How to Store Contact Lenses Without Solution: Safe Emergency Methods

Research shows that up to 90% of contact lens-related eye infections result from improper storage or cleaning habits. Many lens wearers find themselves in situations where they've run out of contact solution despite this statistic. Understanding how to store contact lenses without solution during emergencies is definitely important to protect your eye health. This piece covers safe temporary methods when you need a contact lens solution substitute and what alternatives to avoid. You'll also learn proper steps for disinfection afterward. Then you'll discover prevention strategies to ensure you never face this situation again.

Why You Should Never Store Contacts Without Solution

Contact solution protects against bacteria and infections

Contact solution performs four functions that keep your lenses safe for daily wear. The formula cleanses by removing accumulated proteins, lipids, dust, makeup residue and environmental debris from lens surfaces. This cleaning action maintains lens clarity and breathability throughout your wearing schedule.

The disinfecting agents target harmful microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and amoebas that attach to contact lens surfaces. Multipurpose solutions remove these pathogens while maintaining the proper pH level for comfort. The solution also rinses away leftover debris or chemicals that might cause stinging when you insert your lenses. It creates a safe storage environment that keeps lenses hydrated and disinfected until your next use.

Skipping proper disinfection exposes your eyes to dangerous microorganisms. These include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium solani, Candida albicans and Acanthamoeba. Each organism can attach to lens surfaces and your contact case, creating perfect conditions for infection. Studies show that certain strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa can survive in contact solution for more than four hours, while the majority of strains get neutralized within 10 minutes.

How improper storage damages contact lenses

Dry storage causes immediate physical damage to the lens material. Soft lenses need moisture to maintain their shape and flexibility. Lenses start becoming rigid and brittle after 15-20 minutes in low humidity when they lack proper hydration. The lack of contact solution causes lenses to lose moisture and flexibility.

Water exposure creates different problems. Tap water lacks salt, causing contact lenses to swell up. This swelling affects how the lens fits your eye and creates tiny breaks in your cornea where infections can enter. The altered shape makes lenses uncomfortable or even painful to wear.

Dried-out lenses require at least 24 hours soaking in fresh solution before attempting to use them again. You need to check for cracks, splits or scratches after rehydration. Dry, stiff lenses are more likely to cause irritation when worn and can lead to corneal abrasions where the surface of your eye gets scratched. Scratching your cornea becomes a real risk if the lens material has been damaged.

Eye health risks from skipping proper storage

Bacterial growth develops on lens surfaces when stored in anything except intended solutions for more than a few hours. Contact lens storage containers have persistent microbial contamination, which has been linked to microbial keratitis and clear corneal invasion. There are 2 to 5 occurrences of microbial keratitis for every 10,000 persons who wear contact lenses each year.

Poor hygiene and overnight wear represent the two most frequent risk factors for contact lens-induced infectious keratitis, responsible for 33% and 43% of cases. The risk increases with extended wear lenses, affecting about 20 out of every 10,000 people compared to only 4 in 10,000 who use daily-wear lenses.

Fungal keratitis accounts for about 50% of all microbial keratitis cases that require therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty, which is a corneal transplant. Tap and distilled water have been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that resists treatment and cure. Other complications include pink eye (conjunctivitis), corneal abrasions and eye irritation.

Emergency Methods to Store Contact Lenses Without Solution

You've run out of contact solution and need to remove your lenses right away. Your options are limited. The safest choice remains discarding daily lenses or switching to glasses until you can access proper solution. But if you wear reusable lenses and must store them for a short time, follow these emergency methods.

Remove and store lenses dry in a clean container

Dry storage works as a last-resort option when no other alternatives exist. If you have no solution at all, remove the lenses and keep them dry in a clean container. This method prevents you from using unsafe liquids like tap water or saliva.

Wash your hands really well with antibacterial soap and dry them with a lint-free towel. Remove your lenses with clean, dry hands. Place each lens in a separate, clean container that you've washed with soap and warm water, then dried it out. The container must be bone dry before adding the lenses to prevent water contamination.

