Compositions for disinfecting contact lenses include a liquid medium containing a chlorite component, preferably a water soluble chlorite component, in a contact lens disinfecting amount, and a polyanionic component, preferably a water soluble polyanionic component, in an amount effective to do at least one of the following: inhibit formation of protein deposit material on a contact lens immersed in the composition; reduce the toxicity of the composition to the human eye, and reduce the damage to a contact lens caused by immersing the contact lens in the composition. The composition has a viscosity of less than 50 cps at 25.degree. C., an osmolality of at least about 200 mOsmol/kg, and preferably a pH in the range of about 6 to about 9.