The 10 Best Contact Lens Solutions of 2020

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First Look

Best Overall: ReNu Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution at Amazon

"ReNu’s Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution’s triple disinfectant system promises to kill 99.9% of germs in just 4 hours."

Best Budget: Complete Multi Purpose Solution at Amazon

"After just 6 hours in Complete’s Multi Purpose Solution, you can expect lenses that are clean, disinfected, and buildup-free."

Best for Comfort: Biotrue Contact Lens Solution at Amazon

"Biotrue’s Contact Lens Solution is designed to match the pH of healthy tears, keeping contact lenses comfortable while also minimizing irritation."

Best for Dry Eyes: Opti-Free Puremoist Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution at Amazon

"Opti-Free’s Puremoist Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution comes equipped with HydraGlide Moisture Matrix, a system that envelops contact lenses in a cushion of moisture."

Best for Sensitive Eyes: Clear Care Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution at Amazon

"Because Clear Care’s Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution is hydrogen peroxide-based, it may be a suitable choice for those who find multipurpose solutions irritating."

Best for Red Eyes: Equate Saline Solution for Sensitive Eyes at Amazon

"This was specifically designed with sensitive eyes in mind. The sterile solution promises to cut down on redness, as well as dryness and irritation."

Best for Scleral Lenses: Clear Conscience Multi-Purpose Contact Solution at Amazon

"A cruelty-free, multipurpose solution that is suitable for soft contact lenses (including silicone hydrogel lenses) and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, alike."

Best Rewetting Drops: Refresh Contacts Comfort Drops at Amazon

"These can be applied throughout the day to soothe the eyes, providing moisture, relief, and comfort."

Best Preservative-Free: PuriLens Plus Preservative-Free Saline Solution at Amazon

"Because this is preservative-free, it doesn’t contain many of the potentially irritating compounds that may be found in other multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide-based solutions."

Best for Travel: Acuvue RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution at Amazon

"Research has shown that this is particularly effective at combating Acanthamoeba, an amoeba found in dirt and water that can cause severe eye infections."

Taking proper care of your contact lenses is important for keeping your eyes healthy and infection-free. There are several products you can use to care for your contact lenses—one of the most common being contact lens solution. Contact lens solution is traditionally used to store contact lenses when they’re not being worn, but some contact lens solutions can also clean and disinfect contact lenses.

There are three primary types of contact lens solutions: multipurpose solution, hydrogen peroxide-based solution, and rigid gas permeable solution. Multipurpose solution is an all-in-one solution that rinses, disinfects, and stores contact lenses, and it’s commonly used to store soft contact lenses. Hydrogen peroxide-based solution cleans, disinfects, and stores contact lenses, and it’s traditionally prescribed when someone has an allergy to multipurpose solutions. Hydrogen peroxide-based solutions need to be stored in a special case that transforms the liquid into saline solution, so that it doesn’t burn or sting the eyes. Rigid gas permeable solution is specifically designed for hard contact lenses and tend to only store them—not to clean or disinfect them.

The right contact lens solution for you may depend on what kind of contact lenses you wear. Be sure to work with your optometrist to create a lens care system that responds to your unique needs.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: ReNu Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution

ReNu’s Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution is a multipurpose contact lens solution that's suitable for soft contact lenses—including silicone hydrogel lenses, which are special soft lenses that allow for greater oxygen flow. In addition to storing contact lenses, ReNu’s Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution promises to clean, condition, rinse, and disinfect. It cleans lenses by dissolving denatured proteins (proteins that are no longer useful) that have built up on the lenses.

Many contact lens solutions disinfect lenses, but ReNu’s Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution disinfects more quickly than most. The solution’s triple disinfectant system kills 99.9% of germs in just four hours. ReNu’s Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution hydrates lenses for all-day comfort, providing up to 20 hours of moisture at a time.

Best Budget: Complete Multi-Purpose Solution

Complete’s Multi-Purpose Solution is, like its name implies, a multipurpose contact lens solution suitable for soft contact lenses—but for half the price of many comparable products. It provides a balance of disinfection and comfort, keeping lenses clean while remaining gentle on the eyes.

Like many multipurpose contact solutions, Complete’s Multi-Purpose Solution dissolves denatured proteins and other debris on the lenses. After just six hours in Complete’s Multi-Purpose Solution, you can expect your lenses to be clean and ready to wear.

Best for Comfort: Biotrue Contact Lens Solution

Biotrue’s Contact Lens Solution is a multipurpose solution suitable for soft contact lenses, including silicone hydrogel contact lenses. In addition to storing contact lenses, the solution conditions, cleans, rinses, and disinfects.

Biotrue’s Contact Lens Solution is designed to match the pH of healthy tears. This keeps the lenses comfortable while also minimizing irritation. Biotrue’s Contact Lens Solution also hydrates lenses using hyaluronan (HA), a lubricant found naturally in the eye. This system can keep your contacts moisturized for up to 20 hours at a time, for comfortable, all-day wear.

Best for Dry Eyes: Opti-Free Puremoist Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution

Opti-Free’s Puremoist Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution is a multipurpose contact lens solution that draws on two different disinfectants to rid contact lenses of microorganisms that could potentially cause infection. The contact solution also comes equipped with HydraGlide Moisture Matrix, a system that envelops contact lenses in a cushion of moisture. This leaves lenses feeling comfortable while also creating a protective barrier that helps keep debris from getting in.

