Contact Lens Solution
Standing in the store staring at the shelves of contact lens solutions can be daunting. Which to buy? The short answer: buy the contact lens solution your eye doctor prescribed.
Contact lens solutions are made by several different manufacturers, and those manufacturers make several types of contact lens solutions. Contact lens solution is available for soft contacts, the most popular kind of contacts. Contact lens solution is also available for rigid or gas permeable contacts.
Here’s a quick look at the different types of contact lens solution available.
Cleaner contact lens solution does just what it says: cleans your contacts. Cleaning your contacts by rubbing your finger on both sides of the contact is called “rubbing” by contact lens solution manufacturers. These solutions should never be on the lens when it is inserted onto the eye
Multipurpose contact lens solution is the disinfecting solution you soak your contacts in overnight or for a period of time during the day. Along with disinfecting, multi-purpose contact lens solution is used for cleaning and rinsing your contacts, too. That’s why it’s called “multipurpose” solution.
Solutions for rigid or hard contacts
Rigid contacts use different disinfecting contact lens solution than soft contacts. Saline is used for rinsing both types, and though most cleaner solutions are specific to the type of lens. But it’s important to remember not to use rigid contact lens disinfecting solution (called conditioning solution) on soft contacts.
Conditioning contact lens solution is much thicker than the solution used for soft contacts. It’s almost like a lotion in feel, and it acts like a “lubricant” on rigid contacts. Conditioning contact lens solution adds comfort by coating the lens as well as disinfecting the lens.
he most important thing to remember with contact lens solution is to use the brand your eye doctor recommends. Store-brand formulations change frequently, so the first time you buy a store brand it might be fine. Several months later, though, the formulation might have changed, and that contact lens solution may not be a good choice for you. If you really want to switch to something else, call your eye doctor’s office to ask first. Switching might be OK, or it might not.