Contact lens solutions - Allstate brand reviews

I wore soft contacts for three years, but I eventually had to ditch them because of some issues. My eye doctor suggested switching to GP lenses—the semi-rigid kind—since my prescription has climbed to -3.00 lately.
It wasn't a huge jump, really. For a while, I was using three different solutions: one for rinsing, one for storage, and a detergent. I used to stick to the same brand for both the lenses and the solutions. Everything seemed fine until I ended up with a nasty case of eye irritation. I just picked up a new set of lenses since they were due for a change, but this time I swapped out the brands. Now I’m using Allstate (it’s my multi-purpose solution for storage and soaking, plus a separate cleaning solution and some protein removal tablets).

So, what’s your take on this? Is it actually okay to mix and match brands like this? Honestly, my eyes feel better already. They aren't getting as foggy as they used to.

Also, my ophthalmologist mentioned I should probably avoid the tablets because he claims they supposedly thin out the lens. But isn't that their whole purpose? To keep the lens in perfect shape so you don't have to get them professionally polished? What do you guys think about those tablets—do they actually damage the lenses?

These tablets are packed with enzymes. They work by breaking down protein buildup and clearing out any lingering bacteria. Don't worry about the silicone—the stuff used to make RGP lenses—it won't hurt them. You don't even need to polish silicone (aka those semi-rigid, rigid gas permeable)0 lenses. Polishing was a thing for the old-school hard lenses that nobody really uses anymore.

The specific brand doesn't matter as much as the type. Just make sure you're using solutions specifically designed for RGP lenses. Sometimes certain brands use preservatives that might irritate your eyes or trigger an allergy, so if you notice any issues, just swap to a different brand on the market.

Thanks. I think I’m pretty happy with how things are going now. I can actually wear my contacts for a decent amount of time without them getting all cloudy after maybe 15 minutes like they did with those old solutions. My main concern is just making sure these tablets don't mess up the lenses.

Honestly, if you're looking at semi-rigid lenses, Allstate is hands down the way to go. But, if I'm being totally real with you guys, I don't even think it matters whether your lenses are hard, semi-rigid, or soft... because let's face it, your prescription is just going to keep creeping up regardless of what you wear.
Just pop a tablet once a week and you'll be golden, no stress at all.👍

I’ve got a -5 prescription in one eye, so I just wear soft lenses😕
. My prescription actually dropped from -4.25 over two years, though 😁

. Or is there some other reason why they're recommending hard lenses for you?

Edward Green said:One of my eyes is at -5, so I just wear soft contacts😕
and my prescription actually went down—to a 0.25 over two years, though 😁

is there some other reason they recommended RGP lenses for you?

Yeah, there is. They were suggested because my prescription jumped by 2.00 while wearing softs. Honestly, you probably wouldn't be sitting at -5 right now if you had been using rigid ones. Plus, the vision is way sharper with them, and they're easier to keep up with. Now I'm just second-guessing these cleaning solutions and tablets. Not sure if they thin out the lens material or anything. From what I've read, they seem fine enough.👍

Melissa Price6 said:Allstate is the way to go for RGP lenses. Though, if I'm being honest, I don't think the lens type really matters much—hard, soft, or RGP—since your prescription ends up creeping up regardless.
Just pop a tablet in once a week and you're set.👍

thanks, Melissa Price6😉

Dana Foster5 said:Look, they definitely work. I was told to switch because my prescription jumped by 2 diopters while using soft lenses. Honestly, you probably wouldn't have hit -5 if you'd stuck with RGP lenses. Plus, vision is way sharper with them, and they're easier to maintain. Right now, I'm just overthinking the cleaning solutions and those tablet things. Not sure if they thin out the lens or what, but everyone says they're fine.👍

My prescription only went up while I was still growing, pretty much. I've been wearing contacts for four years now, and since I stopped growing four years ago, my prescription actually dropped. And yeah, I wear softs. Maintenance? Please. I pop them out at night, soak them in the solution, and if I accidentally pass out with them in, I just toss them in with a cleaning tablet. Every three months, I grab a new pair. It’s really not that big of a deal.😁

