Rules for storing contact lenses. Alternative liquids for short-term storage.
Sense organs help us interact with the world around us. The more clearly we perceive information, the more correctly we understand and react to it.
Thanks to the eyes and vision, we see the color and shape, the emotions of the world.
More recently, vision problems were treated with glasses. But with the development of technology, contact lenses have become worthy successors in many cases.
True, along with the physical comfort of wearing them, the habits of caring for them and purchasing a special solution were added.
And if the latter runs out or a person finds himself in conditions where it is not possible to get liquid for lenses, experience and common sense will come to the rescue.
Let's talk in more detail about alternative liquids that can temporarily replace contact lens solution.
What does lens solution consist of: composition
contact lenses with drops of liquid inside lie on the table.
There are a lot of offers from manufacturers of solutions for contact lenses. However, there are general points that the first ones take into account when creating each:
- Saline solution. In terms of its chemical parameters, it is as close as possible to human eye fluid. This ensures the integrity of the lenses and the preservation of their original characteristics.
- The pH level is an important factor in preserving and extending the life of lenses. Its optimal indicator is 7.4.
- Preservatives are also disinfectants. Their task is to eliminate bacteria and fungi and prevent their reproduction. On the other hand, preservatives help preserve the lens material. Please note that excessive amounts of preservatives have a detrimental effect on the storage and use of lenses.
- Soap ingredients.
- Surfactants help remove contaminants from lenses caused by eye secretions and accumulated dirt. They are also involved in the process of moistening the lens material while they are in a container with liquid.
- Air conditioner. It is responsible for moisturizing the lenses. A number of liquids contain hyaluronic acid, which has not the most rosy reviews. The fact is that it provides high comfort for a short period of time and significantly impairs the disinfecting properties of the liquid.
Temperature difference
There is a myth that you should keep optics in sub-zero temperatures - this is a categorically erroneous opinion.
It is not recommended to store lenses in the refrigerator, because due to the low temperature, the water crystallizes and can damage the product.
If you do not want your optical devices to deteriorate, they should be kept at room temperature of 18-24 ° C, do not leave them in the refrigerator. By following this simple rule, you can extend the life of your lenses and prevent their damage.
It is not recommended to wear products in a bathhouse, sauna, etc. In summer, at high temperatures (over 40 ° C), you need to be as careful as possible and have eye drops with you for moisturizing.
There will be no harm to the lenses in the cold, because they will constantly heat up from the eye itself, so you can safely wear them down to a temperature of -50 °C. In the climatic conditions of Russia, it is safe to use such devices in winter.
Is it possible to put lenses in water with salt or saline overnight for storage?
lenses in a container are filled with saline solution from a bottle.
In the previous section, we looked at the possibility of short-term storage of lenses in water with salt.
Let us add that you can use saline solution as a liquid for a similar purpose. It will help you solve the problem of storing lenses overnight. However, it is not recommended for long-term or regular use. Since modern silicone hydrogel lenses will swell from such treatment and quickly deteriorate.
How to care?
We will find out later how to store lenses without solution and container, but now we will look at the maintenance of these devices. Daily care consists of the following sequential stages:
- Cleaning lenses. It should be done like this: first place the lenses on your palm, then apply a couple of drops of a specific solution to them and carefully rub them over the entire surface.
- Washing with solution.
- Lens disinfection. Place the lenses in a special container and completely fill them with liquid, in which they should remain for at least 4 hours. Here you need to take into account that a previously used solution cannot be used for disinfection.
- Saving is carried out using a special container and solution made for this purpose.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with Rybkin’s table for color blindness
Is it possible to put lenses in eye drops overnight for storage?
an open container with lenses that have been soaked in eye drops all night.
The answer is yes, only in the most urgent cases. At the same time, be sure to disinfect the container in which you plan to put the lenses. Since such a liquid does not have antibacterial components.
Summing up
It is theoretically possible to replace lens solution with alternative options, but it is extremely undesirable . Only a special solution can provide the proper level of cleaning and disinfection. All of the above methods can be used only as a last resort, while keeping in mind the possible consequences and losses.
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Is it possible to put lenses in distilled, boiled, or ordinary water overnight for storage?
liquid is dripping into the container for storing lenses.
