This article was originally published in a sponsored newsletter.

It is well established that water and contact lenses are not a good combination. Complications from water exposure when wearing contact lenses can range from sterile corneal infiltrative events to sight-threatening eye infections.¹ Water-related habits, such as showering or using a hot tub while wearing contact lenses, are common, even when patients are provided with detailed risks due to water exposure. Yet, there is a scarcity of awareness and understanding of these risks in contact lens wearers and among contact lens practitioners. There also is a lack of consistency for contact lens hygiene and compliance guidelines by contact lens professional organizations, contact lens industry, and global public health.¹
 
One study evaluated the effectiveness of several saline solutions to rinse rigid GP (RGP) lenses instead of water.² A venous pressure transducer system was utilized to measure the exiting fluid pressure of five different commercially available saline solutions.
 
Two commercially available GP contact lens cleaners were used to clean RGP lenses. Next, tap water or one of five saline solutions was used to rinse the lenses. After every rinse, high-resolution imaging was taken. The mean pixel count was measured within a 1mm by 1mm square by light transmission through the lens surface. High pixel counts demonstrated more lens surface deposits and residue. The mean pixels/mm² decreased as fluid pressure of the rinsing methods escalated.

Certain products leave more residue than other products as measured fluid pressure correlated to lens surface opacity. Interestingly, tap water appears to be the most efficient option for removal of RGP cleaners from the contact lens surface due to its high exiting fluid pressure. However, the use of a tap water rinse is not recommended due to its risk of infection and inflammation of the cornea.
 
Therefore, the creation of alternative procedures and products is necessary for rinsing contact lenses.² Additionally, guidelines should be created to avoid all water exposure, including rinsing contact lenses or storage cases in tap water, handling contact lenses with wet hands, and showering with contact lenses.¹

REFERENCES

1. Arshad M, Carnt N, Tan J, Ekkeshis I, Stapleton F. Water Exposure and the Risk of Contact Lens-Related Disease. Cornea. 2019 Jun;38:791-797.

2. Steele KR, Zadnik K. Evaluation of Rinsing Options for Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses. Eye Contact Lens. 2023 Jul 20. [Online ahead of print] 

Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, is the Director of Optometry at the University of California, Davis in Davis, specializing in anterior segment disease and specialty contact lenses. She is the past president of the Scleral Lens Education Society. She is an advisor to and/or has received honoraria or travel expenses from AccuLens, Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Bruder, Contamac, CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Ocusoft, ScienceBased Health, Shire, Tarsus, and Visus Therapeutics.