Aqueous self preserving soft contact lens solution and method

An aqueous self-preserving soft contact lens cleaning or preserving solution comprising, as its only preservative agent, an effective surfactant and solution preserving amount of an amphoteric surfactant of the formula ##STR5## wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl or alkanedienyl of six to eighteen carbon atoms which are unsubstituted or substituted by halo, amino or hydroxy;

• A is --O--, --S--, ##STR6## where R' is hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• R.sub.1 is alkylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy;
• R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two hydroxyls, one of which may be esterified with phosphoric or sulfuric acid;
• and
• R.sub.4 is alkylene of up to 3 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy;
• and the ophthalmologically acceptable salts thereof;
• and water, said solution having a pH such that upon removing a contact lens from said solution, said contact lens is capable of being placed directly on the eye without rinsing and without causing significant irritation to the eye on which said lens is placed.