Be Careful to Avoid Misuse of Contact Lens Solutions, FDA Advises

Contact lenses are supposed to be a convenient alternative to clumsy or uncomfortable eye glasses, but the improper storage and misuse of contact lens solutions can result in painful eye infections and even blindness, the Food and Drug Administration said today.

The FDA has now released a public advisory designed to educate contact-lens wearers about the proper care and use of saline solutions in an effort to avoid severe complications.

Earlier this year, the FDA held a workshop along with eye care professionals to develop a set of guidelines for evaluating contact lens solutions. The FDA is still working on compiling rules for manufacturers and possibly changing labeling for the products to warn users of the potential for injury.

The FDA is again stressing the importance of proper handling and cleaning of contact lenses and advising consumers to always completely empty the solution out of contact lenses after each use. Among the other tips from the FDA are:

• Use the rub-and-rinse method for added effectiveness

• Never 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

An FDA panel which advises the agency on ophthalmic devices including contact lenses, in 2008 told the FDA to add a discard date on bottles of contact lens solutions to prevent injuries from products that are too old and no longer safe or effective. The discard date is when the solution should be thrown out after it has been opened, the FDA said.

In May 2009, the FDA ordered contact lens solution companies to include in the products’ packaging information about cleaning by rubbing and rinsing lenses, which the agency said is a more effective method of cleaning than simply soaking the lenses in solution.

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