March 28, 2024
Contact Lens Safety
Contact Lens Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to improve contact lens safety by reminding consumers of the importance of following proper cleaning and storing procedures. Consumers who do not follow instructions for contact lens care and use increase their risk of serious eye infections that can lead to blindness.

Contact Lens Safety

To support proper cleaning and storage for contact lens safety, the FDA has developed a new video on contact lens safety, which can be found on the FDA’s Web site (www.fda.gov), along with an in-depth Consumer Update article. The video and the article stress the importance of emptying the solution out of the contact lens case after each use and using the rub-and-rinse method for added effectiveness. Other important contact lens safety tips include:

  • Do not top off or reuse lens cleaning solution;
  • Use a contact lens solution to clean, rinse, and then air dry contact lens cases after each use;
  • Do not expose contact lenses or lens storage cases to any type of water or other non-sterile solutions.

In early 2009, the FDA convened a workshop called ‘Microbiological Testing of Contact Lens Care Products,” in collaboration with several eye care professional groups, to develop consensus on test methods for evaluating contact lens solutions. Based on discussions from this workshop and from a 2008 meeting of the agency’s advisory panel for ophthalmic devices, the FDA is developing manufacturer guidance on potential labeling improvements for these products.

Contact Lens Safety advisory findings

In its June 2008 meeting, the advisory panel for ophthalmic devices made specific contact lens safety recommendations for contact lens product labeling and directions for use, including adding a discard date on their products, in addition to the usual expiration date. The discard date is the date the solution should be thrown out after opening.

On May 19, 2009, the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health issued a letter to manufacturers of contact lens multipurpose solution products that include an option for cleaning without a step for rubbing the lenses for additional contact lens safety. This letter informed these manufacturers of the panel’s conclusion that there is improvement in lens care when using a rub-and-rinse regimen as compared to a rinse-alone regimen, which omits the rubbing step. The direction to rub and rinse lenses, based on the advice of an eye care professional, has always been part of the labeling for multipurpose contact lens safety and care of  products.

3 thoughts on “Contact Lens Safety

  1. trying the new contacts out and doing eye exercises at the same time having a hard time getting used to the contacts again

  2. I just switched back to my contacts so as they say timing is everything I also have been reading about a program of eye exercises that help improve your vision the Janet Goodrich Method seems like an old program your thoughts

  3. Very interesting article. I am wearing glasses because I am not sure about the safety of contact lense. I saw some people had eye problems because of it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Clicky