Contact Lens Solution: Multipurpose vs Hydrogen Peroxide

Do you wear contact lenses? Here are some tips on how to find the right contact lens solution to keep your vision safe, clear, and healthy. 

• lower your risk of infection
• prevent vision loss
• avoid painful eye conditions such as corneal abrasions or ulcers
• keep your vision clear and comfortable

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Types of Contact Lens Solutions: Multipurpose vs Hydrogen Peroxide

If you wear contact lenses, it’s important to disinfect them daily with a solution to keep them clean. Such products act to remove debris and build-up to keep your vision clear and protect your eye health.

How do I choose the right contact lens solution? While it’s always a good idea to discuss your options with a professional optometrist, here is a breakdown of the two main types of contact lens solutions and how they work:

Multipurpose Contact Lens Solution

Multipurpose contact lens solutions are designed to clean, disinfect, and care for monthly or weekly soft contact lenses. Their convenience and low-cost often make them a popular choice among patients.

HOW THEY WORK

1. Wash your hands so you don’t transfer any dirt or germs to your eyes. Avoid moisturizing soaps and dry your hands with a lint-free towel.
2. Remove one contact lens at a time and clean it with the multipurpose solution. This will remove any eye-produced buildup, cosmetics, and other debris that could cause lens discomfort.
3. Rub the lens gently in the palm of your hand using a few drops of the solution as this will ensure they’re completely clean and debris-free.
4. Place your lens in its case filled with fresh solution. NEVER top-off or reuse your old solution as this can increase your risk of serious infection.

Hydrogen Peroxide Contact Lens Solution

Hydrogen peroxide-based lens solutions require more time, effort, and attention to clean your contact lenses safely. Because they’re preservative-free, they’re often a good choice for patients who are allergic or sensitive to chemicals.

In addition: Hydrogen peroxide solutions also do a very good job of breaking up proteins and deposits on lenses and can greatly benefit people who have a lot of build up on their contacts.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When using hydrogen peroxide, it’s very important to remember that a contact soaked/rinsed in the solution CANNOT be put in your eye directly without going through a neutralization process.

Why? If you happen to accidentally put hydrogen peroxide solution directly into your eye, it will cause significant burning and can be quite painful.

HOW IT WORKS

To clean your contact lenses using hydrogen peroxide:

• place them in a case filled with the solution
• soak them for 6-8 hours
• add a neutralizing tablet to the solution after cleaning

Tip: Talk to your optometrist about one-step hydrogen peroxide products that have a neutralizer built into the case, as this makes the cleaning process much more convenient.

Call Today

To find out more about how to take care of your contact lenses, or to find out more about the benefits and costs of wearing lenses, contact our Calgary eye clinic today at 403-286-4884 or book a contact lens fitting today.