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What is a protein remover solution?
Protein remover solution cleans protein deposits on your contacts,
which gets deposited on the lenses during the course of normal
wear. The solution only removes protein deposits and does not
remove dirt or oils or kill germs. Removing protein deposits is
only one step in the lens cleaning process and is essential for
good eye vision and health.
What are protein deposits?
Protein deposits are common and natural deposits on contacts.
These deposits are unavoidable as they are formed out of the interaction
between the protein in your natural tears and the contacts. They
are seen as a thin haze on the outer surface of the lens.
What are the types of protein deposits?
Native protein and denatured protein deposits are the two types
of deposits.
Native proteins: These are transparent natural proteins always
found in your tears. This protein does not have too harmful an
affect on your vision, your health or your lens comfort. Native
proteins can be easily removed.
Denatured protein: This is the primary protein deposit and is
90% of the total lens protein. It is an opaque deposit that sticks
strongly to the contact lens. Denatured protein causes increased
discomfort and cloudy vision.
When is protein remover solution used?
Routine cleaning will not remove all the protein deposit, thereby
leading, in due course, to protein accumulation and problems for
the wearer. A protein remover solution is required. These are
recommended mostly for soft contact lenses. But if your doctor
recommends, you may also use it for the gas permeable lenses.
Doctors generally recommend once a week use of the protein remover.
How much cleaning is needed depends on the amount of protein
accumulated. Disposable lenses accumulate less deposit and therefore
routine and normal cleaning may suffice. Whereas lenses worn for
longer periods accumulate more deposits and so need protein removers.
How is protein remover solution used?
In order to ensure good eye condition, you must follow the care
and cleaning regimen recommended by your eye doctor. Depending
on what type of contacts you use and how much protein your eye
deposits on your lenses, your doctor may recommend a particular
product for removing protein.
Until the introduction of multi-purpose daily protein removal
solutions, protein removal was a tedious weekly affair where several
enzymatic cleaners had to be used. The multi-purpose protein remover
solutions available today effectively remove both types of protein.
Normally protein remover solution is used with a special lens
washer unit. Following are the steps in the cleaning process recommended
by the eye doctors.
- First wash your hands and then remove your lenses. Next do
the routine cleaning with few drops of your cleaning solutions
and a back and forth motion. Hold the lens between your thumb
and finger and rinse it well with a sterile saline solution.
- Open
the lens basket and put the lens inside making sure the edges
are well inside the basket. Pour the protein remover solution
into the cup and then put the baskets in the cup. Lock the
unit shut and gently twist the top back and forth for half a
minute.
Now let the lenses soak for at least 2 hours.
- After two hours,
gently remove the lenses from the basket and clean the lenses
again to remove loosened deposits. Hold
each
lens carefully and again rinse them well with a sterile
saline solution. Rinse the cup and basket with tap water or
sterile
saline. Then fill the cup with sterile saline.
- Put the
lenses back in the basket and put the basket in the cup. Twist
the top back and forth for another half minute.
Check
for any bubbles at the top. If you see any bubbles, pour
out the old saline and pour in fresh saline. Again twist
the top
for half
a minute. If you still see bubbles replace the saline
again till there are no bubbles left. The absence of bubbles
indicates
that
protein deposits have been completely removed from your
contact lenses.
- Finally carry out your regular disinfection
process. Then let your lenses soak overnight in a disinfectant
or a saline
solution.
Conclusion
Cleaning and disinfecting your contact lenses is important not
only for good vision but also for good eye health. Protein removal
is an important part of the cleaning process since protein deposits
are more difficult to remove. Consult your eye doctor for your
protein removal regimen. He will recommend the type of protein
removal product you need.
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