Now that rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGP) have been in existence for years, a lot of all the people have gotten accustomed to viewing the selection of contact lens solution as a mundane task. At the store, they just grab the same old bottle of "no-rub" solution and keep going. But, not so fast! Did you understand that the rules are changing? Newer contact lenses have begun to use new technologies, to provide materials that are even safer, more comfortable, and more convenient than before. Those new technologies mean that the same old contact lens solution might not be the correct choice anymore. Before you choose a bottle of contact lens solution for your gas perm lenses next instant, make sure you understand some of the recent developments, and how they may determine which lens solution is best for you.

The New "No-Rub" Solutions - Not All Good

The trend in recent history has been toward the utilize of "no- rub" solutions. In the early days of contact lenses, care was extremely complicated. Often, a contact lens wearer had to use three different solutions (separate solutions for disinfecting, cleaning and resisting deposits), and had to follow a care regimen which usually included a lot of rubbing every instant you took your contacts out. The problem was that, with contact lens care being such a hassle, doctors found that a lot of patients just skipped the care routine and took their chances. Thats why new solutions we are developed which did everything in one solution, and we are called "no-rub". Although these "no- rub" solutions are favored these days, its actually bad news for some new lenses. This is due to the fact that many new lenses are made of a revolutionary material called "silicone hydrogel", which greatly improves the oxygen supply to the eye. A downside of silicone hydrogel is that lipid deposits on silicone hydrogel lenses tend to be greater and, since these deposits are oily and greasy, rubbing is the best way to get them off. Keep this in mind if you buy some of the new silicone hydrogel lenses. Check with your doctor and you might find that you positive need to stay away from the "no- rub" solutions, despite their convenience. Rubbing may actually be dazzling, even if it involves a little more work.

New pH Adjusting Solution for RGPs:

One really dazzling development in solutions specifically for rigid gas permeable lenses is the new Alcon "Unique pH" solution. Some lens wearers in the past have experienced irritation in adjusting to lenses because the pH of the lens is different than the natural pH of their eyes. In response to this, the new "Unique pH" solution was developed so it automatically adjusts its pH to match the pH of the wearers tears. In fact, the company offers to pack the lenses in this solution prior to shipping, so they will already have soaked in it for awhile when the patient gets them. In this way, they will already be ready to adjust to the patients eyes as soon as they arrive, generating for a much smoother adjustment period for the patient.

Its clear right away that the choice of lens solutions is not so simple anymore. Not only might your old solution cause problems with the new technologies, but the choice of newer solutions might also offer additional benefits that the old types of solutions dont have. Rather than knocking yourself out worrying about the best solution for your own needs, your best advice is to simply check with your doctor and determine which solution will avoid problems with your lenses while maximizing the benefits you can get from new technologies. Just do not grab the identical old bottle of "no-rub" solution anymore. Instead, arm yourself with a little experience, build your choices wisely, and you will experience a greatly improved knowledge with your rigid gas permeable contact lenses.