Care & authenticity
How to Store Contact Lenses: Care Steps and Dry Lens Checks
To keep reusable contact lenses from drying out during storage, follow the exact lens and solution instructions and store them in fresh compatible disinfecting solution for the required time. Daily disposable lenses are discarded after one use. If your eyes feel dry while wearing contacts, that is a separate symptom; do not extend wear or change the care routine to solve it.
In this guide
Separate a dry lens from dry eyes
“My contacts are drying out” can describe a lens left outside its recommended storage conditions, a lens that dried in a case, or a dry sensation in your eyes while wearing contacts. These are different situations. Cleaning and disinfection instructions apply to the lens; discomfort or dryness on the eye may need professional assessment.
First identify what happened: Is the lens currently in solution? Was it left out or stored without the required solution? Or are you describing burning, grittiness, redness, watering, or changing vision during wear? Do not try to solve all of these by adding extra solution, reusing a daily lens, or keeping a lens in longer.
Store reusable contact lenses
Follow the instructions for the exact lens and care system. For soft lenses using multipurpose solution, the CDC says to rub and rinse the lenses as directed and store them in fresh solution every time you remove them. Your eye-care professional and the solution label are the authority for your product.
- Wash and dry your hands before handling lenses or the case.
- Use the solution intended for your lens: do not substitute saline, rewetting drops, or another care system for disinfecting solution unless the product instructions specifically direct it.
- Clean and rinse as directed: follow the solution label and lens instructions for whether rubbing and rinsing are required.
- Fill the case with fresh solution: use enough to cover the lens as directed. Do not add fresh solution on top of old or used solution.
- Allow the full disinfection time: follow the stated time for the exact care system before wearing the lens again.
Saline does not disinfect a contact lens. Hydrogen peroxide systems have product-specific instructions and use a special case; use the supplied system exactly as labeled and never put unneutralized peroxide directly in the eye. Do not shorten the required soak time.
Handle daily disposable lenses
Daily disposable lenses are intended for single use. Follow the package directions and discard them after the prescribed wear period; do not clean, store, or wear them again the next day. A lens that feels dry is not a reason to stretch a single-use schedule.
If you are not sure whether a lens is daily disposable or reusable, check the exact packaging or ask your eye-care professional before wearing it again. Do not transfer a care routine from one lens type to another.
Care for the lens case
Use the instructions supplied with your case and care product. CDC guidance for cases includes rubbing and rinsing with fresh contact lens solution rather than water, emptying used solution, and allowing the case to air dry with caps off. Replace the case at the interval recommended by the manufacturer or practitioner.
Do not rinse or store lenses or the case in tap, bottled, pool, shower, or other water, and do not use saliva. Use only the solution specified for the lens and case. See the CDC’s cleaning, disinfecting, and storage guidance for more details.
If a lens dried out or storage was missed
Do not place a lens that dried outside its recommended storage conditions directly on your eye. Do not assume that soaking it makes it safe or restores its original condition. The right next step depends on the exact lens and manufacturer’s instructions. Check the package insert and contact your eye-care professional or the manufacturer before reuse. If the lens is damaged or you cannot confirm its condition, do not wear it.
If the lens was left in a case without the required solution, do not top off the old liquid, add water, or guess how long to soak it. Check the exact solution and lens directions; if they do not explain what to do, ask your eye-care professional before wearing the lens.
If you forgot to replace solution or are away from home without your usual care product, do not improvise with water, saliva, or an incompatible liquid. If you cannot care for a reusable lens as directed, use glasses or follow your practitioner’s advice.
If your eyes feel dry during wear
Dryness or irritation while a lens is on the eye is not the same as a lens drying during storage. A product label cannot diagnose the cause. If the feeling recurs, ask an eye-care professional to evaluate your eyes and the exact lens, solution, and wear schedule. Note when it starts, which eye is affected, and how long you have worn the lens. For a fuller discussion of colored lenses and dry-eye symptoms, read our prescription colored contacts for dry eyes guide.
Remove the lens and contact an eye-care professional promptly if you have pain, unusual redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision, excessive tearing, or another concerning change. Do not reinsert it to see whether the symptom returns. Do not use disinfecting solution as eye drops; check drop compatibility with your exact lens and professional instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep reusable contacts from drying out in storage?
Use the exact care system recommended for your lens, store it in fresh compatible disinfecting solution for the full directed time, and care for the case as instructed.
Can I store or rinse contact lenses in water?
No. Do not use tap, bottled, pool, shower, or other water or saliva on lenses or cases. Follow the instructions for your exact care system.
Can I add fresh solution to old solution?
No. Empty used solution and use fresh solution as directed; do not top off.
Can I reuse a daily disposable lens if it feels dry?
No. Follow its single-use instructions and discard it after the prescribed wear period.
Can I wear a lens after it dried out?
Do not put it in your eye or assume soaking makes it safe. Check the exact product instructions and ask your eye-care professional or manufacturer before reuse.
Editorial note: Contact lens care instructions vary by product and solution. This guide is based on CDC storage guidance; follow the exact instructions from your eye-care professional and the product manufacturer. This article does not replace individual medical advice.
