Is it possible to store lenses in saline? What kind of substance is this? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article. The use of contact lenses implies a serious attitude to the health of their visual organs.
Each lens wearer is familiar with the situation when you do not spend the night at home, and there is no multi-purpose liquid on hand. And this can happen not only after a stormy party, when you have to stay with friends at night, but also during your vacation, for example, or on the road. Is it possible to store the lenses in saline, find out below.
Saline
Many people ask: “Is it possible to store lenses in saline?” Saline is sodium chloride (NaCl 9%), which is an effective and versatile tool that has a low cost. It is widely used in almost all areas of medicine.
Today, many contact lens manufacturers offer special solutions for storing, cleaning, rinsing and disinfecting optical products. Before using other fluids, consult an ophthalmologist.
It is important to know how to save vision correction products correctly. Since saline solution is identical in composition to a multidisciplinary tool intended for the care of lenses, it is often used as an alternative. However, in this case, optics from protein deposits accumulating on its surface will not be completely cleaned. Indeed, in a simple saline solution there are no bactericidal substances and enzymes that protect contact lenses. Therefore, it can be used only as a last resort.
Nuances
So is it possible to store lenses in saline? Now you know what you can. Nevertheless, doctors recommend always having a specific remedy with you. But if you went on a trip and forgot it, then you can use saline solution several times.
Do not immediately put on the lenses after saline. It is better to send them to a special solution for 2 hours. This will allow the optical product to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Do not use saline too often. If your eyes are very sensitive, you may be allergic. Therefore, home remedies should not get carried away.
Storage rules
You still don’t know if contact lenses can be stored in saline solution? We must say right away that one cannot believe the misconceptions that lenses should be stored in a refrigerator or in some dark place. You also do not need to immerse them in plain water or saline, as they are not disinfected.
The container cannot be washed with plain water - there are a lot of bacteria in it. It is forbidden to keep lenses in glasses, glasses, or other containers not designed for this - only special containers will prevent drying and gluing. It is forbidden to apply liquid twice. As you can see, the rules are very simple.
But what if the lens solution is not at hand? There are several options here, but in each of them you violate at least one of the canons listed.
If you have no other choice, but you don’t want to remove and throw away the optics, then use one of the options discussed in the article. Thus you solve the problem, but remember: it’s better not to do it!
How to replace?
Few know how to store lenses if there is no container and solution. Unfortunately, the lens solution cannot be replaced. Many disagree with this and therefore use the following fluids:
- distilled water;
- 0.9% sodium chloride solution (saline);
- a solution of edible salt;
- saliva (undesirable);
- ordinary water (generally undesirable).
Saline solution was previously used to preserve contact lenses, but then this optics was different, and it was sterilized by boiling. Saline does not have disinfecting and cleaning qualities, so its use instead of a specific solution or peroxide system is strictly prohibited.
All harmful microorganisms and contaminants (deposits) after using saline remain on the lens, and can lead to an infectious process and inflammation.
Distillate and a solution of edible salt also cannot replace a multifunctional liquid, because, like saline, they do not have the necessary properties.
How to avoid problems while traveling?
Each doctor can answer the question: “Can contact lenses be kept in saline?” Experts recommend this:
- Buy a travel lens kit and always carry it with you. Its price is low, it takes up little space, but it has a small bottle for a solution.
- Talk with your doctor about using lenses that you can’t remove at night.
- Wear one-day lenses that do not need a solution.
The validity of contact lenses
How often do you store contact lenses in saline? This optics is a real find for those who have visual impairments. But at the same time, lenses need competent and thorough care. They have their own expiration date, and if it is exceeded, this can lead to negative consequences.
Also, improper handling of these devices and violation of the rules for their use can significantly damage the eyesight. Despite the fact that the lenses have a certain shelf life, many wear them until a burning sensation appears in the eyes. This approach is fundamentally wrong and can cause irreparable harm to the vision.
Find out how much contact lenses can be used. The shelf life of these devices is usually indicated on the packaging and looks like this: first the year is written, and then the month. You must understand that this period means how much a device for improving vision can be saved in solution before they are used.
There is another date - the guaranteed service life. It means the recommended time period for applying lenses by a person. As a rule, contact soft lenses can be used from 6 to 12 months, depending on their method of creation, thickness, water content and other factors.
