The Care and Keeping of Your Optical Wands: Disinfecting and Replacing Inserters and Removers

For those of us who have embraced the crystalline magic of specialty contact lenses—be they the magnificent vaulting scleral lenses or classic rigid gas permeables—the morning insertion and evening removal quickly become a meticulously choreographed daily ritual. You likely already treat your lenses with the utmost reverence, bathing them in exquisite saline and purifying overnight solutions. But today, at OC Optometry Group, we must turn our attention to the unsung heroes of this delicate optical ballet: your inserters and removers.

These trusty little plungers, affectionately known as the magic wands of your morning routine, are precisely what make flawless lens application and removal possible. Yet, they are so often neglected, left to languish at the bottom of a vanity drawer or rolling about in the depths of a travel bag. Imagine, if you will, donning a bespoke silk gown but pairing it with muddy galoshes. Placing a perfectly pristine, freshly disinfected scleral lens onto your eye using a questionable, dusty inserter is much the same travesty. To protect the delicate ecosystem of your eyes from unwelcome microbial guests, your tools require a dedicated hygiene ritual of their own.

Let us begin with the daily bath. After each and every use, your inserters and removers should be promptly washed with warm water and a mild, unscented, non-moisturizing soap. It is absolutely crucial to avoid soaps heavy in lotions or luxurious oils, as these will leave a cloudy, slippery film on your tools that will inevitably transfer to your pristine lenses. Once washed, thoroughly rinse away all suds and place the tools gently on a clean, lint-free tissue to air dry entirely. Bacteria and fungi are terribly fond of damp, dark environments, so ensuring your wands are completely dry before storing them in their case is the grandest defense against contamination.

For a more rigorous purification, a weekly deep cleanse is highly encouraged. You may gently wipe the suction cup ends of your inserters and removers with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, swiftly eliminating any stubborn, lingering microbes. However, one must exercise patience here; you must allow the alcohol to evaporate completely and then rinse the tool with sterile saline before it ever comes near your lens or your eye again. A stinging surprise is certainly not the whimsical morning awakening one desires!

Even with the most impeccable care, however, these loyal tools cannot serve you eternally. The rubber and silicone materials are designed to be delightfully pliable, but over time, exposure to oils, soaps, and daily wear will inevitably degrade them. As a golden rule, your inserters and removers should be gracefully retired and replaced every three months.

If you notice the edges of the suction cup becoming frayed, brittle, or discolored before the three-month mark, it is time to part ways immediately. Furthermore, if you find your trusty remover suddenly losing its characteristic "grip," leaving you in a rather comical standoff with your own eyewear at the end of a long day, the material has simply exhausted its lifespan. Stocking up on a fresh, vibrant array of replacement plungers ensures that your daily vision ritual remains a seamless, sophisticated joy rather than a cumbersome chore.

At OC Optometry Group, we delight in the fine details that keep your eyes brilliantly healthy and endlessly comfortable.

Contact our office in Irvine or Newport Beach at (949)-854-7122 or (949) 476-2870 to book an appointment.