Why is it important to store contact lenses in solution?
The care solution in which you put the contact lenses contains a mild but effective dose of disinfectant. Keeping your contact lenses in solution helps to remove any remaining bacteria and protein deposits from your contact lenses, so they are clean when you put them in your eyes.
Maintenance procedures for hard and semi-hard contact lenses .
It is important to note that some manufacturers recommend contact lens wearers to rinse the contact lenses with regular tap water after cleaning. Tap water contains some eye-harming microorganisms such as Acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba infection is very rare, but when it occurs it most often leads to corneal loss. Therefore, to rinse semi-hard and hard contact lenses, use a solution for preservation and rinsing or a physiological solution, intended exclusively for rinsing lenses.
Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses.
Day care
Cleaning
Remove the right lens from the eye and place it in the palm of your hand. Place two to three drops of the cleaning solution on each side of the lens and rub it with your finger for 15 to 20 seconds.
Rinse the lens thoroughly with a disinfecting/preserving/rinsing solution or sterile saline to remove any traces of cleaning agent.
Place the lens in the right magazine holder and close it.
Fill the container with the disinfection/storage/rinse solution. Make sure it is filled to the top.
Repeat the same procedure with the left contact lens.
Disinfection
Leave the contact lenses in the disinfectant/storage/rinse solution for at least six hours (or overnight) to ensure complete disinfection. Store them in a closed container until you use them again.
Note regarding cleaning and disinfection
You can store lenses in a closed container for up to 30 days. If you keep them longer, disinfect them again before use. Rinse the lenses with a disinfectant/storage/rinse solution and place on the eyes.
Discard the used solution and rinse the container with fresh disinfectant/storage/rinse solution and allow to air dry.
Humidification
To moisten, place one to two drops of a disinfecting/preserving/wetting solution on the inner surface of each contact lens before placing it on the eyes. You can use eye drops to moisturize before putting on the lenses.
Protein removal
Deproteinizing tablets keep lenses in top condition and allow disinfection and deproteinization in one step. Your contact specialist (ophthalmologist/optometrist) will advise you if it is necessary to remove the proteins.
During normal use of the lenses, tear proteins can be deposited on the surface.
Protein deposits make wearing lenses uncomfortable and reduce visual acuity.
After cleaning the lenses, according to the daily care instructions, add one tablet to the lens container filled with the disinfecting/preserving/wetting solution and close it.
Leave the lenses in the solution with the tablet for at least six hours, but no longer than 12 hours.
After using the tablets, and before putting them on the eyes, rub the lenses well and rinse them with a solution for disinfection/preservation/moisturization.
Rinse the container with fresh disinfectant/storage/rinse solution and allow to air dry.
Warnings
Follow all instructions carefully. Otherwise, serious inflammation or eye injuries may occur.
Do not use the products in case of hypersensitivity to any of their ingredients.
Do not use tablets that have softened, are sticky or have changed their appearance.
In case of eye irritation, stop wearing the lenses and seek the advice of an ophthalmologist.
Do not use the solution if the protection on the opener is broken or missing.
The system is not intended for soft contact lenses.
Always use fresh solution.
Do not use the solution after the expiration date.
Do not place lenses that have been in the cleaning solution directly on your eyes. If this happens, remove the lens immediately and rinse the eye with water.
To avoid contamination, do not touch the top of the bottle with anything.
Do not rinse the lenses and the lens case with tap water.
Keeping
Store all system components in a dry place at room temperature.
Close the bottles after use.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Autor:
bc. Livio Svržnjak, optometrist
