Soft contact lens cleaning: rub or no-rub?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomaterials Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Soft contact lens wear is common, necessitating effective cleaning methods to prevent complications.
• Deposits on contact lenses can compromise visual acuity and increase the risk of microbial keratitis.
• Current cleaning guidelines vary, with some recommending rubbing and others promoting no-rub techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of rubbing versus no-rubbing methods in cleaning soft contact lenses.
• To evaluate the impact of rinsing duration on deposit removal in no-rub techniques.
• To assess the efficacy of different multipurpose solutions (MPS) in conjunction with various cleaning methods.

Main Methods:

• Three hundred biweekly hydrogel lenses were artificially contaminated with protein, hand cream, and mascara.
• Lenses were cleaned using three methods: rubbing (R), no-rub with manufacturer-recommended rinsing (NR1), and no-rub with shorter rinsing (NR2).
• Four MPS and saline were used; deposit removal was assessed using a slit-lamp and a five-point scale by masked investigators.

Main Results:

• Rubbing (R) significantly outperformed both no-rub methods (NR1 and NR2) in removing semi-transparent and black deposits.
• No significant difference in deposit removal was observed between NR1 and NR2 methods.
• The type of multipurpose solution or saline used did not impact the level of remaining deposits across all cleaning methods.

Conclusions:

• Manual rubbing is crucial for effectively removing loosely-bound deposits from soft contact lenses.
• Extended rinsing times in no-rub methods do not significantly improve deposit removal compared to shorter rinses.
• Contact lens wearers should be advised to rub their lenses during cleaning to ensure optimal hygiene and reduce the risk of complications.