Contact Lens Solutions

[VitaminH]

Hi,

I've worn contacts for almost 10 years. The past few years I've had problems with dryness, and my eyes getting red towards the end of the day. I bought this up with my optometrist December when I saw him, and he switched me to the new Acuvue Oaysis (sp?) contact lenses. They were great. Still are. However, I've found that it seems like now they are starting to get dry again. I was using Renu with Moistureloc for my solution.

My girlfriend complained my eyes were still red often so I tried switching to Opti-Free's multipurpose solution. The dryness seems worse, and then with the contacts being dry my eyes get red. So I'm looking to switch again.

I have relatively sensiative eyes, which is probably the source of the redness. Basically I was looking to try another solution and was wondering what people's opinions are.

If nothing else I will likely switch back to the Renu w/Moistureloc because while my eyes may have been red, it was more comfertable. I've seen now that Opti-free has a new solution with something to retain moisture better (probably their version of Moistureloc). Has anyone tried this?

I guess the point of this is I was just curious what solutions people use with their contact lenses (I have soft, disposable ones, so those of you with those would be the best responders, or at least any soft ones) and how they like their results?

Thanks mates!

[samcol]

I just got those new Oasis contacts too and absolutely love them. They are such a big improvement. As for contact solutions, I'm always changing them and never really pay attention to which ones I grab at the store. I'm not convinced there's any difference between brands from what I can tell (although I haven't tried this moisturelac type you mentioned). With that being said, I wouldn't say I am comforatable with my contacts 100% of the time, or even close to that. There are always days when they are extremely dry and uncomfortable. I usually just blink a bunch or use eye drops if I have them.

I am beginning to wonder if dryness has less do do with eyes, contacts and solutions, and more to do with overall diet and health?

[Martian]

I have abnormally dry eyes.. or so the optometrist said when I got them checked before getting contacts. I wear hydrogel vision extreme h₂O lenses and I just use Optifree No-Rub Express solution, I've never had any problems.

The lenses are 41% hioxifilcon A and 59% water, which may or may not be similar to the Acuvue ones you're wearing, but they came highly recommended by my optometrist (who himself came highly recommended by some of my friends). I tend to put them in before I go to work (5:30 am) and not take them out until just before I go to bed (usually 10 or 11), so if there were going to be dryness issues I probably would've had them by now. I've had problems with the right lenses tearing a bit earlier than expected but nothing too concerning and it's possible that it's my handling as much as it is the lenses themselves.

EDIT - In response to samcol, I'm reasonably sure (again, suggested by my optometrist) that a big reason why my eyes are dryer than normal is because I'm a smoker. Diet and health can absolutely affect these things.

[Redlemon]

Originally Posted by VitaminH

I guess the point of this is I was just curious what solutions people use with their contact lenses (I have soft, disposable ones, so those of you with those would be the best responders, or at least any soft ones) and how they like their results?

Have you considered gas permeable (hard) lenses? They can transmit more oxygen to your eye than soft lenses can. It might be worth exploring.

[maleficent]

I don't have lenses anymore because they were more trouble than they were worth... but for solution what I ended up having to do because I had such sensitivty to every solution on the market... the opthamologist gave me saline tablets that i used to dissolve in distilled water every day... not having any additional chemicals in the solution seemed to help a bunch

[VitaminH]

Long term I'd really like to get LASIK, and just be done with the whole corrective eyewear thing. However, i did crack a bottle of Renu with Moistureloc last night to try it out and today they have been much more comfortable than before. I really think I just need to stick with this, even if my eyes get a little redder.

Relemon, I've not tried the Gas Perms, my eye doc didn't mention it as an option, but if I continue to have trouble I may bring it up with him...

[thingstodo]

I recently began using the new Opti moisture solution and have noticed a difference. I also use rewetting drops 1-2 times daily and once right when I put them in.

[Val_1]

The only times I have problems with dryness is in the winter when the inside air gets really arid. I run a humidifier at home, but I can't humidify the whole world with it. I just wear my glasses more often in the winter. I don't trust Lasik and my eyes aren't really that bad anyway. I need corrective lenses to drive, but I'm can see without them.

[VitaminH]

Originally Posted by thingstodo

I recently began using the new Opti moisture solution and have noticed a difference. I also use rewetting drops 1-2 times daily and once right when I put them in.

I'm thinking I'm going to grab a small bottle of this when my current bottle of Renu runs out and give it a shot just to see if the redness and the dryness resolves. I've been checking myself and I don't notice much redness with the Renu, so mayhaps the girlfriend is just imagining things. I guess i need to gaze into my own eyes more or something...

[raiha]

I use Renu with Moistureloc myself and haven't had any problems. Recently, the government in my country called for a retrieval of this contact lens solution after it was reported that it causes serious eye infections.

