Contact Lens Solution

[GuitarDaddy]

I worked for Alcon for 15yrs and I can tell you in 95% of cases the generic CostCo/Walmart stuff is exactly the same stuff filled in a diferent bottle. You can always tell by the NDC (National Drug Code) printed on the bottle. The NDC for Opti-Free is 00650132-xx with the last two digits being size and or generic packaging. If it's 00650 it's made by Alcon if its 00650132-xx its Opti-Free made by Alcon regardless of what generic label is on the bottle

 

[paperfist]

Can't use it for less than 6 hours, have to rinse them pretty thoroughly after removing from the solution...

It's a fine choice, I just never had any issue with the more traditional solutions and didn't see any added benefit for the hassle.

Yeah you have to keep it in the solution overnight (6 hours) but do you guys wear them 24/7?

I never rinse them after removing them from the solution. I think you had to do that back when you had to use a cleaner before putting them in the solution some years ago.

 

[rcpratt]

Yeah you have to keep it in the solution overnight (6 hours) but do you guys wear them 24/7?

I never rinse them after removing them from the solution. I think you had to do that back when you had to use a cleaner before putting them in the solution some years ago.

I didn't use it when I was wearing soft contacts back in the day, I think I used it either for a hybrid lens or one of my almost-scleral lenses.

I think I started rinsing because I had a bad experience where not all of the solution neutralized somehow, despite being in there for long enough. And because I had to fill up the lenses with solution before I put them in my eye anyways.

 

[Ns1]

10+ years of wearing contacts


recently switched to Bausch & Lomb's Biotrue

feels softer on the eyes.

 

[shopbruin]

I use Opti-Free. I used to use ReNu but switched to Opti-Free years ago because it was cheaper at Costco.

 

[ArJuN]

How's that working out?

Better than I had expected. I wasn't looking into getting it, but out of the blue my parents suggested that I do and offered to pay for it. I forgot how nice it was before glasses/contacts. You get used to putting them in and taking them out, so it's becomes second nature. Sometimes I still catch myself making a mental note to take my contacts out at night...the realization of not having them is awesome lol.

A few thoughts if you are planning on gett Lasik done:
-Your eyes could be bloody for a few days after the procedure. Mine still are but are getting progressively clearer.
-Three days after the procedure I had 20/15 vision, but it fluctuates for a few months afterwards. But the worst of the fluctuation was still better than my vision with contacts in.
-Lasik gave me better vision than my contacts. The second day I was able to read license plates (and obviously drive) better than my sister who has 20/20 vision.
-Eye drops are expensive. I paid $185 for a tiny bottle of antibiotics I needed to take for 9 days after the procedure. And you need eye drops every 20 minutes for the first three weeks, then once every hour till the 9 week mark. The eye drops they made me get were individual vials...dropped $350 on them.
-A lot of Lasik centers have a 'lifetime' offer, meaning if you need an adjustment if your vision changes, they'll eat the costs. It was only $1000 more, and being young my vision is pretty much guarenteed to change.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[rcpratt]

-Eye drops are expensive. I paid $185 for a tiny bottle of antibiotics I needed to take for 9 days after the procedure. And you need eye drops every 20 minutes for the first three weeks, then once every hour till the 9 week mark. The eye drops they made me get were individual vials...dropped $350 on them.

Are the drops not covered by insurance for elective procedures or something? I've been taking an antibiotic (Vigamox) for a week now prior to my cornea transplant tomorrow and it was covered, but the surgery is covered by insurance. My steroid eyedrops for after the procedure were also covered.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I started using the BioTrue and I really like them. This is after using ClearCare for about 2-3 years. I just got tired of the 6 hour waiting period sometimes with nights when I dont get that much sleep.

 

[paperfist]

I didn't use it when I was wearing soft contacts back in the day, I think I used it either for a hybrid lens or one of my almost-scleral lenses.

I think I started rinsing because I had a bad experience where not all of the solution neutralized somehow, despite being in there for long enough. And because I had to fill up the lenses with solution before I put them in my eye anyways.

Oh god that would hurt not having it all neutralized! I remember a few times I used the wrong solution thinking it was saline. Ouch!

 

[duragezic]

I've always bought the cheap generic bottles from Walmart. When I'd go for a checkup to get new contacts, they'd often give me a bottle of something fancy like ReNu or OptiClear.

But I wouldn't really find any difference with them. And they're little bottles for a lot of money. Some try to be really intense. I mean look at that "BioTrue".

 

[AznAnarchy99]

What ever you do, dont buy the generic ones from Target. My eyes were dry and hurting for days.

 

[boomhower]

I really really like the Biotrue. It's expensive but I can tell a big difference with it. No more than you really use a day a bottle should last you at least a month, I usually get two out of mine.