Do not reuse the lenses unless you can disinfect them with fresh solution within a few hours. If more than 12 hours pass, discard them to avoid infection. Lenses stored dry require at least 24 hours soaking in fresh solution before attempting to use them again.

Use sterile saline solution as a temporary substitute

Sterile saline solution serves as a temporary contact lens solution substitute for one night only. You can store your lenses in saline nasal spray or eye refreshing drops until you can get to the store to buy new contact lens solution. Simple saline solution keeps lenses from drying out but does not disinfect your lenses the way contact solution would.

Never use plain saline for extended storage. The solution lacks disinfecting properties and cannot protect against bacterial growth. Replace with proper multipurpose solution as soon as possible.

Find a temporary case alternative

Shot glasses or short juice glasses work better than larger containers because you can reach inside to retrieve your lenses. A new lens blister pack, sealed glass cup, or sterilized travel case can work in an emergency. Small plastic or glass jars with secure lids also function as temporary storage.

Clean any makeshift container really well with soap and warm water before use. Dry it out to eliminate water residue. Unclean containers introduce harmful bacteria and increase infection risk.

Label your left and right contact lenses

Write 'L' and 'R' on tape stuck to your temporary containers or on the covering material. Make the letters large enough to read without wearing your contacts. This prevents you from switching lenses between eyes, which causes discomfort and vision problems.

Submerge lenses and cover the container

Fill your container with enough solution to cover both lenses. After dropping in each lens, verify it sits submerged. Add more solution if necessary until the lens is covered.

Cover and seal the container as much as possible. Plastic or paper coverings prevent solution from evaporating and keep airborne bacteria from contaminating your lenses. This emergency method should be used only once and never become a routine habit.

What NOT to Use as a Contact Lens Solution Substitute

Many lens wearers resort to unsafe substitutes when they run out of contact solution. These alternatives seem harmless but expose your eyes to serious infections and permanent damage.

Never use tap water to store contacts

Tap water contains Acanthamoeba, a microscopic organism that lives in pools, lakes, household plumbing and even chlorinated swimming pools. Contact lens users account for an estimated 85% of Acanthamoeba keratitis cases in the United States. Research on water samples found that 10% were contaminated by Acanthamoeba.

The FDA warns against exposing contact lenses to any water, including tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean water. Exposure of contact lenses to water has been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that resists treatment and cure.

Water creates a double threat beyond bacterial contamination. Tap water lacks the salt balance of your natural tears. This causes contact lenses to absorb excess water and swell. Your lens expands and pulls on your cornea. This creates microscopic openings. These tiny wounds allow Acanthamoeba and other microorganisms direct access to your eye tissue.

The infection itself causes intense pain, redness and blurred vision. Treatment can require a year or more. Severe cases may need corneal transplants or result in blindness.

Why distilled water is unsafe for contact lenses

Distilled water appears safer than tap water but presents similar risks. It's purified but still isn't sterile and can contain live Acanthamoeba. Research testing partially-used distilled water from fifty contact lens wearers found that 12% were contaminated.

Fifty percent of Acanthamoeba keratitis cases involved the use of homemade saline solutions made with distilled water. An additional 25% of reported cases involved the use of non-sterile tap water as part of regular lens care. Bottled water testing revealed that 20% of samples exceeded acceptable sanitation limits. 17% more contained lower but still present levels of microbes.

Saliva and eye drops are not safe alternatives

Using saliva to wet or clean contact lenses transfers bacteria onto the lens surface. Your mouth provides a dark and moist environment ideal for bacterial growth. Putting contacts into your mouth is like "putting them in a petri dish".

The FDA warns against putting lenses in your mouth to wet them and notes that saliva is not a sterile solution. Licking contacts before inserting them into your eyes introduces harmful bacteria that can cause keratitis.

Eye drops offer no disinfecting properties. They lack the agents needed to kill germs or clean your lenses. Using them for storage creates a breeding ground for bacteria to multiply on the lens surface.

