Cleaning the Case That Holds Your PureVision Contacts

Wendy94 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 01:19 PM

How important is it to clean the case that you keep your contacts in?
I mean, obviously it shouldn't actually be dirty, but is just rinsing it with lens solution okay or is there a more rigorous cleaning method recommended?

dboo · #2 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 09:00 AM

I had that same question. And I sometimes put my case in pot of really hot water, not quite boiling, and let it soak for like a minute. To get rid of any bateria that might be lurking. It seems to do the job.

Wendy94 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dboo

I had that same question. And I sometimes put my case in pot of really hot water, not quite boiling, and let it soak for like a minute. To get rid of any bacteria that might be lurking. It seems to do the job.

Thanks for the tip, dboo.

Anybody else?

dboo · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2009, 09:10 AM

Also another tip after cleaning the lens case, I usually turn the case upside down on a clean cloth or paper towel to let air dry. Be really careful that it is up a little higher than you bathroom counter because if you use sprays or anything that it can get in the case while it's airing out.

Wendy94 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dboo

Also another tip after cleaning the lens case, I usually turn the case upside down on a clean cloth or paper towel to let air dry. Be really careful that it is up a little higher than you bathroom counter because if you use sprays or anything that it can get in the case while it's airing out.

When you say "a little higher than your bathroom counter" don't you think it should be more like shoulder height so that these sprays you mention don't get on the contact lens case? It might even be better to put your case in a drawer or something if you're going to be spraying stuff. What do you think, Lens 101 community?

DaBrat · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendy94

When you say "a little higher than your bathroom counter" don't you think it should be more like shoulder height so that these sprays you mention don't get on the contact lens case? It might even be better to put your case in a drawer or something if you're going to be spraying stuff. What do you think, Lens 101 community?

Seeing that the toilet creates an aerosol when flushed, and I have kids in the house. I don't 'keep' mine in the bathroom at all.

I keep mine in the desk drawer in my home office, along with my magnifying mirror, etc.... Mainly because I would hate to have to run all the way back to the bedroom after sitting down to log into work for forgotten lenses.

I put my case on my desk to air dry but also rinse it again with cleaning solution for stray dust, before filling it to store my lenses overnight.

Knotlob · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dboo

I had that same question. And I sometimes put my case in pot of really hot water, not quite boiling, and let it soak for like a minute. To get rid of any bateria that might be lurking. It seems to do the job.

I think to sterilise against bacteria you would want to leave the lens case in hot water (70 deg C/158 Deg F, or higher) for say 10 minutes.

I just use 2 step hydrogen peroxide each night for overnight sterilisation of my lenses and the case at the same time, then neutralise in the morning.

If the case is dirty at all then I would give it a good clean with soap and hot water, followed by the nightly peroxide disinfection.

I would agree that the bathroom is not the healthiest place to leave anything your worried about being contaminated.

knotlob

lurker2010 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 07:59 AM

People using MPS can buy a new case for about .50. Makes more sense to replace it rather then figure out how to clean it.

ClearCare (at least in the US) comes with a case.

Cleaning a case is really only an issue for the poster who makes his own peroxide solution.

ForceBwitu · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurker2010

People using MPS can buy a new case for about .50. Makes more sense to replace it rather then figure out how to clean it.

ClearCare (at least in the US) comes with a case.

Cleaning a case is really only an issue for the poster who makes his own peroxide solution.

Fifty cents. huh? I suppose it would make sense to just pick up a half a dozen of them and just treat them as disposable. Does anyone see anything wrong with this plan?

Knotlob · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForceBwitu

Fifty cents. huh? I suppose it would make sense to just pick up a half a dozen of them and just treat them as disposable. Does anyone see anything wrong with this plan?

Sometimes the opticians have a stock of free lens cases (at least in the UK/Ireland). Not sure what they cost in Germany - but I suspect a lot more that $0.50 each. I've recently 'bought' two sets of lenses so they were supplied with their own case from the optician.

knotlob

HVAC · #11 (**permalink**) 02-08-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Sometimes the opticians have a stock of free lens cases (at least in the UK/Ireland). Not sure what they cost in Germany - but I suspect a lot more that $0.50 each. I've recently 'bought' two sets of lenses so they were supplied with their own case from the optician.

knotlob

You suspect lens cases cost more than 50 cents in Germany, so what do you think of ForceBWitU's idea about buying them in bulk, so to speak, and treating them as disposable?

Knotlob · #12 (**permalink**) 02-08-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HVAC

You suspect lens cases cost more than 50 cents in Germany, so what do you think of ForceBWitU's idea about buying them in bulk, so to speak, and treating them as disposable?

I'm all in favour of saving money, so if someone wants to change their lens case every 3 months or more frequently, that's a good idea.

But I sterilise my lens case with 2 step peroxide every night with the lenses so the case isn't going to become a home for bacteria. I change the case when it is damaged.

I may have to rethink this strategy with the RGP lenses I am trying, as I am not sure that I can use a two step peroxide to clean/disinfect them. I have been told to use a biguanide type multi purpose disinfectant solution and that is not as thorough against persistent micro organisms as the peroxide is.

knotlob

lurker2010 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-08-2010, 05:08 PM

Posts in this forum isn't a substitute for consulting your eye doctor or a substitute for doing your own research. That said I'll help you start your research.

http://journals.lww.com/optvissci/Fulltext/2003/06000/New_Products.3.aspx

and my ClearCare instructions have instructions for RGP lenses. PM an email address and I'll scan and email.

I'm not sure about storing your lenses in h202 but you might be able to use h2o2 for disenfection.

