However, busy lifestyles and confusing directions - yes, you do
have to rub "no-rub" solutions into contacts - mean that many Americans do not thoroughly clean or
disinfect their lenses. Bacteria and proteins can adhere to lenses, causing infections when
contacts are reapplied to eyes.

Serious vision problems, even blindness, can result when
contact-wearers sleep or shower with their contacts in, or when they wear their lenses longer than
recommended. Recent eye disease outbreaks were worsened in people who wore their lenses without
properly caring for their eyes.

Contact lens disinfectant must be strong enough to kill
bacteria, but gentle enough to avoid irritating sensitive ocular tissue. Solutions need an
overnight period to disinfect lenses properly, but many Americans will re-wear contacts after an
hour soak. Some people will reuse old contact lens solution, helping contaminate contact
lenses.

Some companies are developing products that make disinfecting and cleaning lenses
quicker, easier and more effective, helping to ensure improved contact lens safety. One product,
the LensComfort Ultrasonic Cleaning, Disinfecting and Storage Unit (www.lenscomfort.com),
ensures disinfection and complete cleaning in 15 minutes.

The system uses ultrasonic waves
to boost the cleaning and disinfecting power of LensComfort contact lens solutions. That means that
LensComfort solutions and ultrasound remove debris - oils, lipids, protein - more effectively than
systems that require overnight soaks and rubbing.

The system also helps simplify the
cleaning process. Instead of using saline and disinfectant, then rubbing their contact lenses,
wearers put their lenses in the unit, add LensComfort multipurpose solution and plug the unit into
a normal electrical outlet. Within 15 minutes, contacts are thoroughly clean and safe for
wear.