Eye Society

Biotrue vs. ReNu vs. Opti-Free: Comparing contact solutions

Apr 15, 2025

They say the eyes are the window to the soul. But when you're worried about keeping your contacts clean, it's hard to focus on philosophy. You need a high-quality product designed to eliminate buildup and keep your lenses moister than a milk-soaked cookie. Enter Biotrue®, ReNu®, and Opti-Free®.

All three solutions clean and hydrate lenses, leaving you feeling confident and in control of your visual destiny. Here's what makes each one unique:

Biotrue contains a substance found in natural tears (hyaluronan), ensuring your contacts stay comfortable all day long.
ReNu cleaning solution kills 99.9% of germs while adding moisture, but it doesn't contain hyaluronan.
Opti-Free comes with HydraGlyde technology, so it attracts moisture to your contacts and helps retain it.

With so many great options available, it's tough to know which is right for your needs. They're all high-quality products made by trusted manufacturers, but one might be a better fit than the others. We've compared Biotrue vs. ReNu vs. Opti-Free to help you find the cleaning solution of your dreams.

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Biotrue

Let's face it: Caring for your contacts should be easy. No one wants to mess around with multiple products while they could be relaxing and enjoying life. Clean with one product; disinfect with another. Pretty soon, you feel like a wizard who just can't work out the formula for a secret potion.

Fortunately, Biotrue makes life easier. Biotrue contact lens solution combines a saline base with several other ingredients to moisten your contacts and get rid of particles that interfere with crystal-clear vision.

This one-bottle wonder acts as a personal assistant and bodyguard all in one. Biotrue does the hard work of cleaning your lenses, and it protects you from bacteria and other harmful particles. Best of all, it mimics your natural tears, so your contacts feel comfortable all day long.

Is it magic? Not quite — it's the combined effects of these ingredients:

Hyaluronan: Better known as hyaluronic acid, Hyaluronan keeps your joints from creaking every time you take a step. It also keeps your skin looking dewy. Biotrue uses hyaluronan to keep your contacts incredibly moist. Just think of this substance as a hydration coach for your lenses.
Poloxamine: Tired of dealing with gunk on your contacts? It's poloxamine to the rescue! Poloxamine is a surfactant, which is just a science-y way of saying it's good at getting rid of dirt, proteins, and other particles. Best of all, poloxamine is gentle, so you don't have to worry about it damaging your contacts.
Sulfobetaine: When it comes to lens care, you need a pH-balanced product that plays nice with your contacts. Sulfobetaine is a zwitterion (a mouthful, we know), which means it has positive and negative charges. This prevents interactions with other ingredients, making sulfobetaine the life of the lens party.

Biotrue is one of many products made by Bausch + Lomb, the OG eye care company. Bausch + Lomb has been in business since 1853, so it knows a thing or two about lenses. Some of the company's early innovations include Vulcanite eyeglass frames, the Balopticon slide projector, and specialized goggles for military aviators.

Today, Bausch + Lomb produces dozens of products designed to help you see clearly, from contact lenses to cleaning solutions.

Best for: Biotrue is best for lens wearers looking for an all-in-one solution to their cleaning needs. If you're tired of having a cluttered medicine cabinet or using multiple products to keep your lenses in tip-top shape, consider adding Biotrue to your eye care arsenal.

Is Biotrue a saline solution?

Biotrue isn't a saline solution. Saline is nothing more than a mixture of salt and water. It's useful, but it isn't the best option for contact lens care. Biotrue is a multipurpose solution designed to help you:

Moisturize your eyes
Rinse dirt and bacteria from your contacts
Disinfect contact lenses

In other words, Biotrue is the little overachiever of the contact lens world. While other products do the bare minimum, Biotrue moistens your contacts and keeps irritating particles where they belong — away from your pretty peepers.

Can you use Biotrue multi-purpose solution as eye drops?

Nope, Biotrue is a multipurpose lens solution, so it's made to clean and disinfect your contacts. It shouldn't come into direct contact with your eyes. If you're dealing with dryness and irritation, ask your eye care professional to recommend a drop made specifically for tackling dry eye.

Like all lens cleaners, Biotrue contains preservatives designed to extend its shelf life. If you use Biotrue in place of eye drops, you may experience redness and irritation when these ingredients come into contact with your eyes.

ReNu

Now, it's time to compare Biotrue vs. ReNu. Although ReNu multipurpose solution helps keep your contacts moist, adding moisture isn't its primary goal. Instead, ReNu focuses on cleaning and disinfecting your lenses.

