Products for Hard Contact Lenses

Cleaners
Hard lenses should be cleaned
immediately after removal from the
eye.
Otherwise, oil deposits, proteins,
salts, cosmetics, tobacco smoke,
and airborne contaminants can
build up, interfere with clear
vision, and possibly cause
irritation upon reinsertion.
A surfactant cleaner is used by
applying the solution or gel to both
surfaces of the lens and then
rubbing the lens in the palm of the
hand with the index finger for
about 20 seconds.
Too vigorous rubbing can scratch
or warp the lens.
Soaking and Storage Solutions
Hard lenses are placed in a soaking
solution once they are removed
from the eye.
Soaking solutions contain a
sufficient concentration of
disinfecting agent, usually 0.01%
benzalkonium chloride and 0.01%
edetate sodium to kill surface
bacteria.
Overnight soaking is advantageous
because it keeps the lenses wet
and the prolonged contact time
helps loosen deposits that remain
after routine cleaning.
Wetting Solutions
Wetting solutions contain
surfactants to facilitate hydration of
the hydrophobic lens surface and
enable the tears to spread evenly
across the lens by providing it with
temporary hydrophilic qualities.
These solutions also provide a
cushion between the lens and the
cornea and eyelid.
Typical ingredients include a
viscosity-increasing agent, such as
hydroxyethyl cellulose; a wetting

agent, such as benzalkonium

chloride or edetate disodium; and
buffering agents and salts to adjust
the pH and maintain tonicity.
Combination Solutions
Combination solutions mix effects,
such as cleaning and soaking,
wetting and soaking, or cleaning,
soaking, and wetting.
While they are characterized by
ease of use, combination products
may lower the effectiveness of
cleaning if the concentration of
cleaning solution is too low to
adequately remove debris from the
lens.
These combination solutions should
be reserved for wearers who have
a demonstrated need for
simplification of lens care.
Products for RGP Contact Lenses

Care for RGP lenses require the

same general regimen as for hard
contact lenses except that RGPspecific solutions must be used.
One of two cleaning methods,
either hand washed or mechanical
washing, may be used.
In the first method, the lens may
be cleaned by holding the concave
side up in the palm of the hand.
The lens should not be held
between the fingers because the
flexibility of the lens may allow it
to warp or turn inside out.
Mechanical washing is
advantageous because the
possibility of the lens turning inside
out or warping during cleaning is
minimized.
After cleansing, the RGP lens
should be thoroughly rinsed and
soaked in a wetting or soaking
solution overnight.
After overnight soaking, the lens is
rubbed with fresh wetting or
soaking and inserted into the eye.

To facilitate removal of stubborn

protein deposits, weekly cleaning
with enzymatic cleaners is
recommended.

Clinical Consideration in the Use of

Contact Lenses
Although most medicated eye
drops may be used in conjunction
with the wearing of contact lenses,
some caution should be exercised
and drug-specific information used,
particularly with soft contact
lenses, because this type of lens
can absorb certain topical drugs
and affect bioavailability.
Use of ophthalmic suspensions and
ophthalmic ointments by contact
lens, causing discomfort and other
undesired effects.
Ophthalmic ointments not only
cloud but may discolor the lens.
Thus, an alternative dosage form,
such ad an ophthalmic solution
may be prescribed or lens wearing
deferred until therapy is complete.
Some drugs administered by
various routes of administration for
systemic effects can find their way
to the tears and produce drugcontact lens interactions.
This may result in lens
discoloration, lens clouding,
ocular inflammation, and
refractive changes.
In addition, drugs that cause ocular
side effects have the potential to
interfere with contact lens use.
Drugs that promote excessive
lacrimation or ocular or eyelid
edema also may interfere with lens
wear.

Use of ophthalmic vasoconstrictors

occasionally causes dilation of the
pupil, especially in people who
wear contact lenses or whose
cornea is abraded.
The following guidelines should be
used by pharmacists in counseling
patients:
1. Contact lens wearers should
wash their hands thoroughly
with a nonabrasive, noncosmetic soap before and
after handling lenses.
2. Wearers should not rub the
eyes when the lenses are in
place, and if irritation
develops, the lenses should
be removed until these
symptoms subside.
Only contact lens care products
specifically recommended for the
type of lens worn should be used.
Also, to avoid differences between
products of different
manufacturers, it is preferable to
use solutions made by a single
manufacturer.
Cleaning and storing lenses should
be performed in the specific
solution for that purpose.
The patient should be instructed to
discard cleansers and other lens
care products if the labeled
expiration date is exceeded.
Lenses should not be stored in tap
water nor should saliva be used to
help reinsert a lens to the eye.
Saliva on not sterile and contains
numerous microorganisms.
When handling a contact lens over
the sink, the drain should be
covered of closed to prevent the
loss of the lens.