Whether you’re new to wearing contact lenses or have been wearing them for years—one thing you should know is how to clean your lens case properly.
It might not seem like a big deal, especially if you already do a good job of keeping your content lenses clean. However, this often neglected step can help you avoid infections, irritation from contacts, or vision loss.
Schedule Your Appointment
Read on to learn how to properly care for your contact lens case.
4 Easy Steps To Clean the Contact Lens Case
1. Out With the Old, in With the New
Your first step to keeping a clean contact lens case is emptying the old solution.
2. Use Clean Hands
Our hands interact with so many different surfaces which may contain harmful bacteria. Cleaning something with dirty hands is pointless. Simply wash and rinse your hands to ensure you’re not contaminating your newly cleaned case.
3. The Rub & Rinse Method
If you’re familiar with cleaning your contact lens with the rub and rinse method, then this is no different. For those unfamiliar with it, you’ll start by squirting a small amount of multi-purpose solution into the case. Next, begin rubbing away any deposits with your fingertips. Then you’ll dump the solution and rinse it with more multipurpose solution. And don’t forget about the caps.
4. Dry & Seal
With the contact lens case washed and rinsed, your final step is letting it dry out. The best method for drying it out is by turning it face down onto a paper towel. Once it’s completely dry, seal the caps and store them in a cool, dry area.
Why Cleaning the Case Is Important To Eye Health
With each use of your contact solution, you introduce new bacteria. Bacteria can grow if you don’t clean and change the solution often enough. Bacteria can build up over time and make their way onto contact lenses. That means each time you put your lenses into the case, you risk infecting your eye. Some of the common eye infections or issues people may experience include:
How Often Should You Discard Your Case?
Keeping up with your cleaning routine can help you avoid eye infections and problems. But eventually, you’ll still need to discard the case. We recommend changing out your case every three months to help avoid bacteria build-up. 
What Kind of Contact Lens Solution Should You Use
Many contact lens wearers find multipurpose solutions to be affordable and effective. Only using water or another cleaning solution like hydrogen peroxide may not be able to properly clean the case. You can typically find multipurpose solutions at your local drugstore or retailer.
Reduce Eye Infection Frequency and Other Vision Issues
Contacts offer convenience and the ability to have clear vision without the burden of eyeglasses. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some things you must do to keep your lenses in good shape and your vision infection-free. Outside of properly cleaning your contact lenses and case with solution, scheduling a regular eye exam can help you stay in front of vision issues and eye health concerns.
During your eye exam, our doctors will evaluate your eye health and help you find a solution to whatever is impacting your vision. They may also recommend LASIK surgery as a solution that’ll help you avoid contact lens upkeep and truly experience burden-free vision. Learn more about LASIK or take our LASIK self-test to help determine if it’s right for you.
Sources Cited
HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN YOUR CONTACT LENS CASE (no date) Visionworks.com. Available at: https://www.visionworks.com/article-how-to-properly-clean-contact-lens-case
How to clean your contact lens case (2022) 1800contacts.com. Available at: https://www.1800contacts.com/eyesociety/how-to-clean-your-contact-lens-case
Recent Comments