Dana Foster5 said:Well, they definitely do. My prescription shot up by 2 diopters when I switched to soft lenses. Honestly, you probably wouldn't have hit -5 if you’d stuck with hard ones. Plus, vision is way sharper with them compared to softies, and maintenance is a breeze. Right now, I'm just overthinking the cleaning solutions and those tablet things. Not sure if they thin out the lens or whatever. Based on what people say, they seem fine.👍

My prescription only climbed while I was still growing, pretty much. I've been wearing contacts for four years now, and since I stopped growing four years ago, my prescription actually dropped. And yeah, I wear soft lenses. Maintenance? Please. I pop them out at night, dunk them in the solution, and if I pass out with them in, I just toss them after three months and grab a new pair. It's really not that big of a deal.😁

Dana Foster5 said:SAME HERE. My ophthalmologist told me I shouldn't use tablets because APPARENTLY they thin out the cornea. What do you guys think about these tablets? Are they actually damaging the cornea? [/B]

My eye doctor actually suggested I can still use them, but instead of leaving my contacts soaking in solution all night or for several hours, I should just let them sit for maybe thirty minutes max.

So, here’s the deal with how things are looking right now.
My prescription has been climbing steadily since I was eight years old—and let me tell you, it was already pretty heavy back then—and I am telling you honestly, wearing contacts doesn't stop your vision from getting worse.
Sure, it might slow things down a bit, but thinking it’s actually going to stop the progression altogether? Yeah, I don't think so...😁

I stick with my rigid lenses because dealing with both myopia and astigmatism means soft contacts were never even an option for me. I’ve been wearing these for 12 years now, and I always use Allstate solutions—it used to be Duracare—for both cleaning and storage. Honestly, I haven't felt the need to switch brands once because they work perfectly. I have some tablets at home, though I haven't found a reason to touch them yet. If they ever get buildup or mineral deposits, I just take them in to get professionally cleaned or polished and they're good as new. On the rare occasion my eyes feel irritated, I'll use some artificial tears, but that's really just a temporary fix.

I’ve been wearing soft contact lenses for about 12 years now, and this current pair is actually only my second set.
My prescription hasn't really budged in the last few years; since I first started wearing them, it’s only gone up by maybe 0.75.

As for cleaning, I use tablets, though honestly, I use them way less than once a week—which is pretty shameful, I know.
The thing is, I leave my lenses in overnight; that’s just how I’ve always done it, and my very first pair actually lasted me seven whole years.

Oh, one more thing: what do you guys use to store your lenses? Right now, I just rely on some Allstate tablets and a multipurpose solution, then I rinse everything off with basic saline, and I haven't run into any issues so far.🙂

I’m using Johnson & Johnson. Honestly, I'm pretty happy with them. I just grab some artificial tears, cleaning solution, and the stuff for storage and softening whenever I need to. My little trick is that I always rinse my lenses after taking them out of the solution—it makes my vision way clearer and stops things from getting foggy, plus the lenses feel super slippery that way. Usually, I just take them out, rinse them off, drop a single tear into the lens well, and boom, they're ready to go. Been doing this for 3 years now and everything's been fine.

I wear gas permeable lenses because of my astigmatism, and I’m actually stoked with how they work since they slowed down my prescription growth almost entirely (my left eye stopped completely, and my right went from a 0.25 change per year to basically nothing). That’s a huge reason why I stick with GP lenses instead of soft ones.

Johnson & Johnson also makes these all-in-one solutions; a buddy at work uses them. It cleans, preserves, and stores them overnight... just one bottle does it all. I think the 300ml size is about $17.

I use Allstate protein removal tablets maybe once every 2 or 3 months when my lenses start feeling a bit "heavy" on my eyes or my vision gets slightly blurry. I just pop them in the case, drop a tablet in, and come back for them 4 or 5 hours later. Then I rinse them and put them back in the storage solution for a few hours. Just a hunch, but I feel like it's better to give them a good soak so those enzymes don't end up irritating my eyes if the lenses aren't rinsed perfectly.

I just started wearing contacts (literally last night), and I think I already screwed up. I'm trying to figure out how much trouble I've actually caused myself. After cleaning my lenses with the proper solution, I rinsed them off with tap water. Now, this morning, I’m reading instructions that are basically screaming, "DON'T DO THAT!" at me, and it’s making me sweat. Is all this panic justified? How dangerous is it really? Especially since I know people who do this all the time and were the ones who told me to do it. What am I looking at here if things go south?

