Can you use contact solution as eye drops?

No, you shouldn’t use contact solution as eye drops. Contact lens solution is made to clean, rinse, and store contact lenses. It’s not designed to go directly in your eye on its own. Using it in place of eye drops can cause irritation, stinging, and in some cases, damage to the surface of your eye. 

We get why the question comes up. The bottle is right there. Your eyes are dry and scratchy. It seems like it should work. But contact solution and eye drops are two very different products with very different ingredients, and swapping one for the other isn’t a safe shortcut. Here’s everything you need to know. 

Contact lens solution vs. eye drops: what each product is actually designed to do 

These two products look similar and live in the same general area of your bathroom, but they’re built for completely different jobs. 

Contact lens solution 

Multipurpose contact solution is engineered to clean, disinfect, and store your lenses. To do that effectively, it contains: 

• Disinfecting agents like polyquaternium-1 (Polyquad) or benzalkonium chloride (BAK) that kill bacteria and microorganisms on the lens surface 
• Surfactants that break down protein deposits and lipid buildup that accumulate on lenses throughout the day 
• Preservatives to keep the solution sterile in the bottle over time 
• Chelating agents like EDTA that enhance disinfection by weakening bacterial cell walls 

These ingredients work well on a lens sitting in a case. Applied directly to your eye, they’re a different story. Surfactants in particular can disrupt the eye’s natural lipid layer — the oily outer layer of your tear film that slows evaporation and keeps moisture locked in. When that layer is compromised, your eyes can actually feel drier and more irritated than before (the very problem you were trying to fix). 

Preservatives like BAK have also been linked to corneal toxicity with repeated exposure, which is why many ophthalmologists recommend preservative-free eye drops for people with dry eyes or sensitivity. 

Eye drops 

Eye drops are specifically formulated to interact safely with your eye. Artificial tears, for example, are designed to mimic your natural tear film. They are pH-balanced to match the eye’s natural environment (around 7.4), osmotically matched to your tears, and free of the harsh disinfecting agents found in contact solution. 

Different eye drops serve different purposes: 

• Artificial tears: lubricate dry eyes and relieve general discomfort 
• Rewetting drops for contacts: safe to use while wearing lenses to refresh and rehydrate them 
• Antihistamine drops: help with allergy-related itching and redness 
• Preservative-free drops: gentler option for sensitive eyes or frequent use 
• Prescription drops: treat specific conditions like infections or inflammation 

All of them are formulated with your eye’s biology in mind. Contact solution is not. 

Can you use eye drops as contact solution? 

No, and this direction is just as problematic. Eye drops don’t contain the disinfecting agents needed to kill bacteria on your lenses. Using artificial tears to store or “clean” your contacts won’t do the job. 

Here’s what actually happens: protein deposits and bacteria stay on the lens. You put it back in your eye the next morning. That’s a direct path to irritation, infection, or worse. Bacterial keratitis — a serious corneal infection — is one of the more common complications from improper lens care, and it’s very much avoidable. 

The only eye drops safe to use with contacts in your eyes are rewetting drops specifically labeled for contact lens wear. Those are designed to rehydrate lenses while you’re wearing them — but they still won’t disinfect or properly store your lenses. 

Contact solution and eye drops aren’t interchangeable. Each one does its job well when you use it correctly. 

What to do if you accidentally put contact solution in your eye 

It happens. If you’ve already applied contact solution directly to your eye, here’s what to do right away: 

• Flush immediately. Rinse your eye with cool, clean water or sterile saline for several minutes. Tilt your head so water flows from the inner corner of your eye outward. This dilutes and removes the solution from your eye’s surface. 
• Remove your lenses if you’re wearing them. Don’t put them back in until any irritation has fully resolved. 
• Don’t rub. It’s tempting, but rubbing can spread the irritant further across the eye surface. 
• Use lubricating eye drops after rinsing to help soothe the eye and restore moisture. 
• Call your eye doctor if symptoms don’t improve within an hour or get worse. 

A brief sting that clears up quickly is usually nothing to worry about. Burning that lingers, significant redness, or any vision changes are signs to get professional eyes on it. 

Safety risks of using contact solution as eye drops 

Beyond general irritation, there are a few specific risks worth knowing: 

• Corneal toxicity: Preservatives like benzalkonium chloride (BAK) can damage the corneal epithelium (the thin outer layer of cells on the front of your eye) with repeated exposure. This is one reason why ophthalmologists often steer patients with dry eyes or contact lens sensitivity toward preservative-free options. 
• Disruption of the tear film: Surfactants in contact solution break down lipids. Your eye’s natural tear film has a lipid layer that prevents evaporation. Disrupt that, and your eyes can end up drier than before. 
• Chemical irritation: The disinfecting agents designed to kill bacteria on lenses can cause a burning or stinging sensation when applied directly to eye tissue. 
• Allergic reaction: Some people are sensitive to specific preservatives in contact solution, which can trigger redness, swelling, or itching. 

