The 7 Best Contact Lens Solutions for All-Day Comfort, Tested and Reviewed

These contact lens solutions reduce debris buildup, improve cleanliness, and enhance moisture.

According to experts, using a high-quality contact solution is better for long-term eye health. A good contact lens solution will essentially act like a sponge, explains S. Moshe Roth, OD, FCOVD, board-certified in Vision Development & Vision Therapy and optometrist for Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, New Jersey. Contacts absorb proteins and lipids from your tears, as well as debris from the air and your fingers when you put them in, which is why lens solutions are so crucial. The best contact lens solutions are free of irritating chemicals, provide all-day moisture, and clean any micro-debris that might accumulate throughout the day.

To find the best products, we undertook 372 hours of home testing across 12 leading contact lens solutions. We chose solutions that provide all-day moisture and comfort, are easy to use one-handed, and are worth your money. Here are the seven that made the cut.

Solution Types

Contact lens solutions are either multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide-based. Both types disinfect and remove debris from your lenses. Hydrogen peroxide-based solutions are more effective at disinfecting and better for sensitive eyes, but your contacts will need to soak for at least six hours while the ingredients neutralize to not irritate your eyes.

Ingredients

Hydrogen peroxide is the key ingredient recommended by Dr. Roth because it kills bacteria and cleans and disinfects soft lenses and gas-permeable (GP) lenses. In terms of other ingredients, ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) binds calcium to help reduce protein deposits and acts as a buffer to maintain pH for less stinging. If you use soft lenses, avoid chlorhexidine-bactericidal, which is a disinfectant that is only acceptable for GP lenses.

Other disinfectants include polyquad, which Inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi, and benzyl alcohol, which is a preservative that helps kill bacteria and is a helpful cleaner for GP lenses. However, it's worth noting that those with sensitive eyes may find preservatives to feel irritating.