Contact Lens Products Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses come in three basic varieties: - Hard lenses . These inflexible lenses stay clean longer than other types of lenses. However, they are not as comfortable as other lenses. Moreover, because they cut off oxygen to the cornea, they may be more likely than other lenses to breed disease behind them. They are now nearly obsolete.
- Soft lenses . These flexible lenses contain a high percentage of water to make them feel more comfortable than rigid lenses. In addition, they allow oxygen to pass through, are less likely to fall out of the eye than other lens types, and are less likely to cause sensitivity to light.
However, they are more likely than other lenses to dry out, to allow irritating chemicals to pass through to the eye, and to allow buildup of deposits. Overall, they require more care than other lenses. - Rigid-gas-permeable (RGP) . These somewhat flexible lenses admit oxygen and require less care than soft lenses. In addition they are more durable than soft lenses, provide sharper vision and are easier to maintain. However, they are less comfortable than soft lenses and fall out more easily.
Contact Lens Products
Products to maintain contact lenses include the following:
Cleaning Solutions : These daily-use preparations remove loose dirt and debris. Regular cleaning helps maintain comfort and visual acuity. Brand names and ingredients: Barnes Hind Gas Permeable Daily Cleaner (ethoxylated polyoxypropylene glycol, tris amino methane, hydroxyethelcellulose, edetate disodium, potassium sorbate). Blairex Sterile Hard Contact Lens Cleaner (anionic detergents). CIBA Vision Daily Soft Contact Lens Cleaner (cocoamphocarboxyglycinate, sodium lauryl sulfate, hexylene glycol, sorbic acid, edetate disodium).
Disinfectant Solutions : These preparations destroy germs (bacterial, viral and fungal) to prevent infections. Two preparations are available: hydrogen peroxide and chemical. Because hydrogen peroxide can irritate the eye, lenses disinfected with it require follow-up bathing with a neutralizer. Chemical formulations do not require a neutralizer. Brand names and ingredients: Aosept Disinfection System (sterile ophthalmic solution, microfiltered hydrogen peroxide, sodium chloride, phosphonic acid, phosphates). Ultracare Disinfecting Solution/Neutralizer (hydrogen peroxide, sodium stannate, sodium nitrate; buffered with phosphates, purified water, catalase, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, vitamin b12). Opti-Free One-Step Cleaning & Disinfecting Tablets (pancreatin derived from highly purified pork).
Neutralizers : These preparations (solutions and sometimes tablets) are used on lenses disinfected with hydrogen peroxide. They turn the peroxide into harmless oxygen and water. Brand name and ingredients: Ultracare Disinfecting Solution/Neutralizer (hydrogen peroxide, sodium stannate, sodium nitrate; buffered with phosphates, purified water, catalase, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, vitamin b12).
Saline Solutions : These are sterile salt solutions used to rinse away other solutions. They also may be used to store lenses and to clean lenses in a heating system. Brand names and ingredients: Bausch & Lomb Sterile Preserved Saline Solution (boric acid, sodium chloride, thimerosal, edetate disodium). CIBA Vision Saline Solution (sodium chloride, boric acid, sodium borate).
Soaking Solutions : These preparations restore moisture in lenses. Some solutions perform the additional function of disinfecting lenses. Brand names and ingredients: Sereine Wetting and Soaking Solution for Contact Lenses (buffers, sodium chloride, a polyoxypropylene -polyoxyethylene copolymer, disodium EDTA, benzalkonium chloride). Barnes Hind Wetting & Soaking Solution (octylphenoxy ethanol, povidone, polyvinyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, hydroxyethylcellulose, edetate disodium, chlorhexidine gluconate)
Enzyme Preparations : These preparations are weekly-use tablets or solutions that remove stubborn protein buildup on lenses. They can lengthen the useful life of lenses. Some lenses require disinfection after an enzyme cleaning. "Planned-replacement lenses" (lenses replaced at frequent intervals) usually do not require enzyme cleansing because they are replaced before protein builds up to troublesome levels. Brand names and ingredients: Complete Weekly Enzymatic Cleaner for Soft Contact Lenses (subitilisin A). Opti-Free Enzymatic Cleaner (pancreatin). Boston One Step Liquid Enzymatic Cleaner (proteolytic enzyme, glycerol).
Wetting Solutions : These preparations for hard and RGP lenses create a cushion between the eye and the lens and improve comfort. Brand names: Liquifilm Wetting Solution for Comfortable Hard Contact Lens (polyvinyl alcohol with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, edetate disodium, sodium chloride, benzalkonium chloride). Barnes Hind Wetting & Soaking Solution (octylphenoxy ethanol, povidone, polyvinyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, hydroxyethylcellulose, edetate disodium, chlorhexidine gluconate).
Rewetting Solutions : These preparations moisten lenses while they are still in the eye. Brand names and ingredients: Boston Rewetting Drops (cationic cellulose derivative polymer, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethylcellulose, chlorhexidine gluconate, edetate disodium. Opti-Free Rewetting Drops for Disposable Soft Contact Lenses (citrate buffer, sodium chloride, edetate disodium, polyquaternium-1).
Combination Preparations : These products perform several functions. For example, some kits are used for cleaning, wetting and soaking; others are used for disinfecting, rinsing and storing.
Brand Names : Pure Eyes Dual-Action Contact Lens Cleaner & Rinse, Solo Care Multi-Purpose Contact Lens Solution, Comfortcare GP Wetting & Soaking Solution, CIBA Vision AOSept Contact Lens Disinfectant & Neutralizer Solution, Lens Express Multi-Purpose Solution
Some solutions are used with two rarely used disinfecting methods : heat and ultrasound. In the heat method, lenses are first cleaned, then placed in a lens case containing saline solution. The lens case, in turn, is placed in a heating apparatus to increase the temperature of the solution and kill germs. In the ultrasound method, the solution undergoes cavitation, the rapid formation and collapse of bubbles, to clean the lens. Ask your physician or pharmacist for further information if you are interested in either of these methods.
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