The Hidden Dangers of Reusing Contact Solution: What You Need to Know

Contact solution is integral to keeping your contact lenses clean and safe. Many people ask if it’s possible to reuse this solution at least once. This is a practice that doctors advise against because of the risks involved. It helps to understand what contact solution is made of and what it’s meant to do.  What is Contact Solution? Contact solution is a chemical necessary to keep your contact lenses safe from accumulating germs and particles when you store them. However, the ingredients in the solution are not set in stone. The solution can contain surfactants, preservatives, a wetting solution, and disinfectants. Surfactants remove debris and residue that can accumulate on your contact lenses without damaging them while disinfectants kill germs. Preservatives prolong the shelf life of the contact solution but that doesn’t mean it will last forever. You should note the expiration date of your solution as it’s not as effective when it’s expired. Finally, the wetting solution keeps your contacts moisturized so they’re comfortable when you put them in.  There are also different types of contact solutions. A daily cleaning solution will remove dirt and residue but won’t disinfect them so it’s not a good choice for storing your...