How to Put in Contact Lenses the Right Way: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

 It might seem a little difficult and even scary to put in contact lenses the first time, but don't worry. Once you get the hang of it, it'll be easy and painless. To put the lens in, you need to hold your eyelid open so it's easy to place it on your eye. When you want to take it out, you'll use a similar method. Plus, you need to make sure you take good care of them to keep your eyes healthy.

Place the lens on the eye

Wash your hands with unscented soap and warm water. Wet your hands, apply the soap, and rub them together for 30 seconds. Rinse them well to remove any remaining soap. Then dry them with a microfiber towel to prevent lint.

• You should always use a clean, dry towel to dry your hands.
• Microfiber towels are your best choice because they will create less lint and residue on your hands that could then end up on your lenses. If you don't have a microfiber towel, you might consider letting your hands air dry if your eyes are sensitive.

Open the lens case from one side. Open only one side of the lens case at a time to avoid mixing or damaging them. Get into the habit of always starting with the same side. For example, you might start with your right eye before moving on to your left.

Slide the lens out of its case. Tilt the case slightly toward you, then gently press your fingertip onto the lens. Once it rests on your fingertip, slowly remove it from the case and place the lens on the palm of your hand.

• Do not use your nails to pick it up, as this could damage it.
• Be careful with your lenses when handling them, as they are easy to damage.

Rinse the lens with the solution. Place it in the middle of your palm, then spray a little contact lens solution on it. Then, inspect the lens to make sure there is no debris on it. There is no need to rub it unless you see residue.

• If you see any, you can reapply the solution and rub it gently with your fingertip to remove them.
• Never rinse your contact lenses under running tap water. You should always rinse them with the appropriate solution.

Place it on your finger with the concave side facing up. Place it on the skin of your finger, not on your nail. Make sure the hollow side is facing up and the edges aren't stuck to the skin of your finger. It should then look like a tiny bowl.

• If the edges are flared, you know you've put it inside out. Place it back on the palm of your hand and use your fingertip to gently turn it over.

Hold your eye open with your middle finger if necessary. Look in the mirror. Then, gently pull down on your eyelid using the middle finger of the hand holding the lens. If your eye is very sensitive to touch, you may also need to hold your upper eyelid open. Use your other hand to gently lift it and keep it open to prevent yourself from blinking. This will expose more surface area and give you more room to insert the contact lens..

• You should only hold your eyelids open with your fingers if they won't stop blinking or if your eye is very small. This is normal when you first start wearing lenses because you're not yet used to putting anything in your eye. Over time, you may no longer need to hold it open.

Bring the lens calmly and slowly to your eye. Try not to blink or tremble. It may help to look up to prevent you from blinking reflexively. Additionally, you should do your best not to focus on the eye you want to insert the lens into to prevent yourself from blinking

Place the lens gently on the iris. Bring it close to your eyeball and press gently to insert it. The contact lens should slide into place easily, as it will be attracted to the moisture on your eye. Then, remove your finger from your eye.

• The lens should cover the iris, which is the colored part of your eye. Try to position it directly over this area of ​​the eye if possible.

Release your eyelids and blink. Blink several times until you feel comfortable, being careful not to slide the lens. Look in the mirror and check that your lens is in place and that you can see clearly. Notice if you feel any pain or irritation in your eye. The lens should feel comfortable..

• If it itches or causes pain, remove it and clean it with the solution. Then try putting it back in place.

Repeat the process with the other lens. Once they're both in place, look around to make sure you can see clearly. When you're finished, pour the solution from the lens case into the sink, rinse it, and close it.

• Never reuse the solution in the case, as this increases the risk of eye infection. Always use fresh solution

Take out the contact lenses

Wash and dry your hands. Wet your hands with warm water and rub them together for 30 seconds with soap. Rinse them well, then dry them with a microfiber towel.

• Try not to leave dirt on your hands.
• Make sure the towel is clean and dry.

Lubricate your eyes with lens drops. This step is optional, but it can be helpful if your lenses tend to dry out on your eyes. The drops will moisten your lenses so they can be removed easily. Place two to three drops of the lubricating and moistening solution on your eyes .

• Check the label to make sure the drops you are using are safe for contact with lenses. If they are not, do not use them or you could damage your lenses.
• If you don't have eye drops, you can use saline solution to moisten your eyes. However, you should not use contact lens solution, as it can dry out or irritate your eyes.

Pull down the lower eyelid with your finger. Use your middle finger to expose the lower part of the white of the eye. Hold it in place while you remove the lens .

• If the lens does not appear to be positioned correctly before removing it, blink several times to refocus it on the iris.

Touch it with your index finger and slide it down. Use your fingertip to gently touch the edge of the lens, which should then stick to your finger. Then, slowly slide it down the eye. You should feel it begin to bend as it reaches the edge of the lower eyelid 

Pinch the lens with your index finger and thumb to remove it. Gently press your fingers around the lens and remove it from your eye. Be careful when handling it so as not to accidentally tear or damage it .

• Always use your fingertip when touching your lenses. Using your fingernails could damage them.

Place it in the palm of your hand and clean it. Place the lens face up in the palm of your hand and spray a little solution on it. Gently rub each side to clean them. Finally, rinse it again to remove any remaining dirt.

