SOLUTION FOCUS

RECOMMEND TWO SOLUTIONS

USE CLEAR CARE RINSE & GO AS A COMPANION TO HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SOLUTION

SUSAN J. GROMACKI, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O., F.S.L.S.

THE BENEFITS of a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contact lens care system include efficacious disinfection, a no-rub indication and a preservative-free environment. The H₂O₂ is neutralized with a catalytic disc or tablet (four to six hours) to nonpreserved saline, but all debris remains in the case. As a result, about 63% of patients purchase an additional solution to rinse their contact lenses after using a H2O2 disinfection system, according to Alcon.

What’s more, many patients remove their lenses during the day to nap, shower, swim or the like. Some patients may mistakenly drop their lenses during insertion or need to temporarily store their lenses until they can properly clean and disinfect them. Since hydrogen peroxide requires a four to six hour neutralization period, the lenses must be stored in something else. If patients select a multi-purpose solution, they expose their lenses to the preservatives or surfactants that their practitioner was trying to avoid. If they choose a non-preserved saline solution, then they run the risk of microbial contamination. Clear Care Rinse & Go, from Alcon, is an option for that mid-day storage.

OVERVIEW

Clear Care Rinse & Go solution is a sterile, buffered, isotonic, aqueous saline solution containing POLYQUAD (polyquaternium-1) 0.001% preservative, citrate and edetate disodium 0.05%. The package insert states that the lenses can be stored safely in the solution for up to 30 days.

PROCEDURE

I recommend this solution to patients who utilize a hydrogen peroxide disinfection system. We review the saline solution’s attributes as both a rinsing and storage solution, as described above. I present the patients a sample-sized bottle of the solution and ask them to bring it to the store to ensure that they purchase the correct solution. Then, they can use the smaller bottle for travel.

In addition, I suggest this solution to patients who wear GP scleral lenses. With these lenses, it is not advised to use tap water to rinse off the daily cleaner. This solution is perfect, as it contains no cleaners or wetting agents. However, because it is preserved, it should not be used to fill a scleral GP lens prior to application. It can also be used to rinse cleaners, disinfectants or enzymatic solutions from all types of contact lens surfaces (soft, hybrid or GP).

A COMPLEMENT

This saline solution is designed to serve as a companion product to Clear Care or any hydrogen peroxide disinfection solution. It can also be used to rinse or store contact lenses of any kind. It is a welcome addition to our contact lens care options. OM

DR. GROMACKI is the director of the Contact Lens Service at Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons in Silver Spring, Md. She is a diplomate in the cornea, contact lenses and refractive technologies section of the AAO and a fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society. She has consulted for or received lecture honoraria from: AccuLens, Alcon, Alden Optical, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Blanchard, CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care and Visionary Optics. Visit tinyurl.com/OMcomment to comment.