OrthoK lens care: cleaning, handling and storage

Wash your hands with soap and dry them thoroughly with a clean, lint-free towel. Work over a clean surface with good lighting. Keep the same right-then-left sequence and use the case labels, rather than assuming lens colours mean the same thing for every design.

Check each lens for chips, cracks and deposits. Do not insert a damaged lens or use someone else’s lenses. If the eye is painful, unusually red, light-sensitive or has discharge, leave the lens out and seek prompt advice.

Check that the prescribed disinfection cycle is complete. Rinse only with the sterile product recommended for your lenses. Use the insertion or lubricating drop prescribed for you, if instructed. Saline and eye drops do not replace disinfection. ^{1, 2}

1. Use the technique demonstrated at your fitting and check the correct lens for each eye.
2. Hold your eyelids as taught and gently place the lens on the eye.
3. Check comfort and position before sleeping. If it feels misplaced or uncomfortable, follow your taught removal and reinsertion instructions. Do not force it into position.
4. Wear the lenses only on the overnight schedule prescribed for you. Do not add daytime wear or extra hours to compensate for a missed night.

For an introduction to treatment and fitting, visit our OrthoK fitting and fees page.

Wash and dry your hands before removal. Use the recommended rewetting drops if needed and check that the lens moves as you were shown before trying to remove it.

Use your taught suction-tool or manual technique. Position a removal tool on the lens, never directly on an uncovered eye. Do not pull hard or keep repeating unsuccessful attempts.

If a lens is not moving, apply the recommended lubricating drops and allow it to loosen. Do not force removal. If it remains stuck, or you are uncertain what to do, contact the practice promptly for help. Pain, redness or reduced vision needs urgent assessment rather than further attempts at home. ³

After removal, clean and disinfect the lenses. Do not put an uncleaned lens back into the case for the next night.

Use the care system prescribed for your lens material and any coating. Follow all rubbing, rinsing and soaking instructions. Never mix care systems, dilute solutions, reuse yesterday’s solution or top up the case. ^{1, 2}

For a prescribed peroxide system:

1. Use the correct neutralising case and lens holders supplied or specified for that system.
2. Complete the required cleaning and rinsing steps, place the lenses securely in the holders, and fill the case with fresh solution to the marked level.
3. Keep the case upright and complete the entire labelled neutralisation time. If the label requires six hours, allow at least six hours.
4. Never put unneutralised peroxide in your eye or use it as the final rinse before insertion.
5. Replace the neutralising case according to the product instructions, including using the new case supplied with a new bottle where specified. Do not substitute an ordinary flat case. ²

A rushed rinse does not make a partly completed peroxide cycle safe. If there is not enough time to complete the prescribed cycle, leave the lenses out and contact us for advice about vision correction.

Deposits may need an additional cleaning treatment. Use the product and frequency recommended for your lenses, rather than assuming everyone needs the same monthly routine.

If Menicon Progent is prescribed, use its correct container and follow the complete instructions. Do not exceed the 30-minute treatment limit or insert lenses until the specified rinsing and subsequent care are complete. ⁴

Check compatibility before using a stronger cleaner or protein remover, especially if your lenses have a surface coating. Progent must not be used on Tangible Hydra-PEG coated lenses. ⁵

Keep lenses away from tap, bottled and distilled water, and never wet them with saliva. Do not wear them while showering or swimming. Keep bottle tips clear of fingers and surfaces, and observe expiry and discard-after-opening instructions. ¹

Maintain your case and removal tool according to their specific instructions. A peroxide case has different requirements from a standard storage case. Replace damaged or contaminated accessories and follow the prescribed replacement schedule.

If you will stop wearing lenses for more than a short break, ask how to store and disinfect them before reuse. Do not assume that leaving them in old solution indefinitely keeps them safe. Travel with products in their original labelled containers.

A parent or carer should supervise until the child can reliably complete each step, and continue checking that the routine is followed. Make sure the child knows that pain or redness is a reason to tell an adult immediately, not something to hide to avoid missing a night.

Keep cleaning chemicals out of reach of younger children. Show anyone helping with care which bottle is the disinfectant and which product is used for rinsing or insertion. Bring the products to a review if the instructions are unclear.

If a night is missed, follow the advice given for your child’s treatment. Do not double the wearing time. Daytime vision may be less clear, so ask about suitable temporary correction where needed.

Initial lens awareness or changing visual quality may occur during fitting, but symptoms should be discussed with your optometrist rather than assumed to be harmless adaptation.

Remove the lens and seek urgent eye assessment for pain, unusual redness, light sensitivity, discharge or a noticeable reduction in vision. Do not reinsert it or wait for the next routine review. If the practice is unavailable, use another urgent eye-care service or an emergency department. Bring your lenses, case and care products if possible. ⁶

Overnight contact lens wear carries a risk of microbial keratitis, an infection of the cornea that can threaten sight. Good care, suitable fitting and follow-up reduce avoidable risks but cannot make treatment risk-free.

A retrospective study of 1,438 OrthoK wearers at four Japanese hospitals identified four cases and estimated 5.4 cases per 10,000 patient-years of wear, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.0–9.8. Patient-years combine the number of people observed with the time they were followed. This is one study’s estimate, not an individual guarantee or a comparison proving all lens types equally safe. ⁷

The practical priorities are consistent care, keeping lenses away from water, attending reviews and responding promptly to symptoms.

Clear daytime vision does not remove the need for follow-up. Keep the review schedule set for your eyes and treatment stage. Bring your lenses, case and every care product if your routine has changed or you need a refresher.

Our OrthoK review and refitting page explains what we assess when vision, fit or comfort changes. For general treatment information, see our orthokeratology overview.

Call Vision Camberwell Optometrists on 03 9882 5666. We are at 784 Burke Road, Camberwell.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts. Accessed 5 October 2026.
2. US Food and Drug Administration. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution. Accessed 5 October 2026.
3. US Food and Drug Administration. Guidance for Premarket Submissions of Orthokeratology Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses. April 2000. Patient-instruction template.
4. Menicon. Progent. Product instructions. Accessed 5 October 2026.
5. Tangible Science. Care Tips for Tangible Hydra-PEG Coated Lenses. Accessed 5 October 2026.
6. US Food and Drug Administration. Contact Lens Risks. Accessed 5 October 2026.
7. Hiraoka T, Matsumura S, Hori Y, et al. Incidence of microbial keratitis associated with overnight orthokeratology: a multicenter collaborative study. Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025;69:139–143.