Biotrue multi-purpose solution is a well-regarded contact lens solution that performs strongly for comfort and hydration. In a clinical study of 153 daily-wear contact lens users, 86% reported their lenses felt more comfortable with Biotrue compared to their previous solution, and 87% said their lenses felt moister throughout the day. It’s a solid choice for most soft contact lens wearers, particularly those who struggle with dryness toward the end of the day.
What Makes Biotrue Different
The standout ingredient in Biotrue is hyaluronan, a substance naturally found in your tears. It acts as a lubricant, wetting agent, and moisturizer on the lens surface. When contact lenses are soaked overnight in Biotrue, they absorb hyaluronan and then slowly release it over the course of the day. In one study, tear film moisture levels remained elevated above baseline even two hours after putting in lenses that had been soaked in the solution for 14 hours. That slow release is the main reason users report better comfort late in the day compared to basic saline-based solutions.
Bausch + Lomb also makes a newer version called Biotrue Hydration Plus, which contains 25% more hyaluronan than the original formula. Lenses soaked in Hydration Plus released more hyaluronan during the first 12 hours of simulated wear than the original. If dryness is your primary complaint, the upgraded version may be worth the slightly higher price.
Safety and Eye Compatibility
Biotrue has tested well for safety. In both lab and live-eye evaluations, the solution was not cytotoxic (meaning it didn’t damage corneal cells) and showed good overall compatibility with the eye, whether applied on its own or used with contact lenses. The boric acid in its formula, which some people worry about, passed both major safety tests without altering the protective barrier of the corneal surface.
One important nuance: research has shown that the safety of a multi-purpose solution depends on its complete formulation, not any single ingredient. Two solutions with the exact same preservative at the same concentration can behave very differently in cell-viability testing. So the fact that Biotrue’s specific combination tests well matters more than analyzing its ingredient list component by component.
How It Compares to Competitors
In the clinical study mentioned above, 39% of participants had previously been using an Opti-Free solution before switching to Biotrue. After two weeks with Biotrue, the group as a whole showed a statistically significant reduction in their likelihood of wanting to quit wearing contacts altogether. That’s a meaningful finding, because dryness and discomfort are the top reasons people abandon contact lenses.
Biotrue tends to perform best for people who wear silicone hydrogel lenses, which are the most common type prescribed today. If you’re currently happy with a competitor like Opti-Free or Clear Care, there’s no urgent reason to switch. But if you deal with afternoon dryness, gritty-feeling lenses, or general discomfort by evening, Biotrue is one of the first alternatives worth trying.
How to Use It Properly
The cleaning protocol matters more than most people realize. Skipping the rub step and just rinsing your lenses leaves protein deposits and debris on the surface, which defeats the purpose of a quality solution. The correct process takes under a minute:
- Rub: Place at least three drops on each side of the lens and gently rub for 20 seconds.
- Rinse: Rinse each side of the lens for five seconds.
- Soak: Place lenses in a clean case filled with fresh solution and soak for a minimum of four hours.
That four-hour minimum soak is essential for both disinfection and allowing the hyaluronan to absorb into the lens material. Cutting the soak short means you lose both the cleaning benefit and the all-day moisture release that makes Biotrue worth choosing in the first place. Always use fresh solution each time; never top off old solution sitting in the case.
Who It Works Best For
Biotrue is a strong general-purpose option, but it’s especially useful if you experience dryness with your current solution, wear your lenses for long stretches (10+ hours), or use silicone hydrogel lenses. It’s less ideal if you have a known sensitivity to preserved solutions. In that case, a hydrogen peroxide-based system like Clear Care, which breaks down into saline during its soak cycle, may be gentler.
For the average daily-wear soft lens user, Biotrue is one of the better multi-purpose solutions on the market. Its comfort ratings are consistently high, its safety profile is clean, and the hyaluronan-based moisture system addresses the most common complaint contact lens wearers have.