What Are the Ingredients of Contact Solution?

Many brands of contact lens cleaning solutions flood the market. They all claim to be the best product for cleaning, disinfecting and storing contact lenses. Despite the various name brands, however, basic ingredients of contact solutions appear in practically all products.

Hydrogen Peroxide

• The primary ingredient of contact solution is hydrogen peroxide. This ingredient is added to contact solution to kill germs and bacteria that increases eye infections risks for contact lens wearers.

Benzyl Alcohol

• The National Keratoconus Foundation states that benzyl alcohol, when used as an ingredient of contact solutions, kills bacteria and other microorganisms.

Edetate Disodium

• Edetate disodium is a chelating agent, an agent used to remove heavy metals and calcium from the blood. People who wear contact lenses sometime experience calcium buildup, so the edentate disodium serves as a decongestant and removes calcium.

Polyaminopropyl Biguanide

• Polyaminopropyl biguanide is a disinfectant and preservative used in contact solutions. Contact solutions containing this ingredient assist in the prevention of bacterial and fungal eye infections.

Chlorhexidine Gluconate

• Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antiseptic used to kill microbes. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that it is medically approved to be used in mouthwash and high concentrations of this compound should be kept away from the eyes. However, the small amount used in contact lens solution is neutralized by other ingredients.