New Regimen for Disinfection and Cleaning of Contact Lenses

Part of an ongoing initiative to promote an optimal contact lens wearing experience, a "rub and rinse" regimen is being suggested for use with multipurpose contact lens solutions.

As part of the Bausch + Lomb (Rochester, NY, USA) rub and rinse initiative, the phrase "no rub" is to be removed from the product labeling and contact lens cleaning directions, to be consistent across the global portfolio of multipurpose contact lens solutions. The product labeling transition has already been implemented in the Biotrue and renu sensitive lines, and the transition from "no rub" to "rub" directions for use of the renu fresh brand will be completed by May 2011.

The new directions will include rubbing each lens gently for 20 seconds prior to rinsing each side of the lens for five seconds with the solution. Lens wearers are advised to then place the cleaned contact lenses in a lens case filled with fresh solution, and to soak the lenses for at least four hours. Lens wearers are also advised always to use fresh solution, and never to reuse or replenish the solution.

"Improving patient hygiene and contact lens wear is an ongoing priority for Bausch + Lomb, and this initiative allows us to help advance patient compliance with lens care directions," said Joseph Barr, OD, MS, vice president of global clinical and medical affairs at Bausch + Lomb Vision Care. "We look forward to bringing several additional tools to our clinical partners to help improve patient compliance in the near future."

"Bausch + Lomb is committed to partnering with eye care professionals to ensure excellent vision, comfort and health for contact lens wearing patients," said Mohinder Merchea, OD, PhD, MBA, director of medical affairs for North America vision care at Bausch + Lomb. "By choosing to proactively change our multipurpose solution labeling to include only a rub regimen for cleaning and disinfecting lenses, we are providing patients with the insights we've gained from the 92% of eye care professionals who instruct their patients to rub their lenses."

Along with recommendations from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a number of professional eye care associations have also recommended a rub and rinse regimen for effective cleaning of contact lenses.

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