None of this means that accidentally getting a drop of contact solution in your eye is a medical emergency. It means it’s not a habit you want to get into. 

Safe alternatives when you run out of eye drops or contact solution

When you're out of eye drops

If your eyes are dry or uncomfortable: 

• Use rewetting drops or lubricating drops made for contact lens wearers if you have lenses in 
• Use preservative-free artificial tears for sensitive eyes or frequent use 
• Remove your lenses and give your eyes a break — sometimes rest is the best medicine 

What not to reach for: contact solution, saline solution, or water. None of them are designed to lubricate or treat dry eyes. 

When you’re out of contact solution 

Here are your options: 

• Sterile saline solution: acceptable for a quick rinse of your lenses, but not for storage. Saline has no disinfecting properties, so it won’t kill bacteria that have built up on the lens. Use it only as a short-term rinse, never as an overnight storage medium. 
• Hydrogen peroxide systems (like Clear Care): a solid alternative if you have one on hand, but require the full neutralization process with the included case. Never put hydrogen peroxide solution directly in your eye. 
• Daily disposable contacts: a great reason to keep a few backup pairs around—no solution needed. 

When in doubt, take your lenses out and don’t put them back in until you have proper solution. 

Can you use 3% saline as eye drops with contacts? 

No. Standard 3% saline solution is too concentrated for use as eye drops. The saline that’s safe for eyes is isotonic, meaning it matches the salt concentration of your natural tears — around 0.9%. A 3% concentration is roughly three times saltier than your tear film. 

Applying it directly to your eye would pull moisture out of the eye’s surface cells through osmosis, which causes stinging, burning, and irritation rather than relief. It can also disrupt the natural balance of your tear film in the same way that contact solution does. 

If you need saline for eye use, look specifically for sterile isotonic saline (0.9%) that is labeled as safe for eyes. Even then, it’s a rinse — not a lubricant or treatment for dry eyes. 

When to seek urgent eye care 

Most cases of minor irritation from contact solution resolve quickly with rinsing and rest. But some symptoms mean it’s time to call your eye doctor or head to urgent care: 

• Burning or stinging that doesn’t improve after flushing and resting 
• Significant redness that gets worse instead of better 
• Blurry or changed vision 
• Unusual sensitivity to light 
• Eye pain (not just discomfort) 
• Discharge, crustiness, or swelling around the eye 

Your eyes are worth a phone call. When something feels off and doesn’t clear up on its own, get it checked. 

Frequently asked questions 

Can you use contact solution as eye drops in an emergency? 

No. Contact solution contains preservatives and disinfecting agents like Polyquad and BAK that aren’t safe for direct application to the eye. In a pinch, removing your lenses and resting your eyes is a safer move than using contact solution as a substitute. 

Can I use saline solution as eye drops? 

Only if it’s isotonic sterile saline (0.9%) labeled as safe for eye use. Standard 3% saline is too concentrated and will cause stinging and irritation. Even the right saline is only a rinse — not a lubricant or dry eye treatment. 

Can I use 3% saline as eye drops with contacts? 

No. 3% saline is about three times saltier than your natural tear film. Applying it to your eye will cause burning and irritation, not relief. For eye use, you need isotonic 0.9% sterile saline labeled specifically for eyes. 

What can I use if I don’t have eye drops? 

Preservative-free artificial tears are the safest and most effective option. If you’re wearing contacts and need rewetting, use drops specifically labeled for contact lens wear. If you have nothing on hand, removing your lenses and resting your eyes is your best move. 

Can you put contact solution in your eye with contacts in? 

No. Contact solution is for cleaning and storing lenses outside of your eye. For rewetting lenses while wearing them, use rewetting drops or lubricating drops made specifically for use with contacts. 

What happens if I accidentally use contact solution as eye drops? 

Flush your eye immediately with cool water or sterile saline for several minutes. Remove your lenses if you’re wearing them, don’t rub your eye, and use lubricating drops to soothe. Call your eye doctor if irritation doesn’t clear up within an hour or if you notice vision changes. 

 

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With 1-800 Contacts, you can order your contact lenses in just a few taps and have them delivered right to your door. New customers save on their first order. 

Need to renew your prescription? Our online vision exam makes it easy to do from home.  

Original publish date: 3/28/2024

Updated date: 7/2/2026