FAQ 4: Filling solutions

Which saline should I use to fill my scleral lenses and how long can I use an opened vial or bottle of PF saline?

Only use PF saline or PF artificial tears in the bowl of the lenses. Buffered salines have additives that raise the pH of the saline to match the pH of the eye. For some people, buffered salines are more comfortable and fog less. Non-buffered salines are acidic and contain only sodium chloride and purified water. It is common for new users to have to experiment with the different PF saline options to find which one is best for them.  A listing of the PF saline options in the US can be found at the following link:

https://www.mbfsl.org/products-bllog/category/Preservative-free+salines

There are several brands of PF saline that are not registered with the FDA and the safety of these brands are questionable. The link provided below contains several that are available online. New ones keep appearing so it is recommended to stick with the familiar brands.

https://www.mbfsl.org/safety-alerts

PF saline options are different in other parts of the world such as Physiodose PF 0.9% saline in individual vials (not buffered), Cleadew SLi, Avizor Unidose saline (buffered with borate), and Isosol (buffered), to mention a few.