Is Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfection Effective for Cleaning Pollen Particles Attached to Contact Lenses?

Takahiro Sunaga,1,2 Tatsuya Mimura,1 Hiroshi Matsuoka,2 Hiroaki Horikawa,1 Kazuma Kitsu,1 Atsushi Mizota1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan; 2Teikyo University of Science & Technology, Senju Campus 7, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, JapanCorrespondence: Tatsuya Mimura Tel +81-3-3964-1211Fax +81-3-3964-1402Email mimurat-tky@umin.ac.jpPurpose: It has been proven that wearing soft contact lenses (SCLs) can make pollen-induced allergic conjunctivitis worse. We investigated the cleaning effect of disinfectants and rinsing solution on cedar pollen attached to SCLs.Methods: Two-week replacement disposable SCLs, to which pollen particles were experimentally attached, were washed and cleaned with either saline of rinsing solution (n = 10) or 3% hydrogen peroxide (n = 10). We observed, under a microscope, the cedar pollen adhered to the SCLs after washing.Results: The number of residual pollens attached to SCLs was 23.7 ± 25.7 with rinsing solution and 0.2 ± 0.6 with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution per single area (100 μm × 100 μm). The percentage of adhesion area of pollen to the SCLs was 0.9 ± 1.1% with rinsing solution and 0.0 ± 0.0% with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. There were significant differences in the number of pollen and adhesion areas of pollen between the two groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively).Conclusion: These results suggest that hydrogen peroxide solution is superior in cleaning effect of cedar pollen attached to SCLs compared to saline.Keywords: hydrogen peroxide, pollen, disinfection, soft contact lens