You cannot safely store contact lenses in eye drops, even for one night. Contact lenses must be stored in a solution specifically designed for cleaning, disinfecting, and hydrating the lens material. Eye drops, whether lubricating or rewetting, are formulated only for temporary moisture relief on the surface of the eye. Failing to use proper contact lens solution compromises the sterility of your lenses and increases the risk of serious eye health issues.
The Critical Difference Between Eye Drops and Solution
Contact lens solutions and eye drops serve fundamentally different purposes based on their unique chemical compositions. Multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide-based solutions contain a complex mix of ingredients designed to maintain lens hygiene and material integrity. These solutions include disinfectants that actively kill bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms accumulating on the lens. They also contain surfactants and cleaning agents engineered to remove debris, oils, and protein deposits from the lens surface.
Eye drops are formulated only to soothe and lubricate the eye, acting as a temporary artificial tear film. Although eye drops maintain sterility in the bottle, they lack the active chemical components necessary to disinfect a contaminated contact lens. Contact lens solution is carefully balanced for tonicity and pH to prevent the lens material from swelling, shrinking, or warping during storage. Using eye drops, which are not designed to manage the lens’s water balance, can damage the lens, affecting its fit and comfort upon reinsertion.
Immediate Health Risks of Using Substitutes
Storing lenses in any substitute liquid, including eye drops, water, or saliva, creates an environment where harmful microbes multiply rapidly. Without the disinfecting properties of a dedicated solution, bacteria and fungi on the lens proliferate overnight. This unchecked microbial growth raises the risk of developing severe eye infections, such as microbial keratitis, which is an inflammation of the cornea.
A particularly dangerous pathogen found in tap water is Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba that causes a rare but devastating infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. This infection is difficult to treat and can lead to permanent vision loss. Beyond infection, the lack of proper hydration and the wrong chemical balance physically compromise the lens. A warped, shrunken, or damaged lens can cause micro-abrasions on the corneal surface when worn, making the eye more susceptible to infection and irritation.
When You Forget Your Solution: Safe Alternatives
If you are without contact lens solution for a single night, the safest course of action is to immediately remove your lenses and wear glasses instead. The risk of infection and lens damage from using an improper substitute far outweighs the inconvenience of not wearing contacts. If your lenses are daily disposables, the most prudent choice is to discard them and use a fresh pair the next day after acquiring proper solution.
Never attempt to store lenses in tap water, bottled water, or saliva, as these liquids are not sterile and harbor microorganisms that pose a direct threat to eye health. If you must store them and cannot immediately purchase solution, a temporary option is sterile saline solution, which is commercially available. Remember that saline only hydrates and rinses; it does not clean or disinfect. Any lens stored in saline or any other non-disinfecting liquid must be thoroughly cleaned and soaked in a fresh, disinfecting solution for the manufacturer’s recommended time before being worn again.