With Quick Care off the market since last year, there are three main options:

1. Multipurpose Solutions like Opti-Free, Re-Nu, Complete and Aquify.

2. Hydrogen peroxide solutions like Ultra Care and Clear Care.

3. Using separate products for cleaning and rinsing/storing - e.g. CIBA's Pliagel cleaner with CIBA Softwear Saline.

A closer look at each below:

Option #1: Multipurposes Solutions - (Opti-Free, Re-Nu, Complete, Aquify)

Cleaning agents and disinfecting agents are all in the solution. They are being promoted as No-Rub, but are much more effective when used to rub the lenses. I think Opti-Free is the best of these, because of superior disinfecting properties and fewer problems with toxicity or allergic reactions to the chemicals. Opti-Free has been proven to work well with the new silicone based lenses. As of now Bausch & Lomb Re-Nu w/ MoistureLock is off the market because of an association with fungal infections.

Option #2: Hydrogen peroxide Solutions (Ultra Care, Clear Care, which replaced AoSept)

I would have normally recommended one of these systems as the first alternative to Quick Care, except that they have eliminated the daily cleaner from their kits. They both claim the cleaning agents they have added to the hydrogen peroxide solution do an adequate job of cleaning. I can't recommend to rub with the solution, as any slight residue on the fingers will severly sting and burn if transmitted to the eye. Each kit has a different way to neutralize the hydogen peroxide into water and oxygen, to render the solution essentially chemical free.

For extra cleaning power you could add a soft lens daily cleaner and saline rinsing to this system - using the Clear Care or the Ultra Care for disinfecting.

Option #3

The closest option to Quick Care is purchasing Pliagel (CIBA) daily cleaner separately and using CIBA Softwear Saline (the exact same product as Quick Care Finishing Solution) for rinsing and storing. Quick Care Starting Solution evolved from Pliagel, with a slightly increased alcohol content allowing it to pass FDA standards as a disinfectent. I cannot recommend this option because Pliagel hasn't been approved by the FDA as a disinfectant.

Recommendation:

At this time I am leaving it to each patient which option to select, depending on how much care you choose to take. If simplicity is the priority, try the Multipurpose (all-in-one) option, making sure to rub and rinse. If you choose not to rub the lens, make sure you rinse the lens as directed on the bottle, and be prepared to replace your lenses sooner. Most patients are using Multipurpose Solutions, with few problems. If one is willing to put more time into the care of their contact lenses, the most effective method is using separate daily cleaner, rinsing with saline, and then using a hydrogen peroxide system for disinfection purposes only.

The best care system for you depends on how willing you are to put extra time into caring for your lenses and on how often you would like to replace your lenses.