How To Insert And Remove Contact Lenses From Eyes
Inserting and removing your lenses is a snap. After a few tries, you’ll be a pro. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Preparing the Lens for Wear
It is essential that you learn and use good hygienic methods in the care and handling of your new lenses. Cleanliness is the first and most important aspect of proper contact lens care. Your hands should be clean and free of any foreign substances when you handle your lenses.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly with a mild soap, rinse completely, and dry with a lint-free towel before touching your lenses.
- Avoid the use of soaps containing cold cream, lotion, or oily cosmetics before handling your lenses, since these substances may come into contact with the lenses and interfere with successful wearing.
- Handle your lenses with your fingertips, and be careful to avoid contact with fingernails.
Inserting contact lenses
The One-Hand Placement Technique
- Place the lens on your index finger. Be sure the lens is right-side-out (the edges should turn up, not out).
- With your head up, looking straight ahead, pull down your lower eyelid with the middle finger of your placement hand
- Look up steadily at a point above you. Then place the lens on the lower white part of your eye.
- Remove your index finger and slowly release the lower lid.
- Look down to position the lens properly.
- Close your eyes for a moment: the lens will center itself on your eye.
The Two-Hand Placement Technique
- With the lens on your index finger, use the middle finger of the other hand to pull the upper lid against the brow.
- Use the middle finger of your placement hand to pull down the lower lid and then place the lens centrally on your eye.
- While holding this position, look downward to position the lens properly.
- Slowly release your eyelids.
Tips:
- If you accidentally place an inside-out lens on your eye, one of the following signs should signal you to remove and replace it correctly.
- Less than usual comfort
- The lens may fold on the eye
- Excessive lens movement on blink
- Blurred vision
- If the lens folds and sticks together: Place the lens in the palm of your hand and wet thoroughly with the recommended rewetting solution. GENTLY rub the lens between your index finger and palm in a gentle back and forth motion
- If the lens flattens or drapes across your finger, the lens or your finger may be too wet. To correct this, dry your finger by transferring the lens several times from one index finger to the other, drying the opposite finger each time.
Removing contact lenses
Always remove the same lens first.
- Wash, rinse, and dry your hands thoroughly.
- Always be sure that the lens is in the correct position on your eye before you try to remove it (a simple check of your vision, closing one eye at a time, will tell you if the lens is in the correct position). Look up and slowly pull down your lower lid with the middle finger of your removal hand and place your index finger on the lower edge of the lens. Squeeze the lens lightly between the thumb and index finger and remove it. Avoid sticking the edges of the lens together.
- Remove the other lens by following the same procedure.
Video on How to Apply and Remove Contact Lenses
Here’s a cool training video on how to Insert and Remove your contacts by CooperVision…
For any question about your eye health, see your eye doctor. If you have one, click HERE to schedule an appointment with us or text 407-292-9812.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