• If the lens is worn or damaged, discard it.

Place it in the case and add fresh solution. Gently place the lens in its case, then fill it with fresh contact lens solution. Replace the cover to keep them safe.

• Make sure you put the lens in the right way.
• Do not use used solution. Be sure to add fresh solution each time you store your lenses.

Repeat the process to remove the other lens. Gently pull back on your eyelid and remove the other contact lens. Clean it with solution, then place it on the correct side of the case. Fill it with solution, then replace the lid.

Know the right actions

xamine the condition of your lenses before inserting them. You don't want to put a lens in your eye that could cause irritation. Hold it close to your eye and check for damage or dirt. .

• If it looks damaged, throw it away and use a new one.
• If you see any dust or dirt on it, rinse it with clean solution.

Replace them as directed by your doctor. Most lenses are disposable, which means you need to change them often. Depending on the type and brand you wear, your doctor may ask you to change them daily, weekly, twice a month, or monthly. You should always follow your doctor's instructions and change your lenses as directed. This will help keep your eyes healthy. .

• Soft lenses generally need to be changed daily, once or twice a week, or monthly. Some durable contact lenses can be worn overnight, and you'll usually need to change them once or twice a week or once a month, depending on the brand and your specific needs. Rigid gas permeable lenses last longer and can be worn for up to a year. However, your doctor should give you additional cleaning instructions for caring for them, as they are rarely prescribed.
• Don't try to save money by keeping your lenses longer. They are designed to last for a certain period of time. After that, they will begin to deteriorate, become less comfortable, and attract germs, bacteria, and dirt that will harm your eyes.

Sleep in your lenses only with your doctor's approval. It can be annoying to have to remove your lenses every night, but it's a very important step. If you sleep in lenses that aren't designed for extended wear, they could dry out your eyes, expose them to bacteria, and cause serious complications like ulcers. You should always remove them at night unless your doctor says it's safe to keep them in.

• If you have dry eyes, you may not be able to keep them on overnight even if they are designed for that purpose. Talk to your doctor if you think you have dry eyes.

Clean or replace the lens case every three months. It's normal for the lens case to get dirty over time. To clean it, boil a pot of water. Then, submerge the case in the boiling water and let it sit for at least three minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, then use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the case from the water. Let it cool before handling. Finally, rinse it with saline solution before using it again.

• Alternatively, you can also replace it with a new case, which remains the safest solution.

Avoid cleaning lenses with water or saliva. Never put your lenses in your mouth to clean them, as this will make them even dirtier. Your saliva is not sterile and will introduce germs and bacteria to your lenses. Similarly, tap water is not sterile, and the bacteria and chemicals in it could cling to the lenses. Additionally, your saliva and water will dry out your lenses. You should always clean your lenses with the appropriate solution.

• It might be helpful to keep a bottle of solution with you wherever you go. You might even find a sample that's easier to slip into your bag.

Use drops designed for contact with lenses. Most eye drops will dry out your lenses, even if they are designed to treat dry eyes. If you want to moisten your eyes while wearing your lenses, check the label to see if the drops are safe to use with your lenses.

• Typically, you'll find lens drops near the contact lenses section of the pharmacy. Alternatively, you can also buy them online.

Take your lenses out before bathing or showering. They can easily be damaged in the shower, as tap water and soap can come into contact with your lenses. This will dry them out and leave residue and potentially harmful bacteria. You should always remove your lenses before bathing or showering to avoid damaging them.

• If you keep them in the bath or shower, you could develop an eye infection.

Avoid swimming or hot tubs with your lenses in. Pools, rivers, and hot tubs can harbor bacteria, germs, and other chemicals. Water that splashes or runs off your skin can get into your eyes and onto your lenses, damaging and contaminating them. This could cause irritation and infection. Instead, remove your lenses before swimming and wear goggles..

• It is dangerous to wear lenses that you had in while swimming, even if you have cleaned them.

Keep a spare pair of glasses. Even if you wear your contacts most of the time, you still need a pair of glasses to see clearly when you're not wearing them. Put your glasses on at night to give your eyes a rest. Additionally, you should put your glasses back on if you experience eye irritation or think you might have an infection .

• Consult your doctor if you think you have an infection.
• If you're worried about the cost of glasses, choose a cheap pair. For example, you can buy very cheap glasses online. Simply ask your doctor for a copy of your prescription and write down your pupillary distance on it—a measurement you'll need when ordering your glasses.

Advice

• It's very difficult for everyone at first to put in contact lenses, so don't worry if you have trouble. If you start to get frustrated, take a break to calm down. Then try again.
• When you first put them in, they might feel weird, which is completely normal.
• If the lens falls out of your eye, rinse it thoroughly with the appropriate solution.
• If you think it's not suitable for your eye, ask your doctor for advice. He or she may prescribe another brand.

Warnings

• Never use hand sanitizer before inserting or removing your lenses. In this case, you cannot replace soap with a disinfectant.
• If your eyes are irritated, sore, or red, don't put in your contact lenses. Instead, wear your glasses and visit your eye doctor.
• If you begin to experience pain or discomfort, even after removing the lenses, talk to your eye doctor.
• Put your lenses in before applying makeup to avoid contaminating them. At the end of the day, remove them first before removing your makeup