Contact Lens Solutions

Course overview

Contact Lens Solutions is a one-hour home study course designed to reduce confusion surrounding the wide range of contact lens care products encountered by patients and eye care professionals. While many wearers now use frequently replaced lenses, a significant number of patients continue to rely on daily cleaning, rinsing, and disinfection systems to maintain comfortable and healthy contact lens wear. This course reviews the standard five-step process for soft contact lens care and the six-step process for gas permeable lens care, emphasizing the purpose and importance of each step. Participants will gain a working knowledge of the major categories of contact lens solutions, including multi-purpose solutions, hydrogen peroxide-based systems, enzymatic cleaners, saline, conditioning solutions, and rewetting drops. The course also explains the function of commonly used solution ingredients such as surfactants, buffers, chelators, wetting agents, and demulcents, along with applicable FDA disinfection criteria. Real-world product examples commonly found in retail pharmacies are discussed to help opticians educate patients more effectively, discourage inappropriate product substitution, improve compliance with prescribed regimens, and reduce the risk of solution related irritation, infection, or ocular injury.