|
|
 |
| |
While contact lenses continue to care for your eyes, are you giving enough care to your contact lenses? The most common answer to this question would be, "Yes, I am using the contact lens cleaning solution." However, mere use of a contact lens cleaning solution does not suffice. Contact lens care without the use of commercial saline solution is incomplete.
Why is it so? Before understanding the answer to this question, let us define what a saline solution is. Saline solution is nothing but a sterile solution containing 9 grams of sodium chloride mixed in 1 liter of water. The medical uses of contact saline solution are many including those of contact lens care.
Now, the more relevant question of why contact lens care is incomplete without eye saline solution. While contact lens cleaning solutions disinfect your lenses, a thorough cleansing is not done by them. There will be still some debris left on the lens surface. Also, tiny quantities of these disinfectant cleansing solutions will remain on the lens surface, which may cause irritation to your eyes. Only saline solution can take care of these issues. It acts as a thorough rinsing agent making your lenses ready to wear. Apart from just rinsing, it also moistens the lenses thus making it more comfortable for use. Your contact lenses, after prolonged use, may also contain protein deposits. Only a commercial eye saline solution can completely get rid of these unwanted protein deposits. This is done indirectly by helping to dilute enzyme tablets for removing protein deposits. Saline solution is also used to store contact lenses during thermal disinfection.
What properties do saline solutions have? Saline solutions are very much sterile. The addition of salt kills many bacteria thus purifying the solution. They are usually stored under pressure; therefore, it can clean smudges from the surface of contact lenses.
Such commercial eye saline solutions are available in two main different types – those with preservatives and those without preservatives. Saline solutions with preservatives help slow down the growth of bacteria in the solution, thus allowing you to use the saline solution for a longer period of time. Saline solutions without preservatives are meant for those whose eyes are sensitive and develop allergic reaction to preservatives. However, these preservative-free saline solutions get contaminated easily and hence should be replaced frequently.
Even now, one can find many people who use tap water instead of commercial contact saline solutions. This is a grave error because tap water carries a dangerous organism, acanthamoeba keratitis, which is a virus that can cause a painful and dangerous eye infection. Such infections can cause temporary vision loss, blindness, etc. leading to serious conditions that may need corneal transplant surgery. Same is the case with distilled water. They may also contain these harmful bacteria. Thus, neither home made saline nay distilled water should ever be used to store contact lenses.
Eyes are the most powerful sense organs of your body. Therefore, do not compromise on quality when it comes to eye care. Always go for the commercial saline solution to give the best care to your eyes.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
