Can I put my contact lenses in water?

The answer to this question is very clear: you cannot put your contact lenses in water , even if it is purified mineral. It is also not a good idea to use distilled water for lenses. The reason is simple, because water does not clean well, much less disinfect the lenses, since there are traces of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms in it.

In the event that it is purified, although at the beginning it is disinfected, shortly after using it and inserting the lenses it fills up with microorganisms again, especially if it is left for hours. If contact lenses are used after they have been stored in this way, there is a risk of suffering an eye infection , which can lead to loss of vision and even blindness in the worst cases, especially if the infection is not treated properly.

Apart from this, running water, whether tap, bottled, purified or distilled, is also harmful to contact lenses, as it damages them in such a way that they may not adapt well to the eyes or, on the contrary, remain stuck to the eye. eyeball causing great discomfort, irritation, blurred vision and even damage.

Many people knowing this ask the following questions: “What can I replace the liquid in my contact lenses with?” and “can I put the lenses in saline solution?”, since it is another of the most common liquids that we have at home.

Specifically, there are three types of special liquids for lenses : the one-phase solution (monophasic liquid), the monophasic peroxide solution and the specific saline solution for this use. Thus, if you wonder if you can store contact lenses in saline or physiological serum, the answer is that you can, as long as it is only for a few hours or a day, for example to store them overnight until you buy specific maintenance liquid .

The reason is that physiological serum or saline solution is a liquid somewhat more similar to our tears than the previously mentioned waters, therefore, they preserve the lenses somewhat better. However, it must be taken into account that it is not the specific saline solution that we have mentioned among the three usual special liquids, so it does not adapt well to the needs of conservation and hygiene. Therefore, it does not preserve the lenses well after several hours and it is not disinfectant, so microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast or fungi can begin to appear, which will cause eye infections.

In summary, you can put the lenses in saline solution for a maximum of one night , or in a homemade saline solution, but you must disinfect the contact lenses as soon as possible by acquiring and using one of the special liquids again.

If you are one of those who recycle, something that in AgroCorrn we recommend the most, then recycle the plastic contact lens case by taking it to the optician, because in some they do manage this type of waste, or you can take it to a clean point or green . You can also look at the bottom of the lens case and see if it is marked with the recycling symbol or not. In the event that you have one of those that indicate that it can be recycled, you can deposit it in the yellow container , the one indicated for recyclable plastics; But if it does not indicate it, you cannot throw it in these containers and you can only take them to the points mentioned above so that, in this way, they are managed as waste properly and prevent them from contaminating.

In this other AgroCorrn article we explain which plastics are recycled and which are not , so that you can recognize the symbols on the plastic case of the contact lenses.

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