Contact lens wearers know what a pain it is to purchase contact solution every month. It's expensive, and when you consider what most of it is; a simple saline solution, you might be tempted to try and find a contact lens solution alternative so that you don't have to use your hard-earned money to purchase it. You should know that contact lens solution is heavily regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and when it comes to contact lens solution, homemade concoctions are not recommended. Protect your eyes with the right contact lens solution.
Compatibility
You must check with your eye doctor, to see what kind of contact lens solution she recommends. Because of your particular lenses or eye conditions, you might need to use a special formulation that removes excess proteins or works as a weekly disinfectant. The American Optometric Association warns that some contact solution does not disinfect contacts, but simply keeps them safe for storage. Ask your eye doctor about the right products to use for storing and disinfecting.
FDA Approved
Look for the FDA seal of approval on a contact solution bottle. The FDA monitors contact solution heavily, as there was a recent recall involving several brands of contact lens solution that were responsible for causing eye diseases, caused by the parasite acanthamoeba, which contaminated many forms of contact solution. Check with the FDA Web site to ensure that the contact lens solution you are using is safe and approved.
Fresh Solution
You should never use contact lens solution that is past its expiration date. Look for the date on the bottom, and remember that this date is not merely a suggestion. It should be followed exactly, as the contact lens solution can lose its effectiveness in cleaning and storing the contacts after it expires. Likewise, don't reuse contact lens solution. Use a fresh amount every time you take your lenses out, to avoid contamination from bacteria.
Homemade Solution
The FDA strongly discourages contact lens wearers from making their own saline solution, made from distilled water and saline tablets. However, if you must make your own solution, you should know that you should store your contacts in the homemade solution, and then perform heat sterilization to kill any germs or bacteria on the lenses. This is because homemade saline solution is not a cleaning solution, but for storage only, meaning you still need to perform some form of heat sterilization to make sure the lenses are adequately cleaned.
Switching Solutions
If you're tempted to switch solutions because yours was recalled, you're looking for a better priced solution, or your old solution is causing problems, talk to your optometrist first. Switching suddenly can cause eye irritation depending on the strength of the solution ingredients, and you want to be sure to choose a solution that is compatible with your lenses, eye condition and sensitivity level. The American Optometric Association warns to only use products recommended by an optometrist for the best results for you and your eyes.
