Ophthalmic optics - Contact lenses - Determination of shelf-life (ISO 11987:2026)

This document specifies test procedures for determining the stability of contact lenses once they are placed in their final packaging during storage and distribution.
NOTE            The results obtained can be used for determining the expiry date.

Augenoptik - Kontaktlinsen - Bestimmung der Lagerdauer (ISO 11987:2026)

Optique ophtalmique - Lentilles de contact - Détermination de la durée de conservation (ISO 11987:2026)

Ce document spécifie les procédures d'essai pour déterminer la stabilité des lentilles de contact une fois qu'elles sont placées dans leur emballage final pendant le stockage et la distribution.
NOTE            Les résultats obtenus peuvent être utilisés pour déterminer la date de péremption.

Očesna optika - Kontaktne leče - Določanje roka uporabnosti (ISO 11987:2026)

General Information

Status
Published
Public Enquiry End Date
29-Jun-2025
Publication Date
05-Feb-2026
Technical Committee
VAZ - Healthcare
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
29-Jan-2026
Due Date
05-Apr-2026
Completion Date
06-Feb-2026

Relations

Effective Date
14-Aug-2024

Overview

The draft International Standard kSIST FprEN ISO 11987:2025:2025, titled Ophthalmic Optics - Contact Lenses - Determination of Shelf-Life, is developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 172/SC 7 under the secretariat of DIN and published by CEN. This standard specifies stringent test procedures for assessing the stability and shelf-life of contact lenses after packaging during storage and distribution. It replaces the previous 2012 edition with technical revisions and editorial updates.

The objective of ISO 11987:2025 is to ensure contact lenses maintain their quality, safety, efficacy, and acceptability throughout their shelf-life until the point of dispensing. It emphasizes testing the stability of the lens material, packaging solution, and packaging integrity under controlled conditions. This standard is integral in determining expiration dates and recommending proper storage conditions for ophthalmic contact lenses.

Key Topics

  • Scope and Purpose
    Specifies procedures to test contact lenses once sealed in final packaging, focusing on material stability and packaging to support shelf-life claims.

  • Stability Assessment Principle
    Stability is evaluated based on material properties, packaging solution, and environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. It clarifies that stability is linked to material and packaging rather than lens design variations.

  • Risk Assessment and Test Protocols
    Manufacturers must perform risk assessments to identify critical parameters influencing lens quality and define specific testing protocols accordingly.

  • Test Media and Measurement Conditions
    Testing uses the original storage solution or standard saline and maintains consistent measurement media throughout test stages.

  • Apparatus Requirements
    Controlled storage chambers at 25 °C ± 2 °C (and elevated temperatures for accelerated ageing) with continuous logging of temperature and humidity. Measurement equipment must be capable of assessing optical and physical parameters such as back vertex power, diameter, curvature, and spectral transmittance.

  • Test Samples
    Contact lenses tested must represent normal production ranges from at least two traceable polymer batches, packaged as intended for sale, including sterilization verification where applicable.

  • Test Procedures
    Includes real-time ageing studies under standard conditions and accelerated ageing studies under elevated temperature or humidity to predict shelf-life reliably.

  • Result Expression and Reporting
    Provides guidelines on expressing stability results and compiling comprehensive test reports to support shelf-life claims.

Applications

ISO 11987:2025 serves multiple practical purposes for manufacturers, regulatory bodies, and quality assurance departments involved with contact lenses:

  • Shelf-Life Determination
    Empowers manufacturers to set scientifically supported expiration dates for contact lenses ensuring consumer safety.

  • Quality Control
    Offers a structured framework to monitor the stability and consistency of contact lenses across production batches during their lifecycle.

  • Packaging Evaluation
    Enables assessment of packaging materials and storage solutions, identifying potential risks like moisture permeability that could impair lens stability.

  • Regulatory Compliance
    Acts as a reference standard aligning with national and international regulatory frameworks governing ophthalmic devices.

  • Product Development
    Assists in material screening and stability evaluation during lens design and manufacture, ensuring reliable performance over time.

Related Standards

ISO 11987:2025 references and complements important standards within ophthalmic optics and contact lens manufacturing:

  • ISO 18369 Series

    • Part 1: Vocabulary, classification system, and labelling specifications
    • Part 2: Tolerances
    • Part 3: Measurement methods
    • Part 4: Extractables and leachables evaluation
      These provide foundational definitions, measurement techniques, and quality controls relevant to contact lens products.
  • Pharmacopoeial Standards and Sterilization Protocols
    These standards address sterilization process validation and sterility testing necessary for sterile contact lens packaging compliance.

Conclusion

kSIST FprEN ISO 11987:2025:2025 is a critical standard for ensuring contact lenses remain safe, effective, and acceptable under defined storage conditions until their expiry date. By implementing its test procedures and risk management framework, manufacturers can accurately determine the shelf-life of contact lenses, optimize packaging solutions, and maintain regulatory compliance in ophthalmic optics. This standard reflects best practices for stability testing, supporting the sustained quality and reliability of contact lenses worldwide.

