Ran out of contact solution: sleep with them or use some old ass solution?

AznAnarchy99

Lifer
Dec 6, 2004
14,695
117
106
I forgot to buy some contact solution today. Should I sleep with them in or use some old solution that was used before?

Im leaning towards sleep.
 

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
81
Old solution? You mean day old stuff you didn't empty out today? I'd probably just use that. Or go to 24 hour store like Walmart and buy some.

It'd be fine to sleep too. I've done that a number of times but generally don't anymore. One of my friends did it pretty much constantly which I thought was odd but he never had issues.
 

kyzen

Golden Member
Oct 4, 2005
1,557
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www.chrispiekarz.com
Just sleep with them in, it's not the end of the world every now and then. worst case scenario, you'll wake up and they'll feel kind of stiff & rubbery; just grab some solution on your way to work/school/whatever and rinse the contacts off.

Also, i can't say enough good things about Bausch & Lomb's PureVision contacts. I leave them in overnight all the time when I can't make it home, or ran out of solution, or am just generally too lazy to take em out.

http://www.bausch.com/en_US/consumer/visioncare/product/softcontacts/purevision_lenses.aspx
 

AznAnarchy99

Lifer
Dec 6, 2004
14,695
117
106
Old solution? You mean day old stuff you didn't empty out today? I'd probably just use that. Or go to 24 hour store like Walmart and buy some.

It'd be fine to sleep too. I've done that a number of times but generally don't anymore. One of my friends did it pretty much constantly which I thought was odd but he never had issues.

No, more like I dont know how long its been there.
 

chusteczka

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2006
3,399
3
71
I think it depends on the strength of your prescription. My prescription is at -5.5, -7.0; which is fairly strong and the contacts are thicker. I am not able to sleep with my contacts in and would do everything in my power to visit a 24 hour store to obtain the necessary solution.

As a worst case scenario, you may be able to try water. Boiled but cold water would be best. Your contacts will feel dry when you put them back in your eyes in the morning but you will sleep better.

If you sleep with them in, make sure to add drops to moisten your eyes in the morning before you take them out. The contacts will stick to your cornea and may tear your cornea as you peel them off.
 
Oct 20, 2005
10,978
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Just use your old solution.

Tomorrow, go buy some new solution and clean out your contacts before you put them in.
 

mesthead21

Platinum Member
Jun 5, 2004
2,378
3
0
I put them in water if i don't have solution. Prob not the best idea, but my eyes dry out if i sleep with my contacts in
 

coldmeat

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2007
9,225
130
106
I sleep with mine in every now and then. Usually cause I'm drunk and don't get around to taking them out before going to bed.
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Hmmm... if I have no solution whatsoever I just use water. They'll sting when you put them back in but other than that I never had a problem.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
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Solution has an expiration date, check it out.

This.

Sleeping with my old contacts (CooperVision 12hr wear) was bad..even if I took a 30min nap with them in, they dried out and felt terrible. I have Acuvue Oasys now, and I can sleep with them in all night (per eye doc).
 

AeroEngy

Senior member
Mar 16, 2006
356
0
0
I will never sleep in contacts again. I used to do it occasionaly when I was in college. Well after finals week and leaving them in to long I developed a corneal ulcer. When I finally took my contacts out it felt like someone was stabbing me in the eye with a needle. It hurt so bad I had to go to the emergency room.
 

brainhulk

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2007
9,376
454
126
it might ruin them a little because contacts are hydrophillic and will soak up hypotonic water and make them expand. if you are too lazy to go to 24h walgreen, cvs, or riteaid then:

1/4 tsp table salt
8 oz boiled water

this will make a normal saline solution that will not be drawn in to the contacts.
 

Arcadio

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2007
5,637
24
81