DIY contact solution risks you should avoid

Homemade saline solutions introduce serious infection risks. Sixty percent of reported cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis resulted from using homemade saline. These DIY alternatives cannot replicate the precise pH balance, disinfecting agents and quality control that commercial solutions undergo.

The sale of salt tablets for homemade saline has been banned by the FDA. There is no benefit to using homemade saline for contact lens disinfection and storage. There are many risks, the possible risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis being the most serious.

What to Do After Emergency Storage

Emergency storage without proper contact solution requires immediate action once you get fresh disinfecting solution. Your lenses need a full cleaning before you can safely wear them again.

Disinfect lenses before wearing again

Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them with a lint-free towel before handling your lenses. Rub and rinse your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional. Clean and disinfect your lenses according to the labeling instructions. Pour fresh multipurpose solution into your lens case and rub each lens for about 10-20 seconds using clean fingers. Rinse with the solution after.

Never reuse any lens solution. Discard all leftover contact lens solution after each use. Used solution may harbor bacteria or other contaminants. Always fill your case with fresh solution for storage then.

Hydrogen peroxide solutions require special handling. These products employ 3% hydrogen peroxide and cannot be placed on your eyes directly. They need neutralization before reapplication, which takes at least six hours. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure complete conversion of peroxide into water and oxygen.

When to throw away contacts after improper storage

Discard your lenses right away if they were stored in anything other than sterile saline or kept dry for more than 12 hours. The lens material and packaging may degrade over time. This increases contamination risk. Lenses worn beyond their recommended lifespan can lead to protein buildup and decreased oxygen flow. Infection risk goes up.

Remove your lenses right away if you develop eye irritation or infection symptoms. Do not put them back in your eyes. Contact your eye care professional. Don't throw away your lenses in this situation. Store them in your case and take them to your eye care professional, who may want to use them to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Signs your contact lenses are contaminated

Remove your lenses and consult your eye doctor if you notice blurry or distorted vision, redness or irritation, a gritty or burning sensation, excessive tearing or dryness, or sensitivity to light. These symptoms may indicate that your lenses are contaminated, damaged, or no longer fitting your eyes. Avoid wearing contact lenses again until advised by your eye doctor.

How to Prevent Running Out of Contact Solution

Running out of contact solution happens when you don't have prevention strategies in place. Building better habits eliminates emergency storage situations.

Keep travel-sized solution in your bag

Travel-sized bottles fit well in purses, backpacks and gym bags. Solution manufacturers sell 2 oz containers designed for portability. These TSA-compliant bottles slip into your daily bag and provide backup when you're away from home. Stock multiple 2 oz bottles to cover several days of unexpected overnight stays.

Stock up on contact lens supplies

Ordering a three-to-six-month supply prevents urgent trips and rushed orders. Buying in bulk ensures you always have solution on hand. Many brands include a new case with every bottle purchased, which helps with regular case replacement.

Think over daily disposable contact lenses

Daily disposables eliminate the need for solution. You wear them during the day and toss them at night, making way for a fresh pair each morning. No cleaning routine means no solution bottles to carry or replace. Dailies prove more economical for occasional wearers since you're not committed to using monthly lenses within their replacement schedule.

Replace your contact lens case often

Replace your case every three months. Bacteria builds up even with regular cleaning and increases infection risk. Most solution bottles include a new case, making replacement easy. Switch cases whenever you open a new bottle of solution.

Conclusion

While emergency situations happen, storing contact lenses without proper solution should be your last resort. The methods outlined here work for a short time, but they cannot replace multipurpose disinfecting solution designed to care for lenses. Without doubt, the best approach is prevention. Stock travel-sized bottles in your daily bag and buy solution in bulk. You might also think over switching to daily disposables that eliminate storage concerns.

Your eye health depends on proper lens care. Take these prevention strategies to heart rather than relying on emergency methods. With the right habits in place, you'll never face the dilemma of storing contacts without solution again.