contact lens case also deserves care. To avoid contamination, ensure your lens case is properly cleaned with a sterile solution and allowed to air-dry.
Leaving your old solution in the case doesn’t disinfect your lenses. It increases the infection risk. After usage, replace the remaining solution with a fresh one before storing your lenses.
Place the Lenses in the Case
Don’t just clean and store your lenses anywhere. Place them in the right lens case. To avoid the case being a breeding ground for microorganisms, replace your lens case every three months.
Tighten the Lid Securely
A tight lid helps you prevent airborne particles, dust, and other contaminants from entering your contact lens case. A tight lid also keeps the solution from evaporating and ensuring they are hydrated.
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Additional Tips for Safe Contact Lens Storage
Having discussed the basic step-by-step guide for storing your contact lens, let’s look at more tips.
Replace Solution Regularly
Never top up your old solution. Always use a new solution for every cleaning stage. Adhere strictly to instructions on the solution bottle after each use. Also, always check for the expiration date on the solution bottle because it’s only good for up to one month after opening.
Avoid Water Exposure
Water exposure covers swimming pools and other water sources. Avoid wearing your contact lens in water bodies as these bodies contain microorganisms. Aside from entering, avoid using them to rinse or store contact lenses.
Keep Your Storage Case Clean
To avoid bacterial growth, clean and disinfect your contact lens case regularly. After each use, rinse with a contact lens solution and allow to air dry upside down to avoid contamination. Don’t forget to adhere to your doctor’s replacement recommendation.
Store Lenses in a Cool, Dry Place
Store your lense in their storage case in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight. Avoid storing your lenses in a humid environment, and never leave them in a hot tub, car, or near heaters. Know that gas-permeable contacts can be safely stored in a dry case for months or longer.
Traveling with Contact Lenses
Before travelling, schedule a consultation with your eye doctor. The consultation is to ascertain your lenses are in good condition and address any concerns. Your eye doctor can also give you recommendations for handling your lenses.
Packing Essentials
While travelling with your contact lenses, ensure you pack the essentials for proper care and maintenance of your lenses on the go.
Don’t forget to pack your travel-sized bottles of contact solution irrespective of store brand to ensure enough supply throughout your trip. Be sure to check the solution packaging to ensure it meets travel guidelines. Do not leave your contact lens case behind, if possible, get a spare one. You can get a case that allows you to store your current pair and a spare pair in emergencies.
Handling Contact Lenses on the Go
It is vital to maintain proper hygiene when travelling with your contacts. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling your lenses. If you wear the same lens for an extended period, consider carrying eye drops or rewetting drops to keep your eyes hydrated and comfortable throughout your journey.
Summary
Contact lens care requires intentional effort to avoid contamination and build-up of bacteria and fungi. Contact lens solutions are the keys to proper and adequate care. Whether saline, hydrogen peroxide or a multipurpose solution, ensure you use the right solution for your lenses. The manufacturer’s instructions on those solutions shouldn’t be overlooked at all.