 

[Fritzo]

I worked for Alcon for 15yrs and I can tell you in 95% of cases the generic CostCo/Walmart stuff is exactly the same stuff filled in a diferent bottle. You can always tell by the NDC (National Drug Code) printed on the bottle. The NDC for Opti-Free is 00650132-xx with the last two digits being size and or generic packaging. If it's 00650 it's made by Alcon if its 00650132-xx its Opti-Free made by Alcon regardless of what generic label is on the bottle

Good info!!!

 

[Imp]

I use OptiFree Express, and I really have no idea how it's different than Replenish...I can't tell a difference, I've tried both. For some reason my ophthalmologist said to use Express (mine aren't disposable, but I know it's fine for that). It feels a bit "smoother" than what I used to use (Complete).

I use Optifree Replenish. I got a bottle/sample from my optometrist, and it works, so why mess with it?

Think I've tried Express too. Replenish doesn't sting as much? Then again, that could be because I stopped reusing solution...

 

[Beer4Me]

ClearCare has been the best bar-none for me. I also keep a bottle of Optifree Replenish handy if I can't do the 6+ hr wait time.

I've tried others, and they have all failed to provide the long time comfort that ClearCare offers. But as others have noted, it seems to the the priciest of the solutions, and you cannot get it in alternator sized portions.

 

[ArJuN]

Are the drops not covered by insurance for elective procedures or something? I've been taking an antibiotic (Vigamox) for a week now prior to my cornea transplant tomorrow and it was covered, but the surgery is covered by insurance. My steroid eyedrops for after the procedure were also covered.

If I remember correctly, when I gave the pharmacist my insurance card he said they are only paying for $10.xx of it. After picking my jaw up off the floor the rest was paid out of pocket. I'm not familiar with the procedure of insurance companies, but I do know they didn't do anything for the procedure because it was elective and nonessential.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

ClearCare has been the best bar-none for me. I also keep a bottle of Optifree Replenish handy if I can't do the 6+ hr wait time.

I've tried others, and they have all failed to provide the long time comfort that ClearCare offers. But as others have noted, it seems to the the priciest of the solutions, and you cannot get it in alternator sized portions.

Its actually one of the cheaper ones at CostCo. Cheaper than Alcon.

 

[Kanalua]

Costco or Sam's Club brand. whichever is cheapest.

 

[Redfraggle]

Oh god that would hurt not having it all neutralized! I remember a few times I used the wrong solution thinking it was saline. Ouch!

I used this same solution when I wore contacts for a while. However, I ended up stopping, because I would inevitably get that shit in my eye (funny description in a moment), and found an all-in-one I liked. If you have sensitive eyes, it can take a little trial and error. Give your lenses a good soak and rinse in saline prior to swapping solution brands, I found there were sometimes odd reactions.


Re: Getting disinfectant in your eye -- Self-preservation works against you as your eye slams shut hoping like hell you won't punish it by putting more pain in your eye. Meanwhile, your brain is fighting you to make your eyeball realize that if it will simply expose itself, your fingers can stop the pain and remove the offending lens and squirt in saline. Since it fails, you hop around swearing for a while.

I short, I wouldn't use it again unless nothing else worked for me.

Sadly, I got a nasty scratch on my eye, and can't wear contacts now. Thanks martial arts.

 

[l0cke]

I have found Clear Care to be the best for me. But I keep some generic around in case I'm not going to be asleep for 6 hours.

Also, I have seen generic Clear Care at Walgreens, anyone tried it?

 

[cerebusPu]

cornea transplant tomorrow

now i would like to hear about this afterwards. please post an update.

 

[Kirby]

I use Optifree. Last time I tried the wally world brand, the bottle sucked and wouldn't spray as well.

 

[Fritzo]

now i would like to hear about this afterwards. please post an update.

Careful. That didn't go well with me:

 

[The_Dude8]

I have found Clear Care to be the best for me. But I keep some generic around in case I'm not going to be asleep for 6 hours.

Also, I have seen generic Clear Care at Walgreens, anyone tried it?

I tried the Up and Up, it's a generic brand from target:

http://www.target.com/up-Peroxide-Co...n&frombrowse=0

similar to clear care, but it does not creates that many bubbles as the clear care one, and it's $2 cheaper than the clear care.

 

[nace186]

I have used many different contact solutions, from rub to no rub to the one where you put in a vertical case.

The best one that I think kept the contacts comfortable the longest is ClearCare. It's the one where you put it in a contraption thing and dip it in the solution and let it soak.

But now I don't use solution anymore. I got daily disposable instead.

I added the cost of 2-week contacts+plus cost of solutions and the daily disposable are just a little bit more expensive.