Contact lens cleaning solutions have come along way over the last 30 or so years and many preparations come in single use “multipurpose” formulations. Back in the day before the wheel was invented and when everyone saw in black and white, contact lens wearers where required to use a daily lens cleaning solution, a rinsing contact lens solution, and a weekly enzymatic protein removal for their conventional or daily contact lenses. Today we have multipurpose solutions which clean, rinse, disinfect, dissolve protein, allows better wetting of your contact lenses and orders you pizza…….ok all but the pizza. The advantage of a multipurpose solution is that it dramatically decreases the time required to clean and disinfect your lenses. The majority of conventional, monthly/two weekly contact lens wearers are using multipurpose contact lens solutions. Warranted a few patients may still require a separate cleaner and protein dissolve if they produce more deposits on their lenses (consult your optometrist for more information). Multipurpose solutions are safe enough to put directly into your eyes. If you accidently got protein removal enzyme or cleaner in your eyes, they are sure to sting. So, multipurpose solutions make life a little easy for us contact lens wearers.
It’s the same answer to the question “How long is a piece of string?”. All multipurpose solutions have preservatives, disinfectants, surfactants and protein removal enzymes to do its job. Each company will claim their solution is the best, but my recommendation is to go with what works for you. Every solution is going to clean and disinfect, however some solutions are going to clean better than others. Optifree has been found to clean your lenses better (if you just placed your lens in the solution without rubbing it). My experience shows that any rubbing your contact lenses with any cleaning solution will keep them clean and pristine for the duration of your replacement regime (either 2 weeks or monthly). Complete and Aquify has been found to be better for a dryer eye as they may tend to lubricate your contact lenses better. Experience has also shown that it still person preference and comfort is more important to people than a microscopically clean contact lens. Should you be having trouble with dry eyes the “fix” may just be using drops as 20-50% of contact lens wearers will experience dry eye symptoms. I do not recommend you keep changing your contact lens solution brands as you may develop a sensitivity to the preservatives. I know it’s hard to get passed always looking for “what ever solution is on special”, but it is best to stick to one brand that’s working for you. Seek the advice of your optometrist should you wish to try a different contact lens solution.
For allergy sufferers wearing contact lenses, often a peroxide based contact lens cleaning system is better than a multipurpose solution. This does come at a higher cost but does not contact all the chemicals that multipurpose solutions contain, thus making it a good alternative cleaning solution.
NEVER SUBSTITUTE CONTACT LENS CLEANING SOLUTION WITH WATER…. EVER!! You will increase your risk, dramatically of amoebic keratitis which will make you blind if not treated. Often this presents like a conjunctivitis/fungal infection but will be resistant to conventional treatment. I would not recommend you risk your vision and your safety.