How should reusable soft lenses be cleaned and stored?

• A. Rub-and-rinse with appropriate disinfecting solution, store in clean case with fresh solution, replace solution daily and case regularly.
• B. Soak lenses in distilled water, store in dirty case, replace solution monthly.
• C. Rinse lenses with tap water, store in closed bottle.
• D. Wipe with tissue and leave lenses dry.

Answer: (B)

Cleaning and disinfecting reusable soft lenses is about removing deposits and killing microbes, then storing them in a clean environment with fresh disinfectant so they stay safe for wear. Rub-and-rinse with an appropriate disinfecting solution helps physically scrub away protein, lipids, and biofilm that can build up on the lens surface. After cleaning, store the lenses in a clean lens case filled with fresh disinfecting solution to keep them submerged and protected from contamination. Replacing the solution daily and the case regularly prevents microbial growth inside the storage system.

Why the other methods aren’t suitable: soaking in distilled water doesn’t disinfect, so microbes can remain or multiply. Storing in a dirty case with infrequent replacement lets contaminants linger and increases infection risk. Rinsing with tap water introduces impurities and microorganisms, and storing in a closed bottle without fresh solution misses disinfection entirely. Wiping lenses dry and leaving them exposed can damage the lens surface and residues can transfer to the eye.

So the best practice is a rub-and-rinse with disinfecting solution, store in a clean case with fresh solution, and replace both the solution daily and the case regularly.