The Hidden Dangers of Reusing Contact Solution: What You Need to Know

Contact solution is integral to keeping your contact lenses clean and safe. Many people ask if it’s possible to reuse this solution at least once. This is a practice that doctors advise against because of the risks involved. It helps to understand what contact solution is made of and what it’s meant to do.

What is Contact Solution?

Contact solution is a chemical necessary to keep your contact lenses safe from accumulating germs and particles when you store them. However, the ingredients in the solution are not set in stone. The solution can contain surfactants, preservatives, a wetting solution, and disinfectants. Surfactants remove debris and residue that can accumulate on your contact lenses without damaging them while disinfectants kill germs. Preservatives prolong the shelf life of the contact solution but that doesn’t mean it will last forever. You should note the expiration date of your solution as it’s not as effective when it’s expired. Finally, the wetting solution keeps your contacts moisturized so they’re comfortable when you put them in.

There are also different types of contact solutions. A daily cleaning solution will remove dirt and residue but won’t disinfect them so it’s not a good choice for storing your lenses. On the other hand, a multipurpose solution can clean, rinse, and disinfect your lenses. It can also be used to store them so this is a great option for people who don’t want to use different chemicals for each purpose.

Finally, a hydrogen peroxide contact solution is as effective as a multipurpose solution but you must use a neutralizing chemical with it so it doesn’t damage your eyes. It also doesn’t contain preservatives so it’s a good choice for those who are allergic to those kinds of chemicals. Otherwise, this solution won’t work for you if you don’t want to follow specific instructions to ensure the solution is safe for you.

Furthermore, different contact lenses may need certain solutions so pay attention to the requirements.

You may be wondering if you have to use a contact solution at all. If you don’t, your lenses can accumulate particles, residue, and microorganisms that can lead to infections or damage to your eyes. Additionally, when you rub your eyes, the build-up on the lenses can lead to irritation or scratches. Not using a contact solution puts your eye health at serious risk.

Why You Shouldn’t Reuse It

Your contact solution is designed to remove debris and disinfect your lenses. That means the solution is no longer clean after placing your lenses in it. If you reuse this old solution, you risk contaminating it and these lenses can then infect your eyes. The effects of eye infection can range from blurry vision to blindness. While you can take care of an infection with medication, anything that affects your vision can be harder to handle. When it comes to blindness, you may require surgery and even then you may still not get your vision back to where it was.

How to Use Contact Solution

You can clean your contact lenses after taking them out or before putting them in. To do this, you should wash your hands, rub the lenses in the contact solution in your palm, and then rinse the contacts with the solution. If you’ve taken them out for the day, you should pour contact solution into the contact lens case and put them in it. The lenses should always be completely submerged during storage. You should always store the lenses according to their specific wear schedule as some of them can only be stored for a day. If you store contact lenses longer than recommended, germs may grow on them.

If you wear contact lenses, you need to have a cleaning routine in place. Without one, you put your eye health and vision at risk. Part of the routine is changing your cleaning solution daily and adhering to the limitations that the manufacturer’s state.