Contact lens care guide
Before, during and after wear. A practical guide to organising your routine, with your eye care professional’s and manufacturer’s instructions as your reference.
Start with clean hands
- Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them completely with a clean, lint-free towel before touching lenses.
- Check the lens for damage and check that its expiry and replacement dates have not passed. Handle it with your fingertips, not nails or sharp objects.
- Insert lenses before applying makeup and remove them before taking makeup off. Follow the insertion and removal technique taught at your fitting.
Keep to your wearing schedule
- Follow your prescribed wearing and replacement schedules. Do not sleep in lenses unless specifically directed by your eye care professional.
- Remove lenses before showering, swimming or water activities. Keep contact lenses away from water.
- Carry backup glasses with your prescription in case you need to remove your lenses.
- Use only drops that are compatible with your lenses and recommended for you. If you are receiving eye treatment, check with the prescriber whether you can continue wearing contacts.
Different lenses, different care
Daily disposables
Discard after use. Do not clean or store them to wear again.
Reusable lenses
Clean, disinfect and store them with the care system specified for that lens type. Use fresh solution and follow the product’s timings; never mix new solution with used solution.
Your lens case needs care too
With a multipurpose system, clean the empty case with fresh solution—not water—dry it with a clean tissue and leave it upside down with the caps off. Replace it at least every three months, or sooner if the manufacturer or your professional directs. Peroxide systems require their own special case and instructions.
Care solutions are not interchangeable
Check your lens type and the product specified for it. Rigid and soft lenses may need different care systems; do not switch without checking.
Multipurpose solution
What it is for
Cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and storing compatible soft lenses, as specified on the label.
What to keep in mind
Follow the product’s rubbing, rinsing and disinfection instructions. Never reuse solution or top up old solution with fresh.
Saline solution
What it is for
Rinsing when your care system instructs you to do so.
What to keep in mind
It does not disinfect. It cannot replace the prescribed cleaning and disinfection system.
Peroxide system
What it is for
Cleaning and disinfection with a product specifically formulated for contact lenses.
What to keep in mind
It must be fully neutralised using its specific system and case for the time instructed. Never put it directly in your eyes or rinse lenses with unneutralised peroxide before insertion. Do not use household hydrogen peroxide.
Do not use water, saliva, alcohol or household products to clean or store lenses. Check each solution’s expiry date and its discard date after opening. If lenses have been stored, check the instructions for the permitted storage period and whether they need disinfecting again before use.
Sources and scope
General care information, not a prescription or diagnosis. The specific instructions for your lenses, care system and eye care professional take precedence over this guide. Reference sources:
