If you wear contact lenses regularly, you’ve probably noticed an odd buildup on your lenses over time. One of the most common culprits? Protein deposits. Regardless of the cleaning solution you use, these stubborn deposits often seem to diminish slightly after cleaning but never fully disappear. They can be frustrating, as they affect both the comfort and clarity of your lenses.
Luckily, with the right care and cleaning routine, you can effectively remove these deposits and maintain your lenses in top condition. In this blog, we’ll dive into what protein deposits are, why they form, how they can impact your eye health, and, most importantly, how to eliminate them for good.
What Are Protein Deposits?
Protein deposits consist of proteins, lipids, and enzymes naturally present in human tears. While these substances play a crucial role in maintaining eye health and lubricating the eye, they can accumulate on the surface of your contact lenses over time. As part of the tear film, these components are constantly produced by the eyes, but when you wear contact lenses, some of these proteins and lipids can adhere to the lens surface and, in some cases, even become trapped inside the lens material.
Protein buildup is more common with soft contact lenses, especially daily wear lenses, as these types of lenses are designed to absorb moisture from the tear film. However, no lens type is immune to protein deposits—whether daily, bi-weekly, or monthly lenses—if they are not cleaned or disinfected properly.
Why Are Protein Deposits a Problem?
Vision Issues: As protein deposits accumulate on your lenses, they can form a thin film that blurs your vision. This can make it difficult to focus, particularly in low-light environments.
Reduced Oxygen Permeability: Protein deposits can block oxygen from reaching your cornea, which is problematic because the cornea is the only part of the body that doesn’t have blood vessels to receive oxygen. The cornea depends on oxygen from the air to stay healthy, and a lack of oxygen can lead to dryness and discomfort. Over time, this can negatively affect your eye health.
Discomfort: As the deposits build up, they can cause irritation, dryness, and even a feeling of something being "in your eye" every time you blink. This is particularly uncomfortable and may lead to more serious eye issues.
Increased Risk of Eye Infections: If left untreated, protein deposits can attract bacteria and other microorganisms. This can increase your risk of eye infections, such as keratitis, which can be serious and may require medical intervention.
How to Get Rid of Protein Deposits on Contact Lenses
The most important step in preventing and removing protein deposits is properly cleaning your lenses every day. This involves using an effective contact lens cleaner designed to remove buildup.
While most multipurpose solutions can clean and disinfect your lenses, they may not be powerful enough to tackle protein deposits. In lab tests, soaking lenses in various multipurpose solutions for over 12 hours only removed 5%-20% of protein buildup. Hydrogen peroxide solutions sometimes perform slightly better, but their effectiveness is inconsistent. These solutions rely on bubbles to help dislodge surface deposits, but they cannot address proteins trapped within the material of soft lenses.
That’s where ReO2 Contact Lens Cleaner stands out. This innovative cleaner uses patented Electrophoresis Technology to deep-clean contact lenses effectively.
ReO2 works by cutting the peptide bonds of proteins, breaking them down into smaller molecules. By applying an electrical field, ReO2 removes these protein molecules from both the inner and outer surfaces of your lenses, achieving an impressive 94.7% protein removal rate. ReO2 also disinfects your lenses, eliminating 99.999% of bacteria, so your lenses are not only clean but safe and comfortable to wear.
Conclusion
Protein buildup is a natural occurrence when wearing contact lenses, but it doesn’t have to be a major issue. ReO2 Contact Lens Cleaner is a powerful tool in your lens care routine, offering superior protein removal and lens disinfection. By following a proper cleaning routine, wearing your lenses as directed, and replacing them on time, you can ensure healthy, comfortable eyes every day.