Sloppy contact lens cleaning is the #1 cause of preventable eye infections among Pakistani lens wearers. The good news: proper cleaning takes 60 seconds per day and prevents 99% of contact-lens-related eye problems. The bad news: most wearers do it wrong without realizing.
Here's the right way to clean contact lenses, plus the 10 most common Pakistani lens care mistakes — with fixes.
The Right Way: Daily Cleaning Routine
Evening (Lens Removal + Cleaning)
- Wash hands with fragrance-free soap and dry with lint-free towel
- Remove your first lens (always start with same eye to avoid mixing up L/R)
- Place lens in palm of hand
- Apply 3-4 drops of fresh multi-purpose solution to the lens
- Rub lens gently with index finger in a back-and-forth motion for 20 seconds. This is critical — most wearers skip the rub step
- Rinse the lens with fresh solution (don't use the same solution)
- Place in clean lens case with fresh solution (fill the case completely)
- Repeat for second lens
- Close case firmly
Morning (Lens Insertion)
- Wash and dry hands
- Open lens case
- Pour fresh solution over the lens before removing it from case
- Place lens on fingertip and inspect for damage
- Insert lens into eye
- Empty the case completely
- Rinse case with fresh solution (not water)
- Air-dry case upside down with caps removed
The 10 Most Common Pakistani Lens Care Mistakes
Mistake 1: Topping Up Old Solution Instead of Replacing
You open the lens case in the morning, see there's still solution in it, and just close the case to reuse it tonight. Wrong. Lens solution loses its antimicrobial effectiveness within hours of opening — the case solution from this morning is already contaminated with biofilm by evening.
Fix: Empty the case completely every morning. Rinse with fresh solution. Air-dry upside down. Fill with fresh solution every evening.
Mistake 2: Using Tap Water on Lenses
This is the most dangerous mistake. Tap water in Pakistan (even filtered tap water) contains Acanthamoeba — a microorganism that causes severe corneal infections. Even bottled water isn't sterile enough for lenses. Never rinse lenses, lens cases, or hands with water before lens contact.
Fix: Use only multi-purpose lens solution for all lens-related rinsing. For hand washing, use plain water and soap, then dry completely with lint-free towel before touching lenses.
Mistake 3: Skipping the "Rub" Step
Multi-purpose solution alone removes only 60-70% of lens protein deposits. The 20-second rub step removes the remaining 30-40%. Without rubbing, deposits build up over weeks and cause discomfort, blurry vision, and infection risk.
Fix: Always rub lens for 20 seconds with solution before rinsing. The "rub & rinse" method is recommended by every contact lens manufacturer regardless of solution type.
Mistake 4: Using Expired Solution
Multi-purpose solution expires 3-6 months after opening (check bottle for specific dates). Expired solution loses antimicrobial effectiveness and the preservatives degrade.
Fix: Write the opening date on the solution bottle with a marker. Discard 3 months after opening regardless of how much solution is left.
Mistake 5: Not Replacing the Lens Case
Lens cases develop biofilm regardless of how well you clean them. Even daily emptying and rinsing with solution doesn't fully remove biofilm. After 3 months, the case is a microbial colony.
Fix: Replace your lens case every 3 months. Cost is PKR 200-400. WhatsApp +92 321 9455233 if you need a new case.
Mistake 6: Sharing Lenses or Lens Solutions
"My sister's eye prescription is similar — I'll borrow her lenses." Don't. Contact lenses are personal medical devices. Sharing lenses transfers eye bacteria, allergens, and infections directly.
Fix: Even if prescriptions are identical, never share contact lenses. Solutions are similarly personal — don't share opened bottles.
Mistake 7: Wearing Lenses Past Replacement Date
"My monthly lens still feels fine after 6 weeks — why throw it away?" The lens material degrades after the manufacturer's wear date even if you can't feel it. Protein and biofilm deposits become irreversible.
Fix: Daily disposables: discard after each day. Monthly: discard at 30 days from first opening. 3-month: discard at 90 days. Yearly: discard at 365 days. Set a phone reminder.
