How is disinfection defined in the context of contact lens care?

In the context of contact lens care, disinfection is defined as a procedure that reduces the level of microbial contamination. This means that the primary goal of disinfection is to significantly decrease the number of harmful pathogens on the lenses, ensuring that they are safe for use. This is crucial for preventing eye infections and promoting overall ocular health for contact lens wearers.

The emphasis on reducing microbial contamination rather than completely eliminating all microorganisms is important because, in practical terms, achieving complete sterility can be challenging, especially in everyday disinfecting methods. Thus, effective disinfection focuses on minimizing the risk of infection by lowering the microbial load to a safe level for wear.

The other aspects, such as cleaning lenses visually or enhancing comfort, refer to different processes in lens care—cleaning typically addresses debris and deposits on the lenses, while comfort relates to the materials and solutions used in handling lenses, but do not reflect the specific aim of disinfection, making them less relevant in this context.