The container it's going in would need to be put in a pressure cooker to sterilize. The saline itself after you put USP salt and sodium bicarbonate in it would then need to have something like ethyl or isopropyl alcohol added for at least a few minutes to kill anything the heat isn't going to kill. And then the solution would need to be boiled to both kill everything the alcohol doesn't kill and cause the alcohol to leave the solution. Then you'd need to cover the solution and chill it to the temp it's safe to put in the container (unless container is tempered glass or something that can handle it), then transfer solution into the container and not touch the tip of said container afterwards. Refrigerating the container afterwards should also reduce colonization later. Sterile USP saline is so cheap now, though, you might as well just buy it than go through all the trouble. I'd only recommend this if you literally have zero money or are in an emergency situation.
No it is not safe to clean contact lenses with homemade solution. The improper solutions might result in serious eye infections and cause various problems in your eyes. I don’t understand why you put yourself in such fuss, whilst there are some well known brand cleaners available on shops like contactlensheaven/accessories-eyecare-accessories.html at very affordable price ($3.99 to $5.99). However every type of contact lenses requires special cleaning processes, be sure to ask your doctor or optician about the process required to clean your lenses.
You can once you make sure that the solution is safe. Or else it may cause harm to your eyes and you will have to get eye care services. If you are confirmed it's safe then don't worry. website: unionvilleoptometry.ca/vision-library/lens-care-solutions/
Homemade saline was introduced with the introduction of soft contact lenses; however, homemade saline should never be used today. The sale of salt tablets has been banned by the FDA. There is no benefit to using homemade saline [for the purpose of contact lens disinfection and storage] and there are many risks, primarily the possible risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis. 60% of reported cases of acanthamoeba keratitis resulted from using homemade saline. The risk from using homemade saline is the result of a non sterile solution that is easily contaminated because the containers used to mix the solution and the large containers of distilled water used to dissolve the table may be contaminated. Instead, if your goal is to use something with no preservatives, use a hydrogen-peroxide storage system that you can find in your local drug store. Hydrogen peroxide is converted to saline after 4-6 hours and is safe to put directly in your eye from the storage vial because it is completely disinfected. Source: Bennett, E.; Henry, V. Clinical Manual of Contact Lenses.
And they are EYES! You have no idea how much you depend on them. I spent 6 weeks blind in one eye. I would be reluctant to mess around with them.
I used homemade saline for a while to flush my eyes daily under a doctor's orders. The good thing is that it is preservative-free. I THINK boiling the water may drive off chlorine. Or did I buy distilled water and then boil it? I also think you can get the proper type of salt to use for this purpose from a pharmacy. Table salt doesn't do it.
The problem with homemade solutions is that tap water has chlorine, which is irritating, and table salt has additives to make it flow nicely, also an irritant. A homemade solution will not have the lubricants needed to preserve the soft lense, and it will be difficult to find a sterile container to keep it in.
My doctor at Killeen Vision Source recommended following points to be kept in mind before using home made solution to clean contact lenses: 1. Use homemade saline solutions only before or during heat disinfection. 2. Never use after heat disnfection. 3. Never use with chemical or hydrogen peroxide disinfection. 4. Never use in the eye or as a wetting solution. 5. Prepare fresh saline solution daily. 6. Sterilize solution bottle with boiling water at least once a week.
The following is from ehow..... Fresh saline solution should be prepared daily. The necessary supplies include distilled water and salt. The best type of salt for preparing the solution is sodium chloride, but cooking salt will also suffice if that is not available. Any type of bottle can be used as storage for the solution but should be properly sterilized via boiling. When combining the two ingredients, mix one teaspoon of salt for every one liter of distilled water.
After producing the sterile saline solution, there are a few precautions to ensure that it remains safe to use. The solution should be stored in a cool, dark place as the light will allow bacteria to flourish. Discard any solution that is left in the contact lens case. It would be dangerous to reuse the solution because it is tainted from the previous disinfection. Never transfer the sterile solution into a smaller container for travel as the sterility can be highly compromised during the transmission. It is necessary to keep the contact lens case clean in order for the solution to work thoroughly. Rinse and air dry the case every day and replace it every three months. In order to avoid contamination of the solution storage container, do not touch the opening with anything, including your fingers.
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Instead, if your goal is to use something with no preservatives, use a hydrogen-peroxide storage system that you can find in your local drug store. Hydrogen peroxide is converted to saline after 4-6 hours and is safe to put directly in your eye from the storage vial because it is completely disinfected.
Source: Bennett, E.; Henry, V. Clinical Manual of Contact Lenses.
I used homemade saline for a while to flush my eyes daily under a doctor's orders. The good thing is that it is preservative-free. I THINK boiling the water may drive off chlorine. Or did I buy distilled water and then boil it? I also think you can get the proper type of salt to use for this purpose from a pharmacy. Table salt doesn't do it.
1. Use homemade saline solutions only before or during heat disinfection.
2. Never use after heat disnfection.
3. Never use with chemical or hydrogen peroxide disinfection.
4. Never use in the eye or as a wetting solution.
5. Prepare fresh saline solution daily.
6. Sterilize solution bottle with boiling water at least once a week.
Fresh saline solution should be prepared daily. The necessary supplies include distilled water and salt. The best type of salt for preparing the solution is sodium chloride, but cooking salt will also suffice if that is not available. Any type of bottle can be used as storage for the solution but should be properly sterilized via boiling. When combining the two ingredients, mix one teaspoon of salt for every one liter of distilled water.
After producing the sterile saline solution, there are a few precautions to ensure that it remains safe to use. The solution should be stored in a cool, dark place as the light will allow bacteria to flourish. Discard any solution that is left in the contact lens case. It would be dangerous to reuse the solution because it is tainted from the previous disinfection. Never transfer the sterile solution into a smaller container for travel as the sterility can be highly compromised during the transmission. It is necessary to keep the contact lens case clean in order for the solution to work thoroughly. Rinse and air dry the case every day and replace it every three months. In order to avoid contamination of the solution storage container, do not touch the opening with anything, including your fingers.