Keywords: ophthalmic optics, contact lenses, shelf-life determination, stability testing, packaging integrity, storage conditions, accelerated ageing, risk assessment, ISO 11987, lens quality, expiry date, contact lens standards.

Standard

SIST EN ISO 11987:2026

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15 pages
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Frequently Asked Questions

SIST EN ISO 11987:2026 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Ophthalmic optics - Contact lenses - Determination of shelf-life (ISO 11987:2026)". This standard covers: This document specifies test procedures for determining the stability of contact lenses once they are placed in their final packaging during storage and distribution. NOTE            The results obtained can be used for determining the expiry date.

This document specifies test procedures for determining the stability of contact lenses once they are placed in their final packaging during storage and distribution. NOTE            The results obtained can be used for determining the expiry date.

SIST EN ISO 11987:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 11.040.70 - Ophthalmic equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

SIST EN ISO 11987:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN ISO 11987:2012. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

SIST EN ISO 11987:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2026
Očesna optika - Kontaktne leče - Določanje roka uporabnosti (ISO 11987:2026)
Ophthalmic optics - Contact lenses - Determination of shelf-life (ISO 11987:2026)
Augenoptik - Kontaktlinsen - Bestimmung der Lagerdauer (ISO 11987:2026)
Optique ophtalmique - Lentilles de contact - Détermination de la durée de conservation
(ISO 11987:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 11987:2026
ICS:
11.040.70 Oftalmološka oprema Ophthalmic equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 11987
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
January 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 11.040.70 Supersedes EN ISO 11987:2012
English Version
Ophthalmic optics - Contact lenses - Determination of
shelf-life (ISO 11987:2026)
Optique ophtalmique - Lentilles de contact - Augenoptik - Kontaktlinsen - Bestimmung der
Détermination de la durée de conservation (ISO Lagerdauer (ISO 11987:2026)
11987:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 29 December 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 11987:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 11987:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172 "Optics
and photonics" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 170 “Ophthalmic optics” the
secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by July 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by July 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 11987:2012.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 11987:2026 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 11987:2026 without any modification.

International
Standard
ISO 11987
Third edition
Ophthalmic optics — Contact lenses
2026-01
— Determination of shelf-life
Optique ophtalmique — Lentilles de contact — Détermination de
la durée de conservation
Reference number
ISO 11987:2026(en) © ISO 2026
ISO 11987:2026(en)
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 11987:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 General requirements and recommendations. 2
6 Test and measurement media . 2
7 Apparatus . 2
8 Test samples . 2
9 Test procedure . 3
9.1 Real-time studies .3
9.2 Accelerated ageing studies .4
10 Expression of results . 5
11 Test report . 5
Bibliography . 7

iii
ISO 11987:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of patent.
ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in respect
thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of patent which may be
required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the
latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO
shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172, Optics and photonics, Subcommittee
SC 7, Ophthalmic optics and instrument, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 170, Ophthalmic optics, in accordance with the Agreement on technical
cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 11987:2012), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— Editorial update of the whole document.
— An additional sentence in Clause 4 clarifies the circumstances when the test method has to be applied. In
particular a variation of a lens design does not require a new shelf-life study.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
ISO 11987:2026(en)
Introduction
The tests included in this document are designed to obtain information that enables proposals to be made
for the shelf-life of a contact lens, and storage conditions to be recommended. However, in practical terms,
it is the stability of the material from which the contact lens is made that is being tested, along with the
integrity of the packaging that maintains the environment necessary for the contact lens.
The purpose of the stability studies is to ascertain how the quality of the contact lens varies as a function
of time and under the influence of a variety of environmental factors. On the basis of the information thus
obtained, storage conditions can be recommended that guarantee the maintenance of the quality of the
contact lens in relation to its safety, efficacy and acceptability throughout the proposed shelf-life (i.e. during
storage and distribution until the moment of dispensing).

v
International Standard ISO 11987:2026(en)
Ophthalmic optics — Contact lenses — Determination of
shelf-life
1 Scope
This document specifies test procedures for determining the stability of contact lenses once they are placed
in their final packaging during storage and distribution.
NOTE The results obtained can be used for determining the expiry date.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 18369-1, Ophthalmic optics — Contact lenses — Part 1: Vocabulary, classification system and
recommendations for labelling specifications
ISO 18369-2, Ophthalmic optics — Contact lenses — Part 2: Tolerances
ISO 18369-3, Ophthalmic optics — Contact lenses — Part 3: Measurement methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 18369-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
4 Principle
The stability of contact lenses, packaging solution and packaging is established under controlled storage
conditions in order to determine their shelf-life under those conditions.
The design of the stability tests is based on the known properties of the material from which the contact
lens is made, the packaging system, and the recommendations for storing the contact lens.
Stability assessment, with respect to contact lens, refers to material, not design. Having demonstrated the
stability of a single material and packaging system with one or more lens designs, risk assessments shall be
examined to determine whether or not additiona
...

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