How Long Can I Store My Soft Contact Lens?
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Long-Term Storage Guidelines
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Lenses may be stored in sterile solution for up to 30 days. The directions included in packages of multi-purpose soft lens cleaning solution suggest long-term storage of contact lenses may continue indefinitely as long as the user cleans the contact lens case thoroughly, and disinfects the lenses with multi-purpose solution. Fill the case with the multi-purpose solution and store lenses in it for up to 30 days. The wearer must repeat this process every 30 days to keep contacts clean and sterile.
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Other Storage Factors
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Be certain that your prescription is still accurate after a long period of lens storage. The wearer must take care that the lenses do not dehydrate. The case should be tightly sealed to prevent spilling or evaporation of the contact solution, as both of these would lead to the lenses drying out. Contact prescriptions may change drastically over time, so the wearer should take into account whether the prescription is still accurate after a long period of storage.
Bottom Line
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While contact lenses may be stored indefinitely if proper precautions and maintenance schedules are followed, it may be best to invest in disposable lenses or lenses meant for short-term wear. These usually come in sets so that instead of storing lenses, the wearer can simply dispose of them and open a fresh pair when he desires to wear lenses again.
References
- Photo Credit eye test chart image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com contact lens case image by Sandra Henderson from Fotolia.com green lens 2 image by Bosko Martinovic from Fotolia.com
