UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi

Can anyone tell me if tap water can be used to rinse RGP contact lenses after the cleaner has been applied and BEFORE soking in conditioning solution. I've come across contradictory information, with some saying you should never get water on lenses, but B & L's web site states it is OK to rinse with tap water:

http://www.bausch.com/us/vision/products/rgpcare/blconcclnrinsert.pdf

Also how much time should be spent on rinsing?If rinsing with saline how much should be used?

many thanks

Mizan

No. Ideal world NEVER use tap water. for reasons explained in the next post down about parasites etc in the water that can make you go blind (potentially and if present)

Saline, well use enough to clean the lens I guess...varies form person to person

If you want to use water (cost etc) than boil it, let it cool and yes that....certain it does not kill 100% of the little germs but it does for about 99.9 of the cases so I once read

I generally rinse my lenses with saline until the soapy feel of the cleaner has gone. The storage solution is also a neutraliser of the cleaning solution if you are using the Bausch and Lomb stuff.

Cooled boiled water should only be used if nothing eles is available as this will have a mild steralising affect on the water and will certainly kill any parasites. To be honest there is a whole range of bugs on the human body that would make your skin crawl if you saw them. However we need many of them to help keep is healthy! It is only when the balance is disrupted that things become problematic.

As people regular to this site will be aware with my varied carears with muck of one sort or another, this has never caused a problem. Worn lenses while working in sewers, even been down sewers post graft an I have never had an eye infection. The most important thinks is to keep everything clean and follow good houskeeping rules regarding lenses and what goes near your eyes.

Having worked for the government, many reports are made public with good intentions but they way they are reported is often very alarmist and blow things out of proportion.

As far as the report about parasites in watre a year or so ago is news to me so I am not in a position to say if it was alarmist or not.

Hope this helps.

Gareth

I have to agree with everything already said here and say that personally i never use tap water. I guess though that as a nurse i have always got a good supply of saline so never run out! LOL! But i guess in an emergency, it would be ok to use boiled cooled water.

On how much saline you need, i agree with Gareth, enough that they feel clean and you can't see or feel any cleaning solution. I think it's better to waste some than not use enough and put your lenses in with cleaner on them.

And along with good hygiene goes the golden rule of HAND WASHING!! Haha, i'm sure you are aware with publicity about hospital infections and nurses being told repeatedly to wash their hands. Well this refers at home too! It's not just when we're ill in a hospital that we are prone to infections and picking up bugs ..... just wanted to do a little nursey speech there and be proactive. Ok, enough said! lol!

Sweet X x X

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