Alternatives to Miraflow....?

[jayuk]

Basically, Fairy Liquid is made up of various ingredients and also contains a group of chemicals called "artificial musks".

Whilst these are toxic to the skin, they CAN POTENTIALLY be even more to the surface of the eye. Whilst, I cant comment on the effect it would have in both the short and longer term; its use MAY cause issues...but without research etc it could just be a pile of c**p!.....

But where there is a man-made chemical; and an Eye....I personally would err on the side of caution. But thats me!

[rosemary johnson]

.... various things and also.....

But where there is a man-made chemical; and an Eye....I personally would err on the side of caution. But thats me!

Yeah - that's why I don't have anything to do with commercial contact lens cleaners!!!!
Seriously...... you are supposed to *rinse the cleaner off* after using it.
Whether it someone sold for contacts, washing up liquid, or whatever.
So it shouldn't be getting inyour eye at all.
My personal experience has been that the washing up liquid rinses off again OK, and the contact lens cleaner I've tried, I've rinsed and rinsed and a gallon or so of water later I can still smell the cleaner on the lens.
Maybe they have better formulations now, but as I've never had any problems with the washing up liquid, I'm not going to change.
for that matter, I've also at times used body shop shower gel, liquid soap from the loos at work, and various other things, and never had a problem with them. OK, so I'm lucky......
Rosemary

[Ian Joseph]

I've also at times used body shop shower gel, liquid soap from the loos at work, and various other things, and never had a problem with them. OK, so I'm lucky......
Rosemary

Rosemary,

With solutions not being readily available on prescription I too, would welcome a lower cost alternative. Not sure I would ever go to the lengths of using liquid soap from loos to clean my sclerals though.

It is the one area where I follow advice to the letter, it gives *me* peace of mind. Absolutely priceless in my book. I sincerely hope that you aren't just lucky and that you stay infection and problem free with your methods - just not for me I'm afraid.

I mentioned earlier that the Asda version of Miraflow is no longer - today I find that they now sell their own brand of Boston Advance (I think, by comparing ingredients) at £4.24 in my local store. Boston is £5.77. I hope this helps someone.

Cheers.

Ian

[David Bennett]

a plea from the optoms.

please please please use the solution advisded by you cl practitioner!!!

solution companies exist to produce solutions to help clean lenses
Believe me and **please** trust me on this, these soluton got through RIGOUROUS testing both lab and rrad world before reaching the market. I know because I have done some comparative research on some of the solutions. There is enourmous and I mean ENOURMOUS research and development costs (incidentally as there is with ANY drug) and the soluton is put though many many tests and comparisons.

IMHO for GP lenses there is only one decent all round solution BOSTON. stop.

Miraflowis excellent for removal of certain deposits but fairy liquid is poor at removal of any deposition.

Hope that helps and Rosemary, Please please stop using it, for the sake of your eyes.

Best wishes

David

[rosemary johnson]

No, David, I most certain will NOT stop cleaning my contacts lenses in washing up liquid.
Definietly not!
For your information, my optoms know I do it, have no problem with it - and even comment that it is a good idea, because people who use the washing up liquid tend to do a thorough job, and people who have to pay for the expensive purpose-made solutions tend to skimp them to save money.
You suit yourself and your eyes, and I'll look after my own. Two eye infections in 44 years doesn't sound too bad to me.
Rosemary

[Jacqueline Cheetham]

Rosemary. I seem to remember way back, that Ken Pullen suggested that I used Fairy Liquid to clean my lenses. And don't they make them squeeky clean..... I have had more problems using 'proper' cleaners, than I ever did with the Fairy. I also found diluted Baby Shampoo good too.

[Mike Oliver]

We must have had this debate over washing up liquid and proprietary brands of cleaners either on this forum, at meetings and in conversation at regular intervals over the last umpteen years. I guess the fact that it has surfaced again means it remains an issue of serious concern.
I can't contribute anything from a scientific viewpoint, but anecdotally some (the late Bob Murrell comes to mind - those of my advanced years may remember him) used washing up liquid for donkeys years with absolutely no problems. Some, like Rosemary, continue to do so without difficulty and it seems to work for them. I wouldn't do it but if it works for others and those advising them are aware and uncritical, I don't think its for any of us to say they are wrong.
I appreciate all the testing that goes into the cleaning and other solutions but that doesn't necessarily mean they are the solution(no pun intended) for everyone. There are still those (again not me) who simply lick their lens before putting it in. Sounds revolting but if it works without causing problems,who is to say its wrong.

For what it is worth I used the Boston range of products for many years until, for no apparent reason, I had a severe allergic reaction in both eyes which stopped and cleared up never (so far) to return when I changed to Miraflow.

"if it ain't broke, don't fix it" or put another way, whatever works works. If it stops working try something else.Thats my 2p worth!

[Sweet]

I'm all for using fairy liquid if it works! or indeed any other brand if it takes your fancy, hehe, don't want to be accused of promoting here!!

Personally i only use contact lens solutions, probably because i am dam picky and always keep a good stock of solutions and eye drops to hand. I guess it is very true, that whatever you seem to find that works for you, to stick with it!

Take care

Sweet X x X

[Lesley Foster]

Hi,

I also use Fairy liquid occasionally to clean my lenses and have had no ill effects. I have used it on both my corneal lenses and sclerals. I find it cleans them a lot better than the solutions. I used the Boston Advanced until I obtained my scleral lenses this year, now, as recommended by Ken Pullum, I use Miraflow and Quattro to clean them, saline to rinse and amidose when I put them in. Mind you I may drop the amidose because at the moment I can tolerate using the ordinary saline when inserting the lenses.

I have also resorted to licking my corneal lens and replacing it usually if it has flicked out when I have been out and about with no other means of cleaning it.

Merry Christmas one and all

Lesley.