The short answer is: NO. Newer contact lenses are made of silicon hydrogel material and older contact lens solutions are not compatible with these types of lenses.
Additionally, the store brands buy their solution formulations from the name brand companies and package them as their own. This means from purchase to purchase the same store brand can be a different type of solution each time. It may be an older formulation that the name brand does not use anymore and the solution may or may not be compatible with your lenses.
When patients complain of discomfort or seem to be having a new “allergy”, I always ask if they are using store brand contact lens solutions. It’s surprising how often this is the case. So, take care of your eyes and stick to name brands when caring for your contacts!
If you have questions or comments, please send an email to drlillie@familyvisionoptical.com.