Strange solutions - risky vision
Baby oil, beer, coke, petroleum jelly, lemonade, fruit juice and butter are just some of the alternatives people have used in place of contact lens solution, new research has revealed. Research carried out on behalf of Biotrue multi-purpose contact lens solution, has shown that a shocking 20% of people have tried bizarre and possibly damaging alternatives to contact lens solution. Many of which are in no way designed for use in the human eye and may cause pain or even result in serious eye health problems.
“Although the numbers for the more extreme examples such as beer and baby oil were low, it is most concerning to see the risks people are willing to take when it comes to their eye health. Alcohol, found in beer, is corrosive on the cornea and can cause serious lasting damage, while baby oil can irritate the eye and cause severe blurring ”, Nick Dash, an Optometrist from Visual Edge Optometrists, comments on the findings.
Spit, or saliva, featured highly on the list of alternatives people have tried, but with the average adult mouth containing 500 to 1,000 different types of bacteria, it is not a recommended form of eye lubrication. The same could be said of water, of which 16% of contact lens wearers surveyed listed. Tap and distilled water may contain bacteria that can cause damage to the eye and have been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment. Water also does not disinfect lenses or remove proteins that could build-up on the lens as they are worn, which may cause discomfort.
“It’s really important for contact lens wearers to follow proper contact lens hygiene to maintain eye health and to keep their lenses clean and comfortable. There is good reason multi-purpose lens solutions are so carefully developed. Modern lens solutions have been designed to protect your eyes in many different ways: from cleaning and disinfecting the lenses, to conditioning the lenses making them more comfortable to wear. The potential problems caused by poor lens hygiene are many, including symptoms such as itchy, red or tired eyes, to more serious issues such as infection that can cause loss of vision.” Nick Dash added.
Multi-purpose solutions are specifically designed in order to keep contact lenses clean and clear, ensuring your eyes stay as healthy and comfortable as possible. Biotrue multi-purpose solution has been developed following intensive studies on how the eye naturally works to clean, hydrate and keep itself healthy. Biotrue® helps keep lenses moist for up to 20 hours* and has exceptional disinfection properties. It is formulated to work like the eye with three bio-inspired innovations that are almost as remarkable as the eye itself:
matches the pH of healthy tears to help make putting in contact lenses more comfortable
includes a lubricant found naturally within the eyes
maintains healthy tear proteins to help keep lenses clean and clear
Biotrue multi-purpose solution is priced at a recommended retail of £13.95 for 300ml, or the Value Pack (2 x 300ml) for £23.95. Both are available from Boots and leading opticians across the UK. Biotrue multi-purpose solution is also available in a convenient, and easy to store, 240ml flat pack format, which is only available from Boots.
For further information, and a full store locator list, log onto biotrue.co.uk.
