I use ClearCare for my contact lenses. According to the label, it is a 10% hydrogen peroxide solution. I place the lenses in two labeled baskets on a plastic piece that slips into a plastic vial filled with the hydrogen peroxide. Attached to this basket contraption is a piece that the label claims is covered in platinum. This platinum disk is actually quite convoluted, I assume to increase the device’s surface area.
When the device is placed into the solution, bubbles form and percolate up through the liquid. Sometimes, it seems that flakes of something come off of the platinum piece. There is a small hole in the cap.
So, what all is happening here? What reaction is taking place? Why is this reaction useful in cleaning contact lenses? Is that really platinum? Could I just pour the hydrogen peroxide that is in the first aid kit in this same container and get the same reaction? (I suppose I could try that on my own just to see.)
I have used other contact lens solutions and I like ClearCare the best. Why does it seem to clean my contacts better than any other product?
It’s my understanding that the H2O2 gets rid of the protein deposits on the lenses.
The platinum reacts with the H2O2 to neutralize it so you don’t burn your eyes out in the morning. The platinum and bubbling really have nothing to do with the cleaning process other than a little bit of agitation and it just looks neat (which helps people buy it). If you wanted to take the extra step of doing a really good job of rinsing them in plain saline, you could probably do without the platinum disc and it would work just as well. But part of this whole package is how easy it is. No soap, no rubbing, no rinsing, just put them in at night and they feel brand new in the morning.
As for the hole in the top, that lets out gas that forms and it makes sure the top doesn’t blow off. It also lets excess liquid bleed off it it starts overflowing.
Just FYI, the disc is only electroplated with Platinum, i.e. the outside Platinum layer is only a few molecules thick. Platinum is a precious metal often more valuable than Gold (right now they’re about the same).