Editorial Manager(tm) for Optometry and Vision Science Manuscript Draft Title: Contact Lens Cleaning Procedures Affect Storage Solution Ph and Osmolality Synopsis of Manuscript Contact Lens Cleaning Procedures Affect Storage Solution Ph and Osmolality 1 2 3 Title Page

1 Purpose. To investigate pH and osmolality changes in the solutions stored in 2 contact lens cases, when different case rinsing and drying methods are used on 3 a daily basis. 4 Methods. Four multipurpose solutions (Opti-Free Express, Solo-Care Aqua, 5 Re-Nu Multiplus and Complete) and two hydrogen peroxide systems 6 (AOsept and Oxysept) were studied. Cases were filled with the solutions and 7 kept sealed. After 8 hours, the cases underwent different rinsing (rinsing; non8 rinsing) and drying (air drying -AD-; lint-free tissue drying -LFTD-; non-drying 9 ND-) procedures on a daily basis. Five cases of each rinsing/drying combination 10 for each solution were evaluated. The pH and osmolality of the case contained 11 solution were evaluated on the first, 7, 15, and then, 30 day. 12 Results. pH and osmolality increased significantly from day 1 to day 30, except 13 for Complete in which a significant decrease in pH was found. Rinsing vs non14 rinsing contact lens cases did not have any influence on the pH or osmolality, 15 except for Oxysept, which showed a significantly higher osmolality value when 16 cases were not rinsed. However, the drying procedure did influence both 17 measurements; pH was significantly higher in the AD compared to the ND 18 group (p<0.05) and there was a significant difference in osmolality between the 19 three drying conditions (p<0.05), with the AD group showing the highest values, 20 and the LFTD group showing the lowest. 21 Conclusions. Osmolality and pH values are time and drying process-dependent 22 in a contact lens case cleaning schedule. Regarding drying conditions, LFTD 23 causes less increase in osmolality. Future studies should determine whether 24 Abstract