Gas permeable contact lenses have several advantages over soft lenses. In general, gas permeable lenses give the wearer sharper vision. They also last longer than soft contact lenses. Proper maintenance of gas permeable lenses is important in order to keep them from becoming dirty or scratched. Learning to properly clean your lenses will make them more comfortable to wear and will help preserve them.
Step 1
Prepare the area in which you will clean your lenses by wiping down the surface with bleach water (a teaspoon of bleach to every half cup of water). If you have a sink in the area make sure the drain is closed.
Step 2
Wash your hands thoroughly with liquid soap and warm water. Dry them with a clean, lint-free paper towel. It is not advisable to use cloth towels as bacteria can be present if the towels have not been washed at a high enough temperature.
Step 3
Remove your right contact lens. Place it in your palm. Visually check it for protein deposits, grit and other foreign matter. Inspect it for scratches. If it is badly scratched you may need to have it replaced.
Step 4
Squeeze a few drops of gas permeable lens cleaning solution onto the lens. Turn the lens over and place several drops on the other side.
Step 5
Rub the solution onto the lens with your fingers. Do this very gently with a back and forth movement. Make sure you use enough friction to remove particles but not so much that you damage the lens.
Step 6
Rinse the lens thoroughly with distilled water or pure saline solution. Inspect the lens again. If it appears clean, rinse again, and if not repeat the cleaning process.
Step 7
Swish the rinsing solution over both sides of the lens a final time. Use additional distilled water or saline.
Step 8
Put the cleaned and rinsed lens in a storage container filled with disinfecting storage solution.
Step 9
Repeat entire cleaning, rinsing and storing procedures with the left lens. Allow both lenses to disinfect for the time indicated on the information supplied with the disinfecting solution before rinsing them and putting them back in your eyes.
Tips and Warnings
- Clean and rinse your storage container after you reinsert your lenses. Let it air dry. Ask your ophthalmologist if you should use an enzymatic cleanser periodically to remove possible protein deposits on your lenses.
- Even cases that are cleaned can be contaminated with bacteria and other germs. Replace your case at least every three months. Replace storage solution daily.
Things You'll Need
- Gas permeable lens cleaner
- Distilled water or saline solution
- Disinfecting storage solution
- Storage case
