Two-Step Peroxide Disinfection of Soft Contact Lenses

What is peroxide disinfection of soft contact lenses?

During normal wear, dirt, protein particles, and germs can get on soft contacts. Peroxide disinfection kills the germs, which can cause serious eye infections. The two-step method uses hydrogen peroxide and a neutralizing solution. The rest of the cleaning process removes substances that may shorten the life of the lenses or irritate your eyes.

When is it used?

To prevent infections, you must disinfect soft contacts every time you remove them. If you have daily-wear soft contacts, you will clean and disinfect your lenses every night. If you have extended-wear soft contacts, you will clean and disinfect them every time you take them out (at least once a week). Many eye care professionals recommend removing any type of contact lenses before sleeping, regardless of the type of lens. Ask your eye doctor what he or she recommends.

There are several ways to disinfect soft contact lenses. If your doctor recommends the two-step peroxide method, follow the basic procedure of cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting with the hydrogen peroxide solution, neutralizing the hydrogen peroxide, and rinsing again.

How is peroxide cleaning done?

To properly clean and disinfect your lenses, you will need:

• a daily cleaning solution
• a hydrogen peroxide solution
• a solution for neutralizing and rinsing
• the lens basket and vials designed for your hydrogen peroxide system
• the catalyst disc that comes with the system.

To clean your lenses, follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands before you remove your lenses. Always handle your lenses gently (soft contacts can tear). Be sure to keep track of which is the right lens and which is the left. It helps if you always handle the right lens first.
2. Cleaning: Remove the right lens and put it in the palm of your hand facing up (like a bowl). Pour a few drops of daily cleaner over the lens. Using one finger, rub the lens back and forth. The daily cleaner helps dissolve dirt and oils.
3. Rinsing: Either cradle the lens in your fingertips or leave it in your palm, and rinse it thoroughly with the sterile saline rinsing solution.
4. Put the right lens in the side of the basket marked with an R. If you are using this system for the first time, you will need to put a catalyst disc in the lens basket according to the instructions. (Later, after 90 uses or whenever the product instructions indicate, you will need to change the catalyst disc.)
5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 for the left lens. Then fill the vial to the line with peroxide solution and put the lens basket in the vial. Let your lenses soak in this solution for the recommended time (usually 10 to 15 minutes).
6. Remove the lens basket from the vial and rinse the lenses with the sterile saline rinsing solution. Pour the hydrogen peroxide solution out of the vial. Then refill the vial to the line with the rinsing solution. Remember that the basket must have a catalyst disc attached. Soak the lenses in the neutralizing solution with the catalyst disc for the recommended time (usually 6 hours) or overnight.
7. Before you put your lenses in your eyes, wash your hands. Remove the lenses, one at a time, from the rinsing solution. Use the sterile saline solution to rinse the lenses thoroughly, then put them in.
8. Rinse the vial and basket thoroughly with tap water. Either dry them or let them air dry.

Are any other cleaning procedures necessary?

Your doctor may recommend periodic enzyme cleaning to help remove protein deposits. Enzyme cleaning is usually done once every week or two. Use the enzyme cleaner on the same day each week to help you remember when to do it.

Most enzyme cleaners come in tablet form. Use your enzyme cleaner as directed, then clean, disinfect, and rinse your lenses before putting them in your eyes. Some enzyme tablets can be put right in the hydrogen peroxide soak. Check the product information carefully before using any enzyme cleaner with your hydrogen peroxide cleaning system.

What solutions should I use?

There are many different contact lens care products on the market. Your doctor will recommend certain products based on what is best for your contacts and safest for your eyes. Sometimes other products would work equally well. Other times using different solutions may irritate your eyes or discolor your lenses. Always check with your doctor before changing contact lens solutions. Also, read carefully the instructions that come with your contact lens products.

Never use homemade solutions to clean or store your lenses.