When a contact lens must be removed immediately and no commercial solution is available, an urgent, temporary measure is needed to prevent eye damage. No substitute can replicate the cleaning, disinfecting, and conditioning properties of a manufactured contact lens solution. Any alternative discussed here is only for a brief, extreme emergency to keep the lens hydrated until proper solution can be acquired. Using anything other than a designated solution introduces a risk of infection or lens damage, so temporary storage must be treated as a contamination event. The safest action in an emergency is to discard the lenses and switch to glasses.
Temporary Storage and Rinsing Options
The primary goal of emergency storage is to keep the lens from drying out, which would permanently ruin its shape and fit. Sterile, preservative-free saline solution, often found in first-aid kits, is the best temporary choice because it is isotonic, matching the eye’s natural salt and fluid balance. Saline can be used for rinsing the lens after removal and for short-term storage, but it does not contain the necessary agents to clean or kill microorganisms.
If sterile saline is unavailable, the next option for storage is commercially bottled distilled water. Distilled water has had most minerals removed, which is a benefit since mineral deposits can adhere to the lens material. A final, less-preferred emergency option is tap water that has been boiled for at least five minutes and allowed to cool completely. Boiling helps destroy most microorganisms, but this water should only be used for short-term storage and never for rinsing the lens immediately before insertion.
Any container used for this emergency storage must be clean and non-porous, washed thoroughly with hot, soapy water, and air-dried. It is necessary to clearly distinguish between rinsing and storing the lens; sterile saline is the only non-disinfecting liquid that should ever contact the lens before it is reinserted. Any lens stored in a non-disinfecting liquid must be considered highly contaminated and must undergo a full disinfection cycle before being worn again.
Dangerous Substitutes to Avoid
Several common liquids are dangerous to use for contact lens care and must be avoided, even in an urgent situation. Tap water is among the most hazardous because it can contain the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba. When trapped between the lens and the eye, this microorganism can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but devastating infection that can lead to permanent vision loss and is notoriously difficult to treat.
Bottled drinking water also lacks the required sterility and can contain microorganisms that are harmless to the gut but damaging to the cornea. The use of common eye drops is similarly ineffective and unsafe; while they may relieve dryness, they are not formulated with the surfactants and disinfectants needed to clean and sterilize the lens. Most eye drops also lack the proper tonicity for long-term lens storage, potentially causing the lens material to swell or warp.
Creating a homemade saltwater solution by mixing table salt and water is ill-advised because it is impossible to ensure the proper salinity and sterility. Undissolved salt may leave abrasive crystals that can damage the lens or scratch the eye. Saliva is one of the most dangerous substitutes, as the human mouth harbors vast amounts of bacteria that can easily be transferred to the lens and cause a severe eye infection.
Immediate Next Steps and Lens Care Recovery
Once a lens has been removed and placed in a temporary solution, the immediate priority is to purchase a proper contact lens solution. The lens should be retrieved from its temporary container and immediately placed into a clean, dedicated lens case filled with the new commercial solution. It is mandatory for the lens to complete a full disinfection soak, as specified by the solution manufacturer, before it is placed back on the eye.
The temporary storage container must be thoroughly cleaned and allowed to air-dry before any future use to prevent microbial growth. If the lens was stored in tap water or an unsterilized substance, or if it appears warped or damaged after temporary storage, it should be discarded entirely to eliminate the risk of severe infection. The cost of replacing a lens is minimal compared to the potential damage and treatment required for a serious eye infection.
If, after the full disinfection cycle, the eye feels irritation, redness, pain, or if vision appears cloudy or reduced upon re-insertion, the lens must be removed immediately. These symptoms can be signs of an eye infection or corneal reaction, and it is imperative to contact an eye care professional right away. Never attempt to self-treat an irritated eye after a lens care emergency, and always keep a spare pair of glasses available to wear in case of a contact lens issue.