Storing FreshLook ColorBlends in Boiled Water in an Emergency

Frodo · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 11:12 AM

If you have to store your contacts in an emergency (Left home without your lens case, contact lens popped out away from home, etc.) can you store them in boiled water? Would it be best to boil the water first and then put the contacts in once it cooled? How about putting your contacts in a bowl of water and heating them in the microwave until the water bubbles?

Lollie · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 03:44 AM

water dissolves contact lenses.

3scompany · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lollie

water dissolves contact lenses.

Really?? According to lens.com, FreshLook ColorBlends are 55% water.

Frodo · #4 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lollie

water dissolves contact lenses.

I hate to disagree with you Lollie, but contact lenses are not water soluble. If they were, they would dissolve in your contact lenses solution, not to mention your eyes.

Now, boiling water, on the other hand, that may be another issue.

catt · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frodo

If you have to store your contacts in an emergency (Left home without your lens case, contact lens popped out away from home, etc.) can you store them in boiled water? Would it be best to boil the water first and then put the contacts in once it cooled? How about putting your contacts in a bowl of water and heating them in the microwave until the water bubbles?

Twenty-four years (24) ago -- wow, that's a long time ago -- I had an aseptron (spelling") that you filled with saline solution and plugged it into an outlet for about 1/2 hour to disinfect them. Well, couldn't do that when I went camping/backpacking in the Sierras for 3 to 4 weeks. So, every night I would put my contacts into my lens case filled with saline solution, and place the case in boiling water over the campfire for about 10-15 minutes. How romantic is that? Watching your contacts boil among the hundreds of stars in the sky.

It worked then with whatever lenses I was wearing at the time. Don't know how todays contacts would hold up though -- probably not as well for sure.

Frodo · #6 (**permalink**) 06-05-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catt

Twenty-four years (24) ago -- wow, that's a long time ago -- I had an aseptron (spelling) that you filled with saline solution and plugged it into an outlet for about 1/2 hour to disinfect them. Well, couldn't do that when I went camping/backpacking in the Sierras for 3 to 4 weeks. So, every night I would put my contacts into my lens case filled with saline solution, and place the case in boiling water over the campfire for about 10-15 minutes. How romantic is that? Watching your contacts boil among the hundreds of stars in the sky.

It worked then with whatever lenses I was wearing at the time. Don't know how today's contacts would hold up though -- probably not as well for sure.

That does paint a rather romantic picture, catt. However I wonder how well you were able to see the starry sky without your contact lenses. I also wonder if you told your eye doctor about your disinfecting method in the Sierras.

I think I've come to the conclusion that it's better to toss your contacts rather than try to disinfect them in novel ways. It's not worth the risk. What do you think, everybody?

catt · #7 (**permalink**) 06-05-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frodo

That does paint a rather romantic picture, catt. However I wonder how well you were able to see the starry sky without your contact lenses. I also wonder if you told your eye doctor about your disinfecting method in the Sierras.

I think I've come to the conclusion that it's better to toss your contacts rather than try to disinfect them in novel ways. It's not worth the risk. What do you think, everybody?

Actually, wayyyyyy back then, Heat was the prescribed way to disinfect your contacts. It was really quite involved. There was no such thing as bottled saline solution - you had to buy distilled water and add a saline tablet to the water and wait for it to dissolve (which could take up to 10 minutes), and the remaining solution had to be thrown away (couldn't save it and use the next day). Then you put your lenses in a big case (which eventually evolved into a smaller compact one with the outlet plug already built in) plugged it into the wall socket, and let it boil away.

As an alternative, you were able to disinfect them using a pot of boiling water (just make sure that the case was closed tightly). In the 3-4 weeks camping, never had one problem.

Insofar as seeing the stary sky -- no problem whatsoever. My eyesight is really not that bad. I can and often do still drive my car; go shopping; workout at the gym, etc., etc., and see the stars in the sky with no problem.

Ah, the good old days -- NOT!

Frodo · #8 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catt

Actually, wayyyyyy back then, Heat was the prescribed way to disinfect your contacts. It was really quite involved. There was no such thing as bottled saline solution - you had to buy distilled water and add a saline tablet to the water and wait for it to dissolve (which could take up to 10 minutes), and the remaining solution had to be thrown away (couldn't save it and use the next day). Then you put your lenses in a big case (which eventually evolved into a smaller compact one with the outlet plug already built in) plugged it into the wall socket, and let it boil away.

As an alternative, you were able to disinfect them using a pot of boiling water (just make sure that the case was closed tightly). In the 3-4 weeks camping, never had one problem.

Insofar as seeing the stary sky -- no problem whatsoever. My eyesight is really not that bad. I can and often do still drive my car; go shopping; workout at the gym, etc., etc., and see the stars in the sky with no problem.

Ah, the good old days -- NOT!

Thanks for the history lesson, Catt.

"Back in my day, I had to clean my contacts with saline tablets! You meddling kids don't know how good you have it! Now help me out of this rocking chair. I want to listen to a record on my hi-fi."

We love you, Catt.

catt · #9 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 09:35 PM

Thanks Frodo. The same to you!

Privateyez · #10 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frodo

Thanks for the history lesson, Catt.

"Back in my day, I had to clean my contacts with saline tablets! You meddling kids don't know how good you have it! Now help me out of this rocking chair. I want to listen to a record on my hi-fi."

We love you, Catt.

You're a riot, Frodo. A regular riot.

Catt, would you like to to the "Bang! Zoom!" or shall I?