Now that rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGP) have been in existence for many years, a lot of people have gotten accustomed to viewing the selection of contact lens solution as a mundane task. At the store, they just grab the same old bottle of "no-rub" solution and keep going. But, not so fast! Did you know that the rules are changing? Newer contact lenses have begun to use new technologies, to provide materials that are even safer, more comfortable, and more convenient than before. Those new technologies mean that the same old contact lens solution may not be the correct choice anymore. Before you choose a bottle of contact lens solution for your gas perm lenses next time, make sure you understand some of the recent developments, and how they may determine which lens solution is best for you.
The New "No-Rub" Solutions - Not All Good
The trend in recent history has been toward the use of "no- rub" solutions. In the early days of contact lenses, care was extremely complicated. Often, a contact lens wearer had to use three different solutions (separate solutions for disinfecting, cleaning and resisting deposits), and had to follow a care regimen which usually included a lot of rubbing every time you took your contacts out. The problem was that, with contact lens care being such a hassle, doctors found that a lot of patients just skipped the care routine and took their chances. That's why new solutions were developed which did everything in one solution, and were called "no-rub". Although these "no- rub" solutions are favored these days, it's actually bad news for some new lenses. This is due to the fact that many new lenses are made of a revolutionary material called "silicone hydrogel", which greatly improves the oxygen supply to the eye. A downside of silicone hydrogel is that lipid deposits on silicone hydrogel lenses tend to be greater and, since these deposits are oily and greasy, rubbing is the best way to get them off. Keep this in mind if you buy some of the new silicone hydrogel lenses. Check with your doctor and you may find that you need to stay away from the "no- rub" solutions, despite their convenience. Rubbing may actually be good, even if it involves a little more work.
New pH Adjusting Solution for RGPs:
One really great development in solutions specifically for rigid gas permeable lenses is the new Alcon "Unique pH" solution. Some lens wearers in the past have experienced irritation in adjusting to lenses because the pH of the lens is different than the natural pH of their eyes. In response to this, the new "Unique pH" solution was developed so it automatically adjusts its pH to match the pH of the wearer's tears. In fact, the company offers to pack the lenses in this solution prior to shipping, so they will already have soaked in it for awhile when the patient gets them. In this way, they will already be ready to adjust to the patient's eyes as soon as they arrive, making for a much smoother adjustment period for the patient.
It's clear right away that the choice of lens solutions is not so simple anymore. Not only can your old solution cause problems with the new technologies, but the choice of newer solutions can also offer additional benefits that the old types of solutions don't have. Rather than knocking yourself out worrying about the best solution for your own needs, your best advice is to simply check with your doctor and determine which solution will avoid problems with your lenses while maximizing the benefits you can get from new technologies. Just don't grab the same old bottle of "no-rub" solution anymore. Instead, arm yourself with a little knowledge, make your choices wisely, and you'll experience a greatly improved experience with your rigid gas permeable contact lenses.
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