Finding yourself without contact lens solution is a common problem. Contact lenses are medical devices, and their proper care is essential for eye health. There is no safe, readily available household substitute that can replicate the complex chemical functions of a commercial lens solution. Prioritizing eye safety over lens convenience is the most important rule.
Why Proper Contact Solution Is Required
Commercial lens solutions are complex chemical formulations designed to perform multiple functions essential for safe lens wear. The primary role is disinfection, which involves killing bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that accumulate on the lens surface during wear. Without this sterilization step, the risk of severe eye infections increases significantly.
The solution also contains specialized ingredients like surfactants and chelating agents to clean the lenses. These components actively remove protein deposits, lipids, and other debris from tears that build up on the lens material. This cleaning action maintains visual clarity and prevents deposits from causing irritation or allergic reactions.
Furthermore, contact lens solution is balanced to match the eye’s natural environment in terms of pH and osmolarity. This delicate balance prevents the lens from changing shape or causing irritation when reinserted. A properly formulated solution ensures the lens remains hydrated, soft, and comfortable without damaging the corneal surface.
Common Unsafe Alternatives and Associated Risks
Tap water is one of the most frequently considered, yet most dangerous, substitutes for contact lens solution. Even water that is safe to drink is not sterile and often contains microorganisms, most notably the Acanthamoeba amoeba. Exposure to this organism can lead to Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but extremely painful and sight-threatening corneal infection that is difficult to treat.
Beyond microbial contamination, tap water lacks the necessary salt concentration of tears, creating a significant osmotic difference. When soft contact lenses are exposed to this hypotonic environment, they absorb water and swell, changing shape and potentially tightening on the eye. This swelling can cause microscopic abrasions on the cornea, providing an entry point for microorganisms to cause infection.
Using saliva as a makeshift solution introduces a high concentration of bacteria from the mouth directly onto the lens. Saliva is not sterile, and the bacteria it contains, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can cause rapid and aggressive corneal infections. Eye care professionals often describe putting a contact lens in the mouth as placing it in a “petri dish” due to the significant contamination risk.
Other water sources, like bottled, distilled, or homemade saline, are insufficient and unsafe for lens storage. While bottled or distilled water may be cleaner than tap water, it still lacks the disinfecting agents needed to kill pathogens. It also lacks the proper osmotic balance required to prevent lens deformation. Homemade saline solutions are impossible to sterilize properly outside of a laboratory, making them a high infection risk.
Immediate Steps for Lens Removal and Temporary Storage
The safest and most recommended action if you are without solution is to immediately remove the contact lenses and wear glasses or discard the lenses entirely. Attempting to wear or store lenses without proper solution is a direct threat to eye health. The inconvenience of not having lenses outweighs the potential for a severe, vision-impairing infection.
If you must remove and store the lenses for a short period before obtaining proper solution, the only temporary measure is to use an unexpired, sterile saline solution. This type of solution, often found in first-aid kits, is designed only for rinsing and buffering. It can keep the lens hydrated in the case, but it is not a disinfectant and will not kill germs.
Lenses stored in this non-disinfecting saline must be cleaned and disinfected with a commercial solution for the full recommended time as soon as one is available. Travel-sized contact solution and cases are usually available at 24-hour pharmacies or large retail stores. If your lenses have been exposed to tap water or any other unsafe alternative, or if your eye feels irritated, red, or painful, consult an eye care professional without delay.