Best for Sensitive Eyes: Clear Care Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution

Clear Care’s Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution is a hydrogen peroxide-based solution that can be used with both soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable contact lenses. The bubbling hydrogen peroxide gives a deep clean, loosening dirt and combating protein and debris buildup.

Because Clear Care’s Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution is hydrogen peroxide-based, it may be a suitable choice for those who find multipurpose solutions irritating. The solution is also preservative-free, to further cut down on irritation.

That said, it’s important to use hydrogen peroxide-based solutions exactly as instructed to avoid burning, stinging, or otherwise irritating the eyes. Clear Care’s Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution comes with a contact lens case that, over time, converts the hydrogen peroxide to a gentle saline solution. This solution mimics natural tears, and its HydraGlade system cushions lenses with long-lasting moisture. These elements keep lenses feeling comfortable enough for all-day wear.

Best for Red Eyes: Equate Saline Solution for Sensitive Eyes

Equate’s Saline Solution for Sensitive Eyes is a saline-based solution that is suitable for soft contact lenses. Unlike multipurpose solutions and hydrogen peroxide-based solutions, saline-based solutions cannot clean or disinfect lenses. Instead, Equate’s Saline Solution for Sensitive Eyes is simply designed to store and rinse lenses, keeping them fresh, moist, and ready to be used.

Equate’s Saline Solution for Sensitive Eyes was specifically designed with sensitive eyes in mind. The sterile solution promises to cut down on redness, dryness, and irritation.

Best for Scleral Lenses: Clear Conscience Multi-Purpose Contact Solution

Scleral contact lenses are rigid gas permeable contact lenses commonly prescribed to patients who have corneal irregularities. Most multipurpose contact solutions are designed for soft contact lenses, not rigid gas permeable contact lenses. But Clear Conscience’s Multi-Purpose Contact Solution is a multipurpose solution that is suitable for both soft contact lenses (including silicone hydrogel lenses) and rigid gas permeable contact lenses.

Clear Conscience’s Multi-Purpose Contact Solution cleans, conditions, rinses, and disinfects contact lenses while storing them. Like many multipurpose contact solutions, it also promises to combat protein and lipid buildup. Clear Conscience’s Multi-Purpose Contact Solution is proudly cruelty-free. It's also free of the potentially irritating disinfectant chlorhexidine and preservative thimerosal.

Best Rewetting Drops: Refresh Contacts Comfort Drops

Refresh’s Contacts Comfort Drops are not technically contact solution, but instead are eye drops to keep your contacts feeling fresh and moist throughout the day. Refresh’s Contacts Comfort Drops can be paired with both soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable lenses.

Refresh’s Contacts Comfort Drops can be applied throughout the day to soothe the eyes, providing moisture, relief, and comfort. Each drop creates a “liquid cushion” that offers long-lasting hydration.

Best Preservative-Free: PuriLens Plus Preservative-Free Saline Solution

PuriLens’ Plus Preservative-Free Saline Solution is a saline-based solution, suitable for both soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable contact lenses. The preservative-free solution is pH balanced to mimic the eye’s natural tears, making it a comfortable and minimally irritating option.

Because PuriLens’ Plus Preservative-Free Saline Solution is preservative-free, it doesn’t contain many of the potentially irritating compounds that may be found in other multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide-based solutions. This makes it an excellent option for those with dry or sensitive eyes. But because it is a saline-based solution, it will not clean or disinfect contact lenses—it will only store them.

Best for Travel: Acuvue RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution

Acuvue’s RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution is a multipurpose solution with a dual-disinfecting technology that kills bacteria while maintaining the comfort needed for all-day wear.

Research has shown that Acuvue’s RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution is particularly effective at combating Acanthamoeba, an amoeba that can cause severe eye infections. Acanthamoeba is commonly found in dirt and water, so travel-related activities, like swimming and using a hot tub, are associated with an increased risk of infection. Acuvue’s RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution may be an apt choice for those who are traveling—especially because the solution is available in a TSA-friendly container.

Final Verdict

ReNu’s Bausch + Lomb Lens Solution is an excellent choice for those looking for a comfortable, moisturizing multipurpose solution that disinfects quickly and efficiently. If you have particularly sensitive eyes, opt for Biotrue’s Contact Lens Solution. It balances comfort and cleanliness while keeping your lenses moist and hydrated.

What to Look for in a Contact Lens Solution

Compatibility: Different contact lenses are compatible with different contact lens solutions. You may want to talk to your eye doctor to ensure your contact lens solution (and overall contact lens care system) meets your individual needs.

Storage time: Different contact lens solutions can store contact lenses for different amounts of time. Additionally, some contact solutions disinfect lenses faster than others. Be sure to find a contact lens solution that corresponds with your needs, your frequency of wear, and your schedule.

Expiration dates: Many contact solutions list expiration dates and discard dates. The expiration date is the last day you should use the contact lens solution. The discard date tells you how long you have to use a contact lens solution, once you’ve opened it. Be sure to pay attention to discard dates when shopping so that you can find a contact lens solution that appropriately meets your needs, based on your frequency of wear.

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