Its most important feature is a triple disinfectant system that kills 99.9% of bacteria and other germs. ReNu also prevents the formation of protein deposits, eliminating a common obstacle to seeing clearly with contacts.

Here's what makes the triple disinfectant system so effective:

Polyquaternium-1: This preservative is commonly found in artificial tears. Developed by Alcon, this substance offers a major advantage over older types of preservatives: It doesn't concentrate in contacts. It also kills disease-causing organisms without damaging the delicate cells in your eyes.
Polyaminopropyl biguanide: Polyaminopropyl biguanide — try saying that three times in a row — is also a preservative with antibacterial properties. It's frequently used in cosmetics but works well when used in wound dressings and skin disinfectants. In ReNu, this substance pulls double duty by disinfecting contact lenses and preventing bacterial growth within the cleaning solution itself.
Alexidine: The addition of a third disinfectant makes ReNu multipurpose lens solution an antibacterial powerhouse. Alexidine kills several types of bacteria, ensuring your lenses stay clean.

Bausch + Lomb also makes ReNu contact solution, so you can rest easy knowing your multipurpose cleaner comes from a reputable company.

So, is Biotrue or ReNu better? It depends on your needs. Both products contain antibacterial ingredients, giving you confidence in the cleanliness of your lenses. Biotrue does a slightly better job adding moisture to contacts, but ReNu provides up to 20 hours of moisture, so it's no slouch when it comes to keeping you comfortable.

Best for: ReNu is best for everyday lens wearers who prioritize comfort and cleanliness.

Can you put ReNu multipurpose solution in your eyes?

No, you can't put ReNu multipurpose solution in your eyes. ReNu is a three-in-one contact lens solution, so it's made to clean, rinse, and store your contacts. It's not supposed to be used as an eye drop. If you put ReNu multipurpose solution in your eyes, you might end up with redness and irritation. The bottom line? Keep ReNu in your lens case and away from your eyeballs.

Opti-Free

After comparing Biotrue vs. ReNu, there's a third option to consider: Opti-Free, which comes in two varieties for your convenience. Opti-Free Replenish has these features to maximize comfort and keep your lenses clean:

Dual disinfectants: Opti-Free Replenish contains Polyquad® and Aldox®. Both substances kill harmful organisms, preventing eye infections associated with contact lens use.
TearGlyde®: This reconditioning system creates a moisture shield, making your lenses more comfortable. Reconditioning also reduces the risk of redness and prevents your vision from getting blurry toward the end of the day.
Protein removal: Opti-Free Replenish loosens protein deposits and washes them away, preventing buildup that can interfere with your comfort and ability to see clearly.

Opti-Free PureMoist® also contains the bacteria-fighting duo of Polyquad and Aldox. Instead of TearGlyde technology, however, PureMoist uses the HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix to create a barrier between your lenses and eyes. When this moisture shield is in place, your eyelids glide over your lenses, reducing the risk of irritation. HydraGlyde technology also reduces lipid deposits by clinging to dry areas of your contacts.

Unlike Biotrue and ReNu, Opti-Free solution is made by Alcon, another heavy hitter in the eye care industry. Founded in 1945, Alcon started as a pharmacy. The company didn't offer optical products until 1950, which is when it introduced Zincfrin® for itchy, red eyes and Ophthalzin® for minor eye infections.

Best for: Opti-Free multipurpose lens solutions are best for users with sensitive eyes, as they create a moisture barrier designed to reduce friction and increase comfort. You may also benefit from using an Opti-Free solution if you wear your contacts for many hours per day.

Which contact lens solution is best?

Remember, Biotrue, ReNu, and Opti-Free are all high-quality products made by some of the top names in eye care. No matter which you choose, you get a multipurpose solution designed to moisturize your contacts and kill infection-causing organisms.

Here's which product is best based on your priorities:

Best for sensitive eyes: Opti-Free is best for sensitive eyes, as it creates a moisture shield designed to reduce friction between your eyelids and your contacts. The lack of friction prevents irritation and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Best for added moisture: Thanks to the use of hyaluronan, a substance found in natural tears, Biotrue is the best option for added moisture.
Best disinfectant: All three products have disinfecting capabilities, but ReNu has a slight edge here due to the use of three disinfecting substances instead of two.

If you're ready for new lenses, 1-800 Contacts has dozens of options. Browse our website to find the brand prescribed by your eye care professional.

Did you know you can order contacts online?

Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts!