What’s the Best Way to Store Back Up Scleral Lenses Long Term?
For scleral lenses you won’t wear for weeks or longer, the best practice is to clean and disinfect them thoroughly, rinse with fresh, unexpired, preservative free saline, let them air-dry completely, and store them dry in a clean, labeled contact lens case. Dry storage prevents microbial growth, solution evaporation, and case contamination that can occur when lenses sit in stagnant liquid for extended periods.
What is Long Term Storage?
Wet storage is fine for short breaks up to a week, but for true long-term storage (multiple weeks or months), long-term, dry storage is recommended*. Long-term storage is often used for duplicate or back up scleral lenses. *Hydra-PEG coated lenses cannot be stored dry.
Why Long-Term Storage Is Different from Daily Storage
Scleral lenses are typically stored wet in disinfecting solution between daily use. This works because the solution is replaced every day, which keeps microbial growth in check. Problems occur when a lens sits in the same case, in the same solution, for weeks or months without being touched. This is because:
- Solution evaporates or breaks down, leaving a lens sitting partly dry in a concentrated or contaminated residue.
- Stagnant liquid is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, even in a sealed case.
- The case itself degrades, developing biofilm that can transfer contamination to the lens. Daily-use contact lenses cases should be replaced every 3 months.
- The lens can develop deposits or a cloudy film that’s much harder to remove after prolonged wet storage than after proper cleaning and drying.
Dry storage is the recommended approach for long-term storage because you do not have to worry about solution evaporating or degrading.
Recommended Long-Term Storage Method
- Clean the lens thoroughly with your recommended daily cleaner, rubbing gently to remove protein and lipid deposits.
- Rinse with fresh, unexpired, preservative-free saline — never tap water, which carries a risk of Acanthamoeba contamination.
- Disinfect using your standard disinfecting solution or a hydrogen peroxide system, following the full recommended soak time.
- Dry with a lint-free towel before storage.
- Store the lenses dry in a clean screw top contact lens case, separate from your daily-use case.
- Label the case with the date, prescription details, and which eye (right/left).
- Keep the case in a stable, room-temperature environment, away from direct sunlight, heat, or humidity swings. Avoid storing in bathrooms and cars.
Before Applying Your Stored Scleral Lenses
- Re-clean and re-disinfect the lenses. A dormant lens should go through a full cleaning cycle before it touches your eye. Follow your eyecare practitioner’s recommended cleaning and disinfecting protocol.
- Inspect for damage such as cracks, warping, or deposits that won’t rub off.
- Confirm your prescription and fit are still current. Corneal and scleral shape can change over time, so a lens that fit well a year or two ago may no longer be the correct fit.
- Check with your eye care provider if the lenses have been stored for more than a year, or if you’ve had any changes in your eye health, before resuming wear.
Takeaways
- Short-term (days to ~1 week): Wet lens storage in fresh, multi-purpose contact lens solution is fine.
- Long-term (2 weeks to year): Clean lenses, disinfect, dry with a lint-free cloth, then store lenses dry in a clean screw top contact lens case.
- Never store in tap water.
- Never reuse old solution.
- Always re-clean, re-disinfect, and get a fit check before wearing long-stored lenses again.
This article is for general informational purposes and isn’t a substitute for guidance from your eye care provider, who can advise on the storage method best suited to your specific lens material and prescription.