Now, i'm using AQuify® 5 Minute Multi-Purpose Solution from Ciba vision and it works just as well for me.

[thingstodo]

I went with Opti because it was what I was already using. It's still working great.

[imouseone]

Just stay away from MoistureLoc from Bausch & Lomb http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...lth&id=4073429

[thingstodo]

Yes. I've been hearing more about this problem. I went to the Opti-Free site and they have a letter posted that explains what is different from their moisture lock product vs. Renu.

This stuff is great. I don't think I ever feel the need to use drops any more.

[VitaminH]

Yeah I've now switched again due to the problems with MoistureLoc...

I'm trying out the Opti-Free Replenish which has added stuff to help retain moisture and so far so good, no dryness in the contacts and minimal redness in my eyes either. And for now at least no fungus

Hopefully it's not something that's similar amongst all the moisture retaining things that they'll all get pulled, because they sure do help me out.

[thingstodo]

Here's a link to a copy of the letter...

http://www.optifree.com/images/DocLetter041206.pdf

Alcon
6201 South Freeway
Fort Worth, TX 76134-2099
(817) 293-0450
(800) 451-3937
April 12, 2006
Dear Doctor,
I am responding to the recent increase in the United States and Asia of reported cases of
fungal keratitis, an eye infection caused by the Fusarium species, associated with contact
lens wear and the decision by Bausch & Lomb on April 10 to suspend shipments of
ReNu® MoistureLoc®1. At this time, it is our understanding that the Fusarium keratitis
reports are associated mainly with one brand of multi-purpose contact lens solution. I
would like to reassure you and your patients that Alcon’s OPTI-FREE® EXPRESS® and
OPTI-FREE® RepleniSH™ Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solutions (MPDS) are safe and
effective for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses.
Alcon has confirmed with the regulatory authorities in Hong Kong, Singapore and
Malaysia that none of the Fusarium keratitis cases there have been associated with the
use of either OPTI-FREE® EXPRESS® or OPTI-FREE® RepleniSH™ Multi-Purpose
Disinfecting Solutions (MPDS).
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) are conducting an ongoing investigation into the rise of
Fusarium keratitis cases in the U.S. On April 10, the CDC released a report stating that
all 26 (100%) evaluated cases of Fusarium keratitis involved a ReNu brand product or a
generic brand version manufactured by Bausch & Lomb, with five of these cases also
reporting the use of other solutions in addition to ReNu, including solutions made by
Alcon and another company. There were no cases reported in which OPTI-FREE®
EXPRESS® or OPTI-FREE® RepleniSH™ MPDS were used as the only disinfecting
solution, and the CDC has not provided us with information about the products involved
or the patterns of usage in the cases of Fusarium keratitis involving multiple products.
For more details about the CDC investigation, visit the following link:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm55d410.pdf
OPTI-FREE® EXPRESS® and OPTI-FREE® RepleniSH™ MPDS both employ
POLYQUAD® and ALDOX® as the disinfection agents in the formulations. These
compounds form the basis of a unique disinfecting system that is totally different from
the disinfection systems used in the ReNu branded products and the generic products
2
manufactured by Bausch & Lomb. The POLYQUAD® system has been used in Alcon
MPDS products for over 20 years, and has consistently been shown to be highly effective
against the Fusarium species and other potential ocular pathogens.
To further ensure the disinfecting efficacy of the POLYQUAD® and ALDOX® system,
OPTI-FREE® EXPRESS® has been subjected to a series of tests to demonstrate
effectiveness under exaggerated, real world conditions. The results of these tests
demonstrated:
- Even when the solution and lens are subjected to elevated storage temperatures of
50°C, OPTI-FREE® EXPRESS® MPDS showed a high level of antimicrobial
activity2.
o 100% log reduction of Fusarium solani
- In the presence of a contact lens, OPTI-FREE® EXPRESS® MPDS maintained
high antimicrobial activity2.
o 100% of normal log reduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
o 88% of normal log reduction of Staphylococcus aureus
Of course, to ensure the efficacy of any contact lens solution, it is necessary to reinforce
to your patients that they strictly follow the directions for use of their solutions. We also
encourage you to advise your contact lens-wearing patients to notify you immediately if
they notice any eye-related discomfort or changes in their vision.
Alcon will continue to monitor the situation closely and will communicate new
information to the community as it becomes available.
Sincerely,
Ralph Stone, PhD
Vice President, Clinical Affairs
For further information, please contact Ralph Stone at 817-568-6114.
1 Registered trademark of another company
2 Ruth A. Rosenthal, et al, Extreme Testing of Contact Lens Disinfecting Products, Contact Lens Spectrum,
Jul 2002