Knotlob · #14 (**permalink**) 02-08-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurker2010

Posts in this forum isn't a substitute for consulting your eye doctor or a substitute for doing your own research. That said I'll help you start your research.

http://journals.lww.com/optvissci/Fulltext/2003/06000/New_Products.3.aspx

and my ClearCare instructions have instructions for RGP lenses. PM an email address and I'll scan and email.

I'm not sure about storing your lenses in h202 but you might be able to use h2o2 for disenfection.

Thanks for the link to the Aosept and RGP lenses.

My optician suggested that I should contact Menicon re the 2 Step Peroxide cleaning as she was unsure. OK, the peroxide looks like it is going to be compatible with the RGP Menicon lenses. But, I still have to see if the RGP lenses are going to be compatible with the EyeSee Neutraliser that I use - based on Catalase to neutralise the peroxide and also contains a couple of other chemicals.

The Menicon lenses are actually cleaned weekly in Progent, which is sodium hypochlorite & potassium bromide. The sodium hypochlorite is bleach, smells quite strong and is not something you want to get on your clothes or skin. The instructions say 30 mins maximum per clean to avoid discolouring the RGP lenses.

My optician today told me not to use Boston Multi Purpose Disinfectants with the Menicon RGP lenses as they will be damaged, but they did give me another manufacturer I could try.

The other issue with the RGP lenses is that Martouf on this forum has advised me that I would need to use a wetting agent with the RGP lenses (unlike soft lenses). So that would need to be checked.

I will PM you my email address for the Clear Care Scan.

knotlob

HVAC · #15 (**permalink**) 02-25-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Thanks for the link to the Aosept and RGP lenses.

My optician suggested that I should contact Menicon re the 2 Step Peroxide cleaning as she was unsure. OK, the peroxide looks like it is going to be compatible with the RGP Menicon lenses. But, I still have to see if the RGP lenses are going to be compatible with the EyeSee Neutraliser that I use - based on Catalase to neutralise the peroxide and also contains a couple of other chemicals.

knotlob

How are things going now that you've had a few weeks to check the compatibility of your RGP lenses with peroxide cleaner and EyeSee neutralizer?

Knotlob · #16 (**permalink**) 02-25-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HVAC

How are things going now that you've had a few weeks to check the compatibility of your RGP lenses with peroxide cleaner and EyeSee neutralizer?

Hello HVAC

I discussed the issue with Menicon and of course they initially said they were not allowed to discuss such issues with Joe Public, only opticians, etc. I told them my optician said I should talk to them as she didn't know the answer and if I could not get an answer, obviously, I could not continue to wear their lenses - shame as they are supposed to be good.

Anyway,the Menocon girl then ageed to talk and said everything was OK but not to use Boston solutions as they contain an abrasive, which would damage the Menicon Plasma Surface on their lenses.

So I have now switched to Peroxide and Eyesee Neutraliser and also have a bottle of Eyesee cleaner in case the lenses get greasy. I think there is much less of a grit problem now and my eyes continue to get used to the lenses. I still use the Menicon Progent (bleach) intensive cleaner once/week. I don't know if this is strictly necessary, now that I am using peroxide instead of a biguanide multi purpose disinfectant, as I think these may add to the lens deposits.

I have more astigmatism in my right eye and that causes (I think) my right eye to be sometimes less comfortable. I bought some Eyesee Eye Drops today to see if they help.

I did wear the lenses for 18.5 hours last Saturday, but they were rather uncomfortable because I was at a Dance Ball and the air was too dry. Lenses very comfortable when I went outside into the cold air though. Presumably once the cold weather disappears, Relative Humidities should increase and make things easier.

Lens vision seems very good though in my left eye and variable in my right eye (sometimes almost as good as the left, other times not quite so good - probably tear film related).

knotlob

HVAC · #17 (**permalink**) 02-25-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Hello HVAC

I discussed the issue with Menicon and of course they initially said they were not allowed to discuss such issues with Joe Public, only opticians, etc. I told them my optician said I should talk to them as she didn't know the answer and if I could not get an answer, obviously, I could not continue to wear their lenses - shame as they are supposed to be good.

Anyway,the Menocon girl then ageed to talk and said everything was OK but not to use Boston solutions as they contain an abrasive, which would damage the Menicon Plasma Surface on their lenses.

So I have now switched to Peroxide and Eyesee Neutraliser and also have a bottle of Eyesee cleaner in case the lenses get greasy. I think there is much less of a grit problem now and my eyes continue to get used to the lenses. I still use the Menicon Progent (bleach) intensive cleaner once/week. I don't know if this is strictly necessary, now that I am using peroxide instead of a biguanide multi purpose disinfectant, as I think these may add to the lens deposits.

I have more astigmatism in my right eye and that causes (I think) my right eye to be sometimes less comfortable. I bought some Eyesee Eye Drops today to see if they help.

I did wear the lenses for 18.5 hours last Saturday, but they were rather uncomfortable because I was at a Dance Ball and the air was too dry. Lenses very comfortable when I went outside into the cold air though. Presumably once the cold weather disappears, Relative Humidities should increase and make things easier.

Lens vision seems very good though in my left eye and variable in my right eye (sometimes almost as good as the left, other times not quite so good - probably tear film related).

knotlob

Thanks for the update, Knotlob. I'm glad they give you good vision, even if they don't do well in dry dance halls. Good luck with the Eyesee eye drops.

ForceBwitu · #18 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Hello HVAC

I discussed the issue with Menicon and of course they initially said they were not allowed to discuss such issues with Joe Public, only opticians, etc. I told them my optician said I should talk to them as she didn't know the answer and if I could not get an answer, obviously, I could not continue to wear their lenses - shame as they are supposed to be good.

Anyway,the Menocon girl then ageed to talk and said everything was OK but not to use Boston solutions as they contain an abrasive, which would damage the Menicon Plasma Surface on their lenses.

knotlob

Very good interrogation technique, knotlob. Well done.