Do rewetting drops expire?

Are you a contact lens wearer who’s constantly worried about the expiry date of your rewetting drops? Well, worry no more! We’ve got all the answers to your questions- and we promise it won’t be dry.

The Eternal Question

“Do my rewetting drops expire?” You may have asked yourself this question countless times before, as if waiting for an epiphany from above. But instead of waiting for divine intervention or using a crystal ball (which would probably irritate your eyes), look towards science.

The Simple Answer

Yes, rewetting drops do expire just like that leftover sandwich in the fridge you forgot about; even though it promised to “never leave you hanging,” eventually every good thing has to come to an end.

How Long Can I Use My Rewetting Drops For?

The general shelf life of most eye-drops is two years. However, once opened they should be used within six months – so make sure you’re not leaving them out in the sun too long!

But why exactly do they expire? It could be because bacteria can grow inside once exposed to air and other contaminants; or maybe it’s because Uncle Ben didn’t show up with some kind of superhero anti-bacterial pen & label (or did he…)

Warning Signs

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t use expired eye-drops due to health reasons. This might seem obvious but sometimes we hold onto things longer than we should (cough Netflix cough). Here are some telltale signs your rewetting drop has hit its expiration:

  • Discoloration: Is there something off-color happening?
  • Changes in viscosity: Has it become more gel-like rather than liquid?
  • Debris floating around.

If these red flags appear after opening then throw them away immediately.

What If It’s Just Past Expiry Date?

Let’s say you’ve found an old bottle of rewetting drops lurking in the back of your bathroom cupboard; what should you do?

Firstly, check the expiry date – as previously mentioned they won’t last forever. If it’s just past that date and there haven’t been any noticeable changes (dodgy consistency or discoloration), then it should still work okay for a short amount of time. Nevertheless, to be safe, bin them.

Proper Storage

Storing eye-drops properly can help prolong their shelf life far beyond expiration dates:

  • Storing at room temperature.
  • Keeping away from sources of heat such as radiators and sunlight.
  • Ensuring cap is screwed tightly on when not in use.

It’s also worth noting whether the solution was preservative-free or not when first opened. Those with added preservatives can either stay open for longer with minimal disruption to functionality—however this is only temporary.

In Moderation

Rewetting drops are great for easing irritation whilst wearing contact lenses but using them too much all willy-nilly could cause over-reliance which comes at a cost! Overuse makes eyes drier than before and causes continual reliance upon lubricant solutions.

Over-using preservative-containing eye-drop formulas allows bacteria to grow at greater ease than without – now there’s something we don’t want sticking around…

Choosing Wisely

Here comes some next level information: eye-drops contain two basic kinds of ingredients:

1) Lubricants
2) Medications

Lubricants aim to moisten & relieve stinging dryness so opt for sterile options that avoid harsh chemicals or additives like benzalkonium chloride aka “BAK” which are especially harmful when overused (longer than three weeks). Alternatively, Systane Ultra works wonders minus BAK-derived issues!

Medicated formulae aren’t used primarily for lubrication or relief. Rather, these can help treat specific problems that need medication such as redness, itching or whatever other issues you may have – in this case consult a physician.

Goodbye Old Drops

We hope we’ve answered your burning question: do rewetting drops expire? The answer is undoubtedly yes but if reassurance is needed always refer to the label-mandated use-by date or err on the side of caution for best vision health!

Remember – just like anything in life we must learn when it’s time to let go and move on…unless it’s Netflix!

self-five

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