Can I Use Multipurpose Solution as Eye Drops?
The short answer
No. Multipurpose solution is not an eye drop and is not intended to be instilled in the eye as a comfort drop. It is a lens care product, formulated to clean, disinfect and store contact lenses in their case.
If your eyes feel dry while wearing lenses, the product category you want is a rewetting or lubricant drop that is labeled for use with contact lenses. Those are made for that purpose. Multipurpose solution is not.
What multipurpose solution is actually for
A multipurpose solution does several jobs in one bottle, which is where the name comes from. It rinses debris from the lens, disinfects it, and provides the storage medium the lens sits in overnight in its case.
To disinfect, these solutions contain antimicrobial agents. Those agents are doing their work on the lens surface, inside a closed case, over a period of hours. That is a completely different job from a drop designed to be comfortable on contact with your eye, and the formulations reflect that difference.
Products in this category include Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution, Opti-Free Puremoist, Renu Advanced, and for rigid lenses Menicon Unique pH and Tangible Clean.
Why people ask this
Usually because the solution bottle is the thing within reach. It is saline based, it is already part of the lens routine, and the dropper tip looks similar to an eye drop bottle. The reasoning is understandable. The formulations are still not interchangeable, and the label on the bottle will tell you what it is for.
What to use instead
Look for a drop that explicitly says it is for use with contact lenses, sometimes labeled as a rewetting drop. Options we carry include:
- Blink Contacts Lubricating Eye Drops
- Systane CONTACTS, labeled for soft, RGP and hard lenses
- Refresh Relieva for Contacts
- Biotrue Hydration Boost, preservative free and labeled soft contact lens friendly
- iVIZIA preservative free drops, labeled contact lens friendly
- Boston Rewetting Drops for gas permeable lenses
There is more detail on how these differ from ordinary artificial tears in eye drops for contact lenses.
If you have already done it
Contact your eye care professional, and do so promptly if you have pain, redness that does not settle, light sensitivity, or any change in vision. They can look at your eye and tell you what is going on, which a website cannot. Do not wait it out on the strength of anything you read online, including this page.
Using multipurpose solution the way it is intended
Follow the instructions printed on your bottle and the routine your eye care professional gave you, since these vary by product and by lens type. Two general points hold across products: solution in the case is for one use and is replaced each time rather than topped up, and lens cases wear out and are replaced periodically. Many solutions ship with a fresh case for that reason.
You can browse the full range in Contact Lens Supplies.
Common questions
Is saline solution the same thing?
No. Plain saline is a rinsing product and contains no disinfectant, which means it does not disinfect lenses. It is also not a substitute for a lubricant drop. Check what your specific bottle is labeled for.
What about rewetting drops that come with a lens care kit?
Those are a separate product from the solution in the same kit, and they are labeled for use in the eye with lenses in. The solution bottle is not.
Can I put multipurpose solution in my eye to rinse it?
Use products according to their labeling, and ask your eye care professional what they want you to use for rinsing. The disinfecting agents in a multipurpose solution are the reason it is not a general purpose eye rinse.
Which drops are safe with my lenses?
The ones whose label says so for your lens type. Soft, RGP and scleral lenses do not all take the same products.