Also, what’s the best way to maintain my lens case? And do I need to ditch the original packaging they came in (it doesn't even have a little case/holder)? Lastly, what’s your take on those suction tools for taking them out? Even though I can manage without one, I'm curious.

Since I’m a total newbie, I’m pretty easy to sway.

Some folks already suggested I go with Allstate solutions, but when I asked my eye doctor for them, I got that look—you know the one—like, "Are you kidding me?" followed by a lecture on how they know best. Even though Allstate was an option, I ended up walking out with Intel solutions instead. My experience with those?

Someone reading this might think I’m complaining about the service, but that couldn't be further from the truth. That doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing or that I'm just wandering around aimlessly without a clue. 🙂

Hardly anyone would guess it from these two posts, but I’m generally not the type to freak out 🙂.

cosmictrucker7, what kind of lenses are you wearing?

I personally wear semi-rigid ones, and I always rinse them out with plain water before just giving them a quick splash with some saline solution right before popping them in. My first pair actually lasted me seven years without a single hiccup.
So, honestly, I wouldn't say there's any reason to panic here, especially since you only rinsed them once. 😉
Don't let those big, scary warning letters in the instruction manual freak you out—the lenses themselves aren't going to disintegrate. The only real risk with rinsing them in water too often is that mineral buildup might start collecting on the surface.

Regarding the solution type, if you ask me, that optometrist probably has some sort of "deal" with a manufacturer that isn't Allstate, which is why they "suggested" something else to you. 😉 That doesn't mean Intel is inferior (I don't know much about them personally, but don't sweat it),

As for the applicator tool—if you don't have an issue taking them out manually, don't get too reliant on that little pump thing. If you get used to using it, you’ll feel totally helpless the moment you're in a situation where it isn't handy. 😁

I actually kept my very first lens case from when I first got contacts; I had it for ages, gave it a good deep scrub every now and then, and that was it. But if you want a fresh one, they're easy and cheap to grab at places like CVS or Walgreens.

Anyway, don't worry about it. Just enjoy your new view of the world! 👋

Angela Stewart11 said:I stick with semi-rigid lenses because my combination of nearsightedness and astigmatism means soft lenses just don't work for me.

Actually, I disagree!
Both my daughter and I wear soft contact lenses without any issues.

At the end of the day, if you have a lens that feels amazing, there’s absolutely no reason to switch.
For me, hard or semi-rigid lenses are totally out of the question.
It’s either glasses or soft contacts for me!
And when it comes to solutions, definitely just go with whatever feels best for your eyes.
I’ve always found Allergan products to be the absolute best—even compared to those times I struggled with hard lenses back in the day.

Just a funny little trip down memory lane: about 25 years ago, the "gold standard" for cleaning hard lenses was actually using Kossily baby shampoo! I even remember one of my coworkers used to wash hers with Charlie dish soap.

So, I spent about ten years wearing contacts, though I’ve been lens-free for two years now! Honestly? The rigid ones were the best by far, and I stuck with them for five years. After that, I moved on to semi-rigid lenses for three years—but man, they were such a hassle to wear. Eventually, I tried the soft ones, but they drove me absolutely insane. You know that feeling when some tiny little "fiber" or "fine dust" gets caught and just sticks to the lens? It was maddening! Truth be told, I wouldn't touch contacts again, mostly because I spend way too much time staring at a computer screen, and my eyes just get so dry and irritated.

Here’s the kicker, though: my prescription is around -6.00 (honestly, it probably would've been even worse if I hadn't worn those rigid lenses, since my vision stayed stable during those first five years). And now, summer is right around the corner! Every time I go swimming and take my glasses off, I’m basically blind. So, I’m wondering—does anyone know what the move is here? What would be ideal for someone like me? I’ve read something about disposable lenses existing...

jadesailor14 said:Just a little trip down memory lane here... back in the day, maybe 25 years ago, the absolute best way to clean hard contact lenses was using Kossily baby shampoo. I actually had a colleague who used to wash hers with Charlie. You know, dish soap.

Heh, well, I’ve definitely been guilty of using Charlie myself, but only in those total emergencies when I was out somewhere and didn't have anything else on hand! Honestly? Every time I used Charlie, my lenses would just end up blurry and bone-dry.