Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information from public regulator sources, not medical advice. Contact lens wearers should follow their eye care provider’s instructions and the labeling on their lens care products.
Short answer
Contact lens saline solution is for rinsing lenses only. The CDC states that saline “does not disinfect contact lenses” and should be used only to rinse lenses after they have been cleaned and disinfected with another care system. The FDA gives the same instruction: use sterile saline for rinsing, not for cleaning or disinfecting.
Definition and scope
In the United States, soft (hydrophilic) contact lens care products are devices under 21 CFR 886.5928. The regulation describes them as products for cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, lubricating or rewetting, or storing soft lenses, and it covers solutions, tablets and heat disinfecting units. They are Class II devices (special controls), with premarket notification (510(k)) guidance for lens care products (21 CFR 886.5928, Cornell LII, read 2026-10-30). The regulation text does not name saline specifically, so a lens saline is best understood as one labeled lens care product among several, not as generic saline.
That separates it from other saline products on the site, such as 0.9% sodium chloride used in irrigation and intravenous settings, and from eye wash solution. Those are different products with different purposes; this page covers only saline sold for use with contact lenses.
How saline is used in a lens care routine
According to the CDC (About Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Storing Contact Lenses, page dated May 27, 2025, read 2026-10-30):
- Saline is used only for rinsing lenses after cleaning and disinfecting with another care system.
- Some hydrogen peroxide-based systems suggest rinsing lenses with saline before insertion. Whether saline is needed in a given routine is a question for the eye care provider.
- A daily cleaner is for cleaning, not disinfecting, and multipurpose solution is the all-in-one system for soft lenses.
The FDA (Contact Lens Solutions and Products, page shown as current as of 01/16/2018, read 2026-10-30) adds that only sterile saline should be used for rinsing, and that distilled water, tap water or homemade saline should never be used.
Saline vs multipurpose vs hydrogen peroxide
| Care product | What the CDC says it does |
|---|---|
| Saline | Rinses lenses after cleaning and disinfecting with another system; does not disinfect. |
| Multipurpose solution | An all-in-one system used to clean, rinse, disinfect and store soft contact lenses; the most commonly used care system among soft lens wearers. |
| Hydrogen peroxide system | Cleans and disinfects; a special case converts the peroxide to saline over time, following the product directions. The CDC notes it is often recommended for people allergic to multipurpose solution. |
Rigid gas permeable (hard) lenses are different again: the CDC says they usually need separate solutions for wetting, cleaning and disinfecting, and that hard lens products must never be used on soft lenses.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
Because the CDC assigns different functions to saline, multipurpose and peroxide products, and the FDA regulates them as lens care devices, any list, catalog or kit that names these products should keep them distinct by their labeled function. A bottle labeled saline is a rinse. It is not a substitute for a disinfecting system or a storage solution, and it is a different product from the 0.9% sodium chloride used for irrigation or the eye wash covered elsewhere on CASRAI. For the lens products themselves, see the related guides on contact lens materials, contact lens case replacement and the comparison of daily vs monthly contact lenses.
Common misunderstandings
“Saline disinfects my lenses”
It does not. The CDC states that saline does not disinfect contact lenses.
“I can make saline at home or use water”
The FDA says never to use non-sterile water, including distilled water, tap water or homemade saline, and not to expose lenses to any water. It links water exposure with Acanthamoeba keratitis.
“I can top off old solution with fresh”
The CDC says never to mix fresh solution with old solution in the case, as this reduces disinfection effectiveness. The FDA also advises against topping off.
“A small travel bottle is fine for any solution”
The FDA advises against transferring solution into smaller travel containers, and against using solution past its expiration or discard date. Follow all labeling.
FAQ
Can I store contact lenses in saline?
The CDC describes saline only as a rinse. Storage is described as part of the multipurpose system for soft lenses, and the CDC says to talk to an eye care provider about what your routine needs.
Is saline the same as multipurpose solution?
No. Multipurpose solution cleans, rinses, disinfects and stores soft lenses; saline only rinses.
Is eye wash the same as contact lens solution?
No. See the separate eye wash solution guide. Lens care products are regulated as lens care devices under 21 CFR 886.5928.
Sources
- CDC, About Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Storing Contact Lenses (page dated May 27, 2025; read 2026-10-30).
- FDA, Contact Lens Solutions and Products (shown current as of 01/16/2018; read 2026-10-30).
- 21 CFR 886.5928, Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens care products (Cornell LII; read 2026-10-30).
