Lens care products

As lenses are in direct contact with the cornea of the eye, it is essential to clean them daily. This applies to bi-monthly, monthly and annual lenses, while daily lenses obviously require no care at all. Grease, dust, impurities of all kinds and germs or bacteria can settle on them, causing poor oxygenation of the eye, and possibly damage to the cornea.

Germs on the hands are the most dangerous. It is therefore essential to maintain impeccable hygiene before handling your lenses. The best time to do this is, of course, in the evening, when you take them out. Lens care is quick and easy.

The different lens care products

There are three types of lens care products:

Multi-purpose solutions that disinfect, degrease and remove proteins that may have adhered to lenses. This is the most frequently used solution, as it is more practical and less expensive than oxidizing solutions. However, some people may be allergic or intolerant to these products, in which case they'll have to turn to conventional solutions. Two different products, one for soft lenses and the other for rigid lenses, are marketed by several brands: Amo, Bausch & Lomb, Cooper Vision, Ciba Vision and Alcon. Prices range from €8 to €15 per 360 ml bottle.

These are less widely available than the above, as they contain products such as hydrogen peroxide and certain disinfectants. They are recommended for children who wear soft contact lenses, for people allergic to all-in-one products, or for those who have trouble washing their hands often, as they have very good antimicrobial efficacy. This product is not suitable for people who wear their lenses intermittently, as it contains no preservatives.

Ciba Vision and Bausch & Lomb sell this solution at €10 to €15 per 360 ml bottle.

Wearers of traditional lenses should use a deproteinization product once a week, designed to remove all traces of protein from the lenses, which could disrupt visual acuity and allow significant bacterial proliferation.

Laboratoires Amo, Ciba Vision and Ménico market this product, which costs between €10 and €20 for a box of 10 tablets.

Care according to lens type

- Soft and rigid lenses are not cared for with the same product.

Rigid lenses are cared for by decontaminating them: leave the lenses to soak overnight in the solution of your choice, then rinse them thoroughly the next morning with the same product (especially not tap water!). Empty the solution, keep the case dry and renew it each time you change the bottle.

For soft lenses, there are two possible situations:

- Daily-replacement lenses do not need to be cared for, of course. But you may need to remove one because of dust, or because you've put it in upside down. That's why it's a good idea to keep a bottle of lens rinse on hand.

- Frequently renewed lenses, on the other hand, need to be put in a multifunctional or oxidizing product every night, which will clean the lens of impurities and ensure better preservation, especially if you only wear them occasionally.

In any case, it's imperative to wash your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses, and to scrupulously respect product renewal dates, to prevent any risk of infection. The more precautions you take, the less risk you run.