There is another kind of lens - tinted or colored. They can be both without diopters, and corrective. But, as is the case with special vision-correcting devices, color ones also have an expiration date, which depends on a huge number of factors. It ranges from one day to 6 months.
There are several types of lenses for the life of the lens:
- Scheduled replacement - 1 month of use is allowed.
- Quarterly replacement - can be worn up to 3 months.
- Daily replacement - need to be changed daily.
- Often scheduled replacement - no more than 2 weeks of use.
With everyday replacement lenses, everything is extremely clear. They are worn for only one day, and then replaced with a new pair. But with the other versions, everything is not so simple. After all, you need to know what and how to properly preserve them.
How to care?
We will find out further how to store lenses without a solution and a container, and now we will consider the maintenance of these devices. Daily care consists of the following stages:
- Lens cleaning. It must be done this way: first put the lenses on the palm of your hand, then apply a couple of drops of a specific solution to them and gently rub them over the entire surface.
- Rinsing with a solution.
- Lens disinfection. Place the lenses in a special container and completely fill with the liquid in which they should be for at least 4 hours. It must be borne in mind that a disinfected solution cannot be used.
- Saving is carried out using a special container and mortar made for these purposes.
Solution selection
Solutions for contact lenses are different and are divided depending on the frequency of use. They are enzymatic (used once a week), everyday and multifunctional.
The latter type of solution allows you to perform all the necessary procedures to care for one action, as it can act as a means of lubrication, cleaning, storage and moisturizing of the lenses.
Storage without solution
If you need to remove the lenses, but the multifunctional fluid was not at hand, use the following safe methods:
- The use of saline. This option is considered the most optimal. Disinfect the container or container in which you intend to place your appliances. To do this, wash it and boil for 10 minutes. Then pour in saline and immerse the lenses in it. Remember that they must be completely covered with liquid. After this, close the container.
- The use of eye drops (for example, "Pure tear"). If you put the lenses in the eye drops, you can prevent them from drying out. However, this product has no disinfecting functions, and therefore, in order to put on the devices, you will need to then place them also in a special liquid.
- Brine. This liquid is similar in composition to saline, but its preparation requires precise proportions. In addition, after saving in this homemade product, it is strictly forbidden to wear lenses without subsequent disinfection.
- Distillate. If you have neither eye drops nor saline, you can, at worst, put the lenses in the distillate. However, remember that they can only be worn after disinfection in the purchased special solution.
If you do not put the lenses in any liquid, they will dry out and can no longer be used.
Water storage
Many people ask: “Is it possible to store lenses in saline for 2 days?” Yes you can. But after they must be placed in a special solution for 2-3 hours. Why are lenses not recommended to be kept in water? This fluid is not suitable and universal if it has not been processed. Water contains many harmful bacteria that can cause eye ailments.
Also, it lacks the optimal chemical composition and the required acidity. It is dangerous to leave the lens in water, as they may become cloudy and further discomfort during use. But if you have no way out, you can put the lenses in water, which is extremely undesirable, as we wrote above.
Saliva application
If you have neither saline, nor suitable drops, you can put contact lenses in your own saliva. It contains unique substances, natural for the body, from which burning in the eyes the next morning will not be certain. But to resort to this method, we repeat, is not recommended categorically. The reason is the same: microbes.
Water with salt
So how to keep the lenses without solution and container? At night, you can put them in a saline solution prepared by yourself in this way:
- Boil 0.5 L of water (preferably filtered) and cool.
- Boil a teaspoon of salt, boil too.
- Serve a teaspoon of salt (without iodine and other additives) and pour into water.
- It is important that each future portion is added after the previous one has completely dissolved.
- Pour enough saline into the container.
- Close the container tightly. If using a glass, cover it with paper.
- In the morning, it is advisable to place the lenses in a real solution and hold them in it for 2-3 hours. If you don’t have such an opportunity, then watch carefully when putting on your eyes: when the slightest signs of discomfort or dryness appear, immediately remove the lenses.
If you do not have containers with you, you can send the products for storage in a shallow glassware, in a pinch - in a plastic cup. Keep contact lenses healthy and be healthy!