Best contact solution in 2024

Basic contact lens solutions get the job done for most people who wear contact lenses. The number of choices on store shelves, though, can get overwhelming. Which brand is best? Your eye doctor helps choose your lenses, but when it comes to contact solutions, the choice is yours.

The purpose of a contact lens solution is to keep your contacts clean, clear and well-hydrated. This will help your eyes stay comfortable throughout the day. To help you decide which solution is right for you, we’ve put together a list of this year’s best. We’ve even included options for those with special concerns, like sensitive or dry eyes, so that everyone can find what they need. 

If you’ve worn contacts for a while, you are probably familiar with OPTI-FREE and its green box. OPTI-FREE makes two solutions, Replenish and Puremoist. Both are among Amazon’s best sellers. The Puremoist multipurpose disinfecting solution (around $9.97 for a 10-ounce bottle), though, is a top pick among users with nearly 15,000 five-star reviews. Multipurpose solutions clean and disinfect at the same time. You can also use them to rinse and store your lenses. 

Puremoist's main claim to fame, according to OPTI-FREE, is a feature called HydraGlyde. HydraGlyde, the company says, adds an extra layer of moisture and protection so you can wear them longer. Does it make a difference? That is something you'll have to decide for yourself. 

Another option? Bausch + Lomb Biotrue multipurpose solution (around $15.98 for two 10-ounce bottles). This is another best bet for anyone who wants to make sure their eyes stay moisturized around the clock. Biotrue contains hyaluronan, a natural lubricant found in your very own tears. For a product meant to help your eyes stay hydrated, this sounds like something that makes a lot of sense.

READ MORE: What happens if I cry with my contacts in?

Like OPTI-FREE, Clear Care Plus (around $10.20 for a 12-ounce bottle) contains HydraGlyde. It also contains hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a great all-purpose disinfectant that is also very safe (and allows your lenses to get extra, extra clean).

Clear Care’s cleaning process has several steps. It takes a little longer to use than some other solutions. You’ll need to allow at least six hours between cleaning your lenses and wearing them. Some might consider the extra work a small price to pay, though, for clean contact lenses.

If six hours is too long to wait for clean contacts, renu Advanced Formula lens solution (around $7.94 for a 12-ounce bottle) is a great alternative. Bausch + Lomb say that renu will do the job in four. It claims to kill 99.99% of germs while also keeping your contacts hydrated for up to 20 hours. You also get more for your money because renu’s standard bottles are 12 ounces. Many other brands are 10 ounces.

Do you ever feel like your lenses are stuck like glue to your eyeballs after several hours of wear? Thanks again to HydraGlyde, OPTI-FREE Puremoist multipurpose disinfecting solution (around $9.97 for a 10-ounce bottle) can help fix this.  

How? It “wraps” your lenses with a layer of moisture to help keep them from getting sticky. This way, you don’t have to deal with the sticky-eyeball feeling.

LEARN MORE: Best eye drops for dry eyes

Eyes that get red and irritated can get even more red and irritated by contact lenses. This can happen because of seasonal allergies, or an allergy to the solution itself. Some people are allergic to contact lenses, too.

To help with problems like this, the first order of business is to clean and disinfect contact lenses a lot. This means daily. Beyond that, though, it is also a good idea to find a solution that does not have preservatives. Preservatives can irritate eyes in some people. Clear Care Plus (around $10.20 for a 12-ounce bottle), once again, fits the bill. 

Note: If you decide to use Clear Care, be sure to always follow the instructions on the packaging. You have to wait at least six hours between starting the soaking process and putting them in your eyes, for example. Otherwise, it can burn and/or sting your eyes. 

Never skip cleaning and disinfecting your contact lenses — you should do this every time you remove them. It is a must even if you wear ACUVUE OASYS. ACUVUE OASYS is a contact lens that you wear for one week only, or the length of time your eye doctor recommends. After the week is up, you throw them away and open a new pair.

Fortunately, any multipurpose solution will work, including RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfection Solution (around $21.98 for two 10-ounce bottles). It offers "exceptional disinfection against harmful germs and bacteria," according to Acuvue’s website. All you have to do is rub, rinse and soak.

SEE RELATED: How long can I wear my contacts each day?

If you would like to skip the old two-step process on your gas permeable (GP) lenses, a multipurpose solution is okay. Not a random multipurpose solution, though. You need to choose one made especially for GPs. 

Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of choices. Multipurpose solutions for GP lenses are hard to find. Boston SIMPLUS Multi-Action Solution (around $10.48 for a 3.5-ounce bottle), though, claims to do a good job removing daily protein buildup while also saving you time and effort (something traditional GP solutions don't offer). Note: If you prefer, you can also clean your GP lenses with Clear Care Plus.

A list like this can help narrow down your choices. It can also guide you toward the lens solution that works best for your individual needs. 

Finding that perfect lens solution still might take some trial and error, though. When in doubt? We recommend speaking to your eye care professional (this is especially important if you have any special concerns or conditions). They can let you know which ones to try — or maybe even which ones to avoid.