Mistake 8: Sleeping with Standard Lenses
Only specific lenses are FDA-approved for overnight wear — primarily Acuvue Oasys (silicone hydrogel extended wear). Standard hydrogel monthly lenses (Biomedics 55, Eye Soft, Sunsoft) and ALL colored lenses (Bella, Dahab, Freshlook, Glimpse) are NOT approved for sleeping in.
Sleeping in lenses not designed for overnight wear deprives your cornea of oxygen, increases infection risk 5-10x, and can cause permanent corneal damage over time.
Fix: Remove all lenses before sleeping unless explicitly labeled extended wear.
Mistake 9: Wearing Lenses While Swimming or Showering
Pool water, shower water, hot tub water, and sea water all contain microorganisms that get trapped between the lens and your eye. Even chlorinated pools cause irritation.
Fix: Remove lenses before any water contact. For swimming, use prescription swimming goggles. For showering, remove lenses first or wear waterproof eye protection.
Mistake 10: Using Saline Solution Instead of Multi-Purpose
"Saline" sounds similar to multi-purpose solution but it's not — saline only rinses, it doesn't disinfect. Disinfection is what kills bacteria and prevents infections. Saline-only solution leaves bacteria alive on the lens overnight.
Fix: Always use a multi-purpose solution that explicitly says "for cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, storing". Trusted brands available in Pakistan: Bausch & Lomb Renu Fresh, Alcon Opti-Free PureMoist, ContactLens.pk's Comfort Multi-Action Solution.
Recommended Solutions Available in Pakistan
For Standard Hydrogel Lenses (Bella, Acuvue 2, Biomedics 55, Eye Soft)
- Comfort Multi-Action Solution (PKR 2,500)
- Bausch & Lomb Renu Fresh
- Ultimate Plus Imported Lens Solution Kit
For Silicone Hydrogel Lenses (Acuvue Oasys, Bausch & Lomb Ultra, O2 Optix)
- Alcon Opti-Free PureMoist (designed for silicone hydrogel)
- Bausch & Lomb Biotrue
Some standard solutions also work with silicone hydrogel — check the box for compatibility. When in doubt, use a silicone-hydrogel-specific solution.
For Colored Lenses (Bella, Dahab, Freshlook)
Same multi-purpose solutions as transparent lenses. Colored lens pigment is sealed within the lens material — solution doesn't fade the color.
Special Care for Different Lens Types
Daily Disposable Lenses
No cleaning required — single use only. Discard each evening. Wash hands before insertion and removal. Never reuse, even if the lens "looks fine".
Monthly Disposable Lenses
Daily cleaning routine as described above. Replace at 30 days from first opening. Replace case every 3 months.
3-Month Colored Lenses (Bella Elite, Diamond)
Same daily cleaning routine. The 90-day wear period assumes proper daily care. Without rubbing and fresh solution daily, lenses may degrade earlier.
Yearly Korean Lenses (Glimpse)
Most demanding care routine. Daily rub-and-rinse, fresh solution every 24 hours, weekly enzyme cleaning for protein removal, monthly case replacement. Yearly lenses last 12 months only with strict discipline.
Symptoms of Improper Lens Care
Stop wearing lenses immediately and consult an eye doctor if you experience:
- Persistent redness that doesn't resolve after lens removal
- Eye pain (sharp, not just discomfort)
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision that persists after blinking
- Excessive tearing or discharge
- Feeling of something in the eye that doesn't resolve
- Cloudy or yellowish discharge
These can indicate corneal infection (microbial keratitis), corneal ulcer, or Acanthamoeba keratitis — all serious conditions requiring immediate medical treatment.
Where to Buy Lens Care Products
Browse our lens solutions and lens cases. For bundle pricing on solution + case + eye drops, WhatsApp +92 321 9455233.
For a complete first-time lens care kit (solution + case + eye drops + cleaning instructions), ask for the "Beginner Care Bundle" on WhatsApp.