Yearly Colored Lenses: Cleaning and Storage Routine
By Colored Contact Lenses Online | Seebelle | Published: 2026-10-18
Category: Product Reviews
Keep your yearly colored lenses comfortable and clear with this straightforward cleaning and storage routine. Learn the steps, common mistakes, and product tips.
Quick Answer
Clean your yearly colored lenses daily with a fresh multipurpose solution—rub, rinse, and store in a clean case. Replace the case every three months and never use water or saliva.
Why Yearly Lenses Need a Different Routine
Yearly colored lenses are designed for repeated use over 12 months, which means protein deposits and debris build up more than with disposables. Skipping a daily clean can lead to discomfort, blurry vision, or even infection. The good news is that a consistent routine takes only a few minutes and keeps your lenses feeling fresh.
The key difference from daily or monthly lenses is that yearly lenses require a rub-and-rinse step every single time you remove them. Soaking alone isn't enough to remove the stubborn deposits that accumulate on a lens you wear for a full year.
Step-by-Step Daily Cleaning and Storage Routine
- Wash and Dry Your Hands: Use a mild, fragrance-free soap and rinse thoroughly. Dry with a lint-free towel. Oils or lotions on your fingers can transfer to the lens and cause blurring. Don't use moisturizing soaps—they leave a residue that's hard to rinse off.
- Remove One Lens and Rub It: Place the lens in your palm and add a few drops of fresh multipurpose solution. Rub gently for about 20 seconds on each side. This loosens protein deposits and debris that rinsing alone can't remove. Skipping the rub is the most common mistake; soaking alone won't clean a yearly lens effectively.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Hold the lens in your fingertips and rinse each side with a steady stream of fresh solution for about 5 seconds. Never use tap water—it contains microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections. If you're out of solution, don't use water as a substitute. Keep a travel-size bottle handy.
- Store in a Clean Case With Fresh Solution: Fill each well of your lens case with fresh solution. Place the lens in the correct well (left/right) and close the lid tightly. Let it soak for at least 6 hours or overnight. Never top off old solution—always use fresh. Bacteria can grow in used solution.
- Clean and Air-Dry the Case: After inserting your lenses, empty the case, rinse it with fresh solution (not water), and leave it open to air-dry. Replace the case every three months. A damp, closed case is a breeding ground for bacteria. Always let it dry completely.
Lenses That Work With This Routine
- Avela Hidrocor Colored Contact Lenses (Yearly): Avela Hidrocor colored contact lenses have a 14.2mm diameter and 40% water content, designed for everyday comfort as a yearly replacement. The moderate water content helps resist drying during extended wear, but it also means protein deposits can form faster—making the daily rub step even more important.
Avela Hidrocor Colored Contact Lenses (Yearly) - Amethyst 3-Tone Colored Contact Lenses (Yearly): Amethyst 3-Tone colored contact lenses have a 14.5mm diameter and 40% water content, with a yearly replacement schedule. The larger diameter creates a more dramatic color effect, but the larger surface area can trap more debris, so thorough cleaning is essential to maintain comfort.
Amethyst 3-Tone Colored Contact Lenses (Yearly)
