Using a tissue to wipe your contact lens case can help reduce bacterial contamination.
Wiping your contact lens storage case with a tissue before allowing it to air-dry can significantly reduce the risk of bacterial contamination, according to a new study.
Researchers at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in New South Wales, Australia, investigated the impact of four cleaning regimens on bacterial growth in contact lens cases, using two different multi-purpose contact lens solutions and distilled water.
The study revealed that using an approved multi-purpose contact lens solution and the “rub, rinse, tissue-wipe and air-dry” cleaning method was up to four times more effective at reducing bacterial biofilms on contact lens cases than using the standard “rinse and air-dry” approach recommended by most eye doctors and contact lens manufacturers.
The lens case cleaning methods used in the study were:
- rinse and air-dry
- rub, rinse and air-dry
- tissue-wipe and air-dry
- rub, rinse, tissue-wipe and air-dry
Also, cases with smooth interior surfaces were easier to clean and keep free from bacteria than cases with ridged bottoms.
The study authors concluded that current cleaning guidelines for contact lens cases are not adequate to eliminate contamination, and that simply adding rubbing and wiping steps to daily case hygiene reduces the risk of bacterial growth and possibly contact lens-related eye infections.
A report of the study was published online this month by the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
Tags: contact lens case
