Which contact lens solution for which lens?
Choose by lens material first, then by sensitivity. Soft and silicone hydrogel lenses use a multipurpose solution or Regard; rigid, Ortho-K and scleral lenses use a hydrogen peroxide system. Sensitive or dry eyes move towards preservative-free care and a sodium hyaluronate drop. This page explains the whole decision in plain English so you can dispense with confidence.
Six steps
How to choose a lens care system
Work through these six checks with the patient in the chair and you will land on the right Avizor product every time.
- 1
Identify the lens material
Soft and silicone hydrogel lenses use a multipurpose solution or Regard. Rigid, Ortho-K and scleral lenses need a peroxide system — Ever Clean Plus for corneal and Ortho-K lenses, Ever Clean Scleral for large-diameter scleral lenses.
- 2
Ask about sensitivity
If the wearer reports stinging, redness or intolerance with their current solution, move away from preservatives: Regard releases none onto the eye, Ever Clean neutralises fully, and Unica Sensitive uses the minimum preservative concentration.
- 3
Check the deposit picture
Heavy lipid or protein deposits point to Ever Clean Plus with its biotechnological cleaning agents, or Alvera with its enhanced lipid removal action for silicone hydrogel materials.
- 4
Address end-of-day dryness
If comfort fades late in the day, dispense Unica Sensitive with sodium hyaluronate and add Lacrifresh Moisture drops, which can be used with lenses in place.
- 5
Grade the dry eye
Occasional, environmental dryness suits Lacrifresh Moisture. Moderate to severe dryness suits Lacrifresh Ocu-dry 0.30% — a hypotonic drop with more sodium hyaluronate plus glycerine and electrolytes.
- 6
Match the format to the routine
60 ml and 100 ml for trials, travel and fitting packs; a single 350 ml bottle for regular replenishment; 2 and 3-bottle cartons as the value dispense for established wearers.
Product types
What each type of lens care actually does
Five families of product cover the whole of contact lens care. Each one leads with a direct answer below.
Multipurpose solutions (MPS)
A multipurpose solution cleans, rinses, disinfects, lubricates and stores soft lenses in one bottle.
This is the simplest routine and the right default for most soft lens wearers. Wearers must still rub each lens for around 20 seconds and rinse before soaking, because soaking alone leaves deposits behind. In the Avizor range this is All Clean Soft, Unica Sensitive and Alvera.
Hydrogen peroxide systems
A peroxide system uses 3% hydrogen peroxide that neutralises into a saline-like solution, leaving no preservative on the lens.
The neutralising tablet must be added every time and the lens must never be rinsed with un-neutralised peroxide. Disinfection and neutralisation with Ever Clean Plus complete in two hours, and the system works with every lens material including Ortho-K.
Preservative-free disinfection
Regard is a lens solution that disinfects by releasing oxygen instead of leaving a preservative behind on the lens.
It is used exactly like a multipurpose solution — rub, rinse, soak, insert — with no tablet or neutralising step, which makes it a straightforward switch for a patient who reacts to standard solutions or shows corneal staining.
Scleral and specialty care
Scleral lenses need a case sized for their diameter and sagittal height, and preservative-free care for a compromised ocular surface.
Ever Clean Scleral supplies both: a preservative-free peroxide system and a purpose-built scleral case. Ortho-K and RGP wearers are normally dispensed Ever Clean Plus.
Lubricating eye drops
Sodium hyaluronate drops relieve dryness, irritation and tired eyes and can be used with or without lenses in place.
Hyaluronic acid holds water, adheres to the mucin layer of the tear film and slows evaporation. Lacrifresh Moisture is the isotonic everyday drop; Lacrifresh Ocu-dry 0.30% is the hypotonic option for moderate to severe dry eye. Unidose vials are preservative free.
Wearer hygiene
The six rules to repeat at every dispense
Most contact lens complications trace back to handling and case hygiene rather than the solution itself, so these points are worth saying out loud every time.
- Wash and dry your hands before touching lenses or drops.
- Rub each lens gently for around 20 seconds, then rinse with fresh solution — never with tap water.
- Always use fresh solution in the case; never top up yesterday's solution.
- Empty, rinse and air-dry the case after every use, and replace the case regularly.
- Observe the discard date on the bottle after opening, and never share a bottle between people.
- Remove lenses and seek advice if the eye becomes red, painful, sticky or unusually light-sensitive.
FAQs
Lens care questions, answered
- Multipurpose solution or hydrogen peroxide — which is better?
- Both disinfect effectively. A multipurpose solution is simpler and quicker; a peroxide system gives deeper cleaning and leaves no preservative on the lens, which suits sensitive eyes, heavy depositors and rigid or Ortho-K lenses.
- Do wearers still need to rub their lenses?
- Yes. Rubbing each lens for around 20 seconds and rinsing before soaking removes far more deposit and microbial load than a no-rub soak, whichever solution is used.
- Can tap water ever be used on lenses or cases?
- No. Tap water can carry organisms including Acanthamoeba, which is associated with severe keratitis. Only lens solution or sterile saline should touch lenses and cases.
- Which solution suits silicone hydrogel lenses?
- All Clean Soft, Unica Sensitive, Alvera and Regard are all compatible. Alvera is formulated specifically for silicone hydrogel materials with an enhanced lipid removal action.
- How long can lenses stay in solution before wear?
- Follow the individual pack instructions. Peroxide systems complete neutralisation in two hours and lenses can be left in the closed case overnight; multipurpose solutions state their own minimum soak time.
- Preservative-free or multidose eye drops?
- Choose preservative-free unidose vials for frequent dosing, a sensitive or compromised ocular surface, and travel. A multidose bottle is more economical for occasional daytime use.
- Can eye drops be used with lenses in?
- The Lacrifresh range is designed for use alongside contact lens wear; follow the specific pack instructions and the practitioner's advice.
- How often should the lens case be replaced?
- Regularly — cases build biofilm over time. Many practices replace the case monthly, and new cases are supplied with Avizor retail cartons and peroxide packs.
Stock the whole decision tree from one account
Multipurpose, peroxide, preservative-free, scleral and dry eye drops — every branch of the guide above is available on one Avizor trade price list.
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