If you wear contact lenses, you’ve probably been there before: it’s late at night, you’re ready for bed, and you realize you’ve run out of contact solution. The temptation kicks in—maybe you could just use water, eye drops, or even something like saline you found in the medicine cabinet. But are these safe? And if not, what’s the best alternative when you don’t have your usual solution on hand?
The short answer is that there are no true household alternatives to contact solution. Contact lens solution is carefully formulated to disinfect and protect your lenses, and nothing else replicates its safety. That being said, understanding what works, what doesn’t, and how to handle emergencies can help you avoid risky shortcuts and keep your eyes healthy.
Why Contact Solution Is Non-Negotiable
Contact solution isn’t just a storage liquid—it’s a disinfectant, cleaner, and hydrating agent all in one. It’s designed to kill bacteria and microorganisms, remove protein and dirt buildup, and keep your lenses comfortable for wear.
Using anything else, even for a short time, can increase your risk of:
- Eye infections (mild irritation to severe keratitis)
- Redness, swelling, or pain
- Corneal scratches or ulcers
- Long-term vision complications
Because your eyes are extremely delicate, doctors stress that only proper contact solution should ever be used for storage and cleaning.
Unsafe “Alternatives” People Try (and Why They Don’t Work)
When people run out of solution, they often turn to common household liquids. Unfortunately, none of these are safe substitutes. Let’s look at the most common ones:
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Water
Tap water, bottled water, or even distilled water are all unsafe. Water is not sterile—it may contain microorganisms like Acanthamoeba that can cause serious infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis. Water can also make lenses stick to your eyes and cause scratches on the cornea.
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Saliva
Some people think saliva can keep contacts moist in an emergency. This is one of the most dangerous myths. Saliva is full of bacteria from your mouth, which can easily transfer to your lenses and cause infections.
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Eye Drops
Lubricating drops are great for relieving dryness while wearing contacts, but they don’t disinfect. If you store your lenses in eye drops overnight, they’ll still be contaminated and unsafe to use the next day.
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Homemade Saline
Mixing salt and water at home might seem like a DIY fix, but homemade saline isn’t sterile and doesn’t contain disinfectants. It may keep your lenses wet, but it won’t kill harmful microbes.
In short: these substitutes don’t clean or disinfect, and they put your vision at risk.
The Only Safe Alternatives
While there’s no perfect household replacement, there are a few safe options in specific situations:
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Sterile Saline Solution
Sterile saline solution (sold in pharmacies for medical use, often for nasal rinses or wound care) can be used to rinse lenses in an emergency. However, saline does not disinfect, so you should never use it as your only storage method. If you rinse your lenses with saline, you’ll still need to disinfect them in a proper contact solution before wearing them again.
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Daily Disposable Lenses
If you wear daily disposable lenses and run out of solutions, your best alternative is to throw away the pair and open a fresh one the next day. Dailies are designed for single use, which eliminates the need for cleaning and storage.
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Backup Glasses
While it’s not a true “alternative,” keeping a pair of prescription glasses handy is the safest solution if you don’t have proper lens care products. Simply remove your contacts, throw them away (if disposable), or keep them in a clean, dry case until you can buy more solution.
What to Do If You Run Out of Solution
Here’s the safest step-by-step plan if you realize you don’t have solution:
- Don’t panic. The worst thing you can do is store your contacts in water or saliva out of desperation.
- Remove your contacts. If you’re wearing daily disposables, throw them away. If you’re wearing reusable lenses, place them in a clean case without liquid and discard them later.
- Use glasses until you can buy a solution. This avoids the risk of infection.
- Buy travel-sized bottles of solution for backup. Keeping one in your bag, car, or desk ensures you’ll never be caught off guard.
How to Avoid Emergencies in the Future
The best way to avoid risky situations is to plan ahead. Here are a few habits that make a big difference:
- Always have a spare bottle. Buy two at a time so you have a backup when one runs out.
- Carry a travel-size solution. These small bottles are perfect for bags, cars, or office desks.
- Replace lenses on schedule. Overwearing lenses makes dryness and contamination worse.
- Keep your glasses up to date. Having a reliable backup makes it easier to go without contacts when needed.
FAQs
Can I store my contacts in water overnight?
No. Water doesn’t disinfect lenses and can introduce harmful microorganisms. Storing lenses in water is one of the riskiest things you can do.
Is saline the same as contact solution?
No. Saline keeps lenses wet but does not disinfect. You can rinse with saline in a pinch, but you still need a proper solution for storage.
Can I use eye drops instead of a contact solution?
No. Eye drops only relieve dryness while wearing contacts. They don’t clean or disinfect lenses.
What if I have no solution but need to wear contacts tomorrow?
If you wear dailies, open a fresh pair. If you wear reusable lenses but have no solution, it’s safest to avoid wearing them until you can buy proper disinfecting solution.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to contact lenses, there’s really no true substitute for contact solution. While water, saliva, or eye drops might seem convenient, they put your eyes at serious risk of infection. The only safe “alternative” is sterile saline for rinsing—but even then, you’ll still need proper solution before putting lenses back in your eyes.
The safest course is always to be prepared. Keep extra solution on hand, travel bottles in your bag, and a backup pair of glasses nearby. And remember, when in doubt, it’s better to skip contacts for a day than to risk your vision.
