Longer wear monthly and disposable lenses have several benefits over daily disposable contact lenses. People who are active may find that wearing contact lenses for a longer period of time is advantageous. Having to purchase fewer contact lenses can also help to reduce the cost of vision correction.
Wearing monthly and extended-wear disposables entail additional precautions to preserve the health of your eyes. Unlike daily disposables, monthlies and extended wears must be cleaned and stored after usage.
Multipurpose solution
When removing and cleaning your contact lenses with a multipurpose solution, follow these steps:
- Wash – When handling contact lenses, be sure your hands are clean before doing so. When washing your hands at the sink, use antibacterial soaps. This will prevent contaminating your contacts with dangerous oil, fragrances, and germs.
- Dry – Cleaning your hands with water makes them more prone to infection. Dry your hands using a clean, lint-free towel after washing them.
- Remove – Remove your contact lens. For assistance with this, see our guide on How to Put In & Take-Out Contact Lenses.
- Rub – Place your contact lens on the palm of your hand. Fill a container with a multipurpose cleanser. Rub your lens with your finger in a circular motion for about 30 seconds, using care not to touch the surface. This aids in the removal of loose dirt and other impurities from the lens’s surface.
- Rinse – After rubbing, fill your pan with a more multi-purpose solution. This aids in the washing away of any extra impurities that may remain after cleaning.
- Store – Place your lens in its case, making sure it goes into the right one. Fill a portion of the compartment with storage material and seal it tightly.
- Repeat – Repeat the above procedures for your other contact lens.
- Clean – After using your contact lens holder, rinse it with saline solution. Every week, clean your holder with a toothbrush and saline solution and replace it completely.
- Replace – Replace the solution after each usage of your lenses, and once every 72 hours if you don’t wear them.
Hydrogen peroxide solution
People who are sensitive to preservatives in multipurpose treatments may benefit from hydrogen peroxide. It is also quite good at preventing acanthamoeba from entering the eye, which can lead to severe infections.
To safely use Hydrogen Peroxide solution, follow these instructions:
- Wash – Use antibacterial soap to wash your hands.
- Dry – Using a clean, lint-free towel, dry your hands.
- Remove – Remove your contacts and place them in the appropriate tray of your contact lens case. Some holders include a built-in neutralizer. This is most often represented by a platinum disk that transforms hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. If you have an internal neutraliser, you can skip stepping 5.
- Fill – Pour three percent hydrogen peroxide into your lens holder until it reaches the fill line. Never put more than the fill line on your holder.
- Neutralise – Place a neutralising tablet into your contact lens holder. If you have a built-in neutraliser, this step is not required.
- Close – Close the lids on your contact lens holder. Ensure that the holder is kept upright so that the neutralization process can occur. For a minimum of six hours, keep your contacts in the holder. You may either put your lenses on or store them in a saline solution once they’ve rested for at least six hours.
- Rinse – Rinse your contact lens holder with water. Your contact lens gadget should be changed every month.
- Replace – When you use your solution on a daily basis, replace it after one usage. Replace the solution every 72 hours if the glasses aren’t used for that long.
Always keep the hydrogen peroxide solution away from your eyes. If not neutralized, hydrogen peroxide can wreak havoc on your cornea.