Avoid this idea if you plan to put on lenses in the morning. They absorb ordinary water well and swell. This is fraught with changes in their thickness, diopters, focus shift and, as a result, damage.
For one emergency use, you can put the lenses in water. Only on the condition that in the morning you transfer them to a special liquid and leave them in it for half a day. And only then put on the lenses.
Is it possible to do without liquid?
The most undesirable and harsh option is to leave the lenses in your eyes at night, simply to sleep in them. But it is important to understand that such a blasphemous attitude towards the eyes may not completely go unnoticed. The same goes for your correction products.
Well, the most extreme method is to leave them in containers without any moisture. They will dry out and can be revived in the morning by keeping them in a special solution for about 12 hours. But this method can lead to serious damage to the lenses, and is categorically undesirable.
How to clean contact lenses if there is no lens solution?
a person rinses a container for storing contact lenses with saline solution.
Perhaps the safest liquids for washing contact lenses, besides special ones, are:
- saline solution
- salted distilled water
- emollient eye drops
Nuances
So is it possible to store lenses in saline solution? Now you know what is possible. Nevertheless, doctors recommend always having a specific remedy with you. But if you went on a trip and forgot it, you can use the saline solution several times.
You should not immediately put on lenses after saline solution. It is better to put them in a special solution for 2 hours. This will allow the optical product to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Do not use saline solution too often. If your eyes are very sensitive, you may experience allergies. Therefore, you should not get carried away with home remedies.
Rules for caring for contact lenses
girl puts on a contact lens
- Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before putting on and removing lenses. Dry them with a lint-free towel.
- Carefully remove the lenses from your eyes one at a time.
- Rinse each with a couple of drops of a special solution.
- Place in a clean, dry container. Always store the right and left lenses in the same compartment.
- Fill each halfway with lens fluid and screw on the caps.
- Leave it on the table/stand/shelf in the bathroom.
- After putting on the lenses, dispense the liquid from the container and rinse its cells with a fresh special solution.
- Turn the container upside down and leave to dry on a paper towel.
- Follow the recommendations for how long you should wear your pair of lenses and replace them with new ones regularly.
So, we have reviewed the list and features of using improvised liquids for short-term storage of contact lenses if a special liquid is not at hand. We also once again remembered the rules for storing lenses.
Stay healthy and keep a minimum supply of special liquid for your contact lenses on hand!
Useful tips
Useful tips to help you maintain eye health and extend the life of contact lenses:
- Buy lenses only after consulting your doctor.
- Be sure to rinse and clean them every time you remove them.
- Before putting on, take only one lens so as not to confuse the right one with the left one.
- Follow the contact optics replacement schedule; your doctor will tell you the timing.
- Put on your lenses first and then apply makeup, preferably something that is not waterproof.
- Try to use the same brand of solution; frequent changes can have a negative impact. If the pharmacy does not have yours, choose familiar manufacturers.
- When purchasing liquid, always check the expiration date. Do not use expired product.
- Strictly follow the recommendations of the ophthalmologist and the instructions on the package.
- If after wearing lenses you experience redness, tearing or other signs of irritation, remove them immediately and consult an ophthalmologist.
Contact lenses are a true miracle of modern ophthalmology. They allow you not only to transform your appearance, but also to correct your vision. It is surprising that the artist Leonardo da Vinci was the first to talk about them, and not scientists or doctors. However, lenses also provide care that is important to provide in order to look at the world with your eyes wide open. Therefore, strictly follow all recommendations and do not use questionable methods for storing optics at home.
We use saline solution
If there is a pharmacy nearby, then you are in luck because you won't have to prepare anything. Firstly, a multi-purpose liquid may be sold there. Secondly, if you can’t find one, then take a regular saline solution (NaCl 9%), which you can certainly find in any pharmacy. About 15 years ago, when lenses were already actively used, and special solutions had not yet been imported, many used saline solution for storage (of course, then the lenses were different, more rigid).
The procedure in this case is similar to that described above:
- disinfect the container;
- pour in saline solution;
- place instruments;
- close;
I remind you once again that all these “recipes” can be resorted to only as a last resort, when there is no way to find a store-bought solution. In addition, sometimes - with allergies, increased sensitivity of the eyes, suppuration, etc. – such liquids cannot be used.
Saline solution (NaCI 0.9%) is another possible option.
