How to Wear Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses for the first time can be difficult, even a little scary, but don’t worry. With just a little practice, you will find this is also simple and light. When wearing contact lenses, you need to keep your eyelids open to make them easier to put on. Do the same procedure when you want to remove the glasses. Also, remember to use your contact lenses properly to keep your eyes healthy.

Table of Contents

Put contact lenses in your eyes

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Wash hands with warm water and fragrance-free soap. Wet hands and lather up with soap for at least 30 seconds. Wash hands thoroughly to remove soap. Use a clean microfiber towel to dry your hands to avoid lint. ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Always use a clean, dry towel to wipe your hands.
Microfiber towels are the best choice because it leaves no lint or cotton on your hands which can then stick to your contact lenses. If you don’t have a microfiber towel, you should let your hands dry naturally if you have sensitive eyes.

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Open the cover on one side of the lens case. Only open the lid on each side of the contact lens case in turn to avoid confusion or accidental damage to the lenses. Make it a habit to always wear the same eye first. For example, you can wear glasses for the right eye first, then the left eye. ^{[2] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

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Use your fingertips to slide the lenses out of the case. Tilt the lens case towards your body, then gently press your fingertips over the lenses, slowly remove your fingers from the case, and place the lenses in your palm. ^{[3] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Do not use your fingernails to remove the glasses, as nails can damage the glasses.
Be very careful with contact lenses as you may damage them.

Tip: If the lenses are stuck to the side of the case, just shake them gently to loosen them. You can also spray more solution onto the lenses to make them wet.

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Wash your lenses with contact lens cleaning solution. Place the lenses in the center of your palm, then spray the solution onto the lenses. Visually check to make sure there are no crumbs on the glass. You don’t have to rub your lenses unless you see something on them. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

If you see any crumbs on the lenses, spray more solution on the lenses and use your fingertips to gently rub the crumbs out.
Only use specialized lens cleaning solution to clean contact lenses. Never use tap water.

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Place the contact lens face up on the tip of the index finger. Place the contact lens on the flesh of your finger, not on the nail. Make sure the concave side of the glass is facing up and that the edges of the glass do not stick to your fingers. The lenses now look like a tiny bowl.

If the edge of the lens flares out, it’s turned upside down. Drop it back into the palm of your hand and gently flip it right with your fingertips.

Use your middle finger and other hand to keep your eyes open, if necessary. Looking in the mirror, use the middle finger of the hand holding the lens to pull down the lower eyelid. If your eyes are sensitive, you may need to keep your upper eyelids intact. Use your other hand to gently pull and hold the upper eyelid to prevent blinking. This will open your eyes wider and it will be easier for you to put the lenses in your eyes. ^{[5] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

You only need to hold the upper eyelid if your eyes keep blinking or your eyes are too small. This is normal when wearing contact lenses for the first time because you are not used to putting something in your eyes. Over time, you may no longer need to keep your upper eyelid.

Bring the lenses towards the eye slowly and smoothly. Try not to blink or make jerky movements. Try looking up so you don’t reflexively blink. In addition, do not focus too much on the eye that is wearing glasses to prevent blinking. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Gently place the lens on the black center of the eye. Place the glasses close to the eyeball and gently press in. The lens will stick to the eye easily because it is attracted to the moisture. Then you let go of your finger. ^{[7] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

The lens should be on the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. Try to place right above this area if you can.

Another alternative: If your eyes keep blinking, look up and place the lenses on the whites of your eyes. Keep your eyes open and roll your eyes down toward the lenses, then gently lift the upper eyelid and place it down on the lenses. Finally, gently press on the eyelids to remove the bubbles so that the lenses stay in place.

Release your eyelids and blink slowly until you feel comfortable. Blink slowly several times, being careful not to let the lenses pop out. Look in the mirror to check that the lenses are fixed and you can see. Notice if the eye is swollen or painful. You have to feel comfortable. ^{[8] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

If your eyes feel itchy or painful, remove your lenses and wash them with contact lens solution, then try again.

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Repeat the above process for the other eye. With your glasses on in both eyes, look around to see if you can see clearly. Pour the solution in the glass container into the sink, rinse the container, and close the lid. ^{[9] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Never reuse the old solution, as it will increase the risk of eye infection. You should always use fresh solutions.

Remove contact lenses

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Wash and dry your hands. Wet hands with warm water, then scrub with soap for 30 seconds. Wash your hands thoroughly, then dry with a microfiber towel.

Try not to let the lint on the towel get on your hands. ^{[10] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}
Make sure the towel is clean and dry.

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Lubricate your eyes with contact lens-safe eye drops if your eyes are dry. This step is not required, but it can be helpful if the lenses worn in the eye are dry. The eye drops will wet the lenses and make them easier to come off. Squeeze 2-3 drops of solution to wet eyes. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Check the eye drop label to be sure it’s an eye lubricant and moisturizer that can be used with contact lenses. Otherwise, do not use the product as it may damage the glass.
If you don’t have an eye lubricant, you can use a saline solution to wet your eyes. You should not use contact lens cleaning solution, as it can dry out your eyes and irritate your eyes.

Use your fingers to pull down the lower eyelid. Use your middle finger to open the lower part of the white in your eye. Keep eyelids still while removing contact lenses. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If the lenses move out of place before you remove them, blink a few times to reposition the lenses in the center of the iris.

Touch your index finger to the lens and slide it down. Gently tap the edge of the contact lens with the fleshy part of your finger so it sticks to your finger, then slowly pull it down to the lower part of your eye. You should see the lenses begin to fold in as they reach the lower eyelid rim. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Squeeze your index finger and thumb around the lens to remove it. Gently press two fingers around the lens and remove it from the eye. Be careful when handling your contact lenses so you don’t accidentally tear or scratch them. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Always use the fleshy part of your finger when touching contact lenses. Fingernails can damage lenses.

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Place the lenses in the palm of your hand and rinse. Place the lenses face up in the palm of your hand, then spray contact lens cleaner onto the lenses. Rub each glass gently to rinse, then rinse again to remove any remaining dirt. ^{[15] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Discard old or damaged lenses.

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Put the contact lenses in the box and add fresh solution. Gently drop the lenses into the case, then pour fresh solution into the case. Close the lid of the case to preserve the lenses. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Be sure to store your lenses on the right side of the case.
Do not use the old solution. Be sure to use fresh solution each time you store your lenses.

Repeat the above procedure to remove the other lens. Gently pull down the lower eyelid and remove the other lens. Rinse with contact lens cleaner, then place on the correct side of the lens case. Pour the solution into the can and tighten the lid.

Tip: It is important that you properly maintain your contact lenses by rinsing them every day and storing them in a fresh solution. Eye health is extremely important, so don’t be negligent.

Adhere to good habits

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Check your contact lenses to make sure they are not scratched, torn, or have grit on them before wearing them. You probably don’t want to put contact lenses in your eyes if it could irritate your eyes. Hold the lenses close to your eyes to check for damage or dirt. ^{[17] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

If the lenses appear damaged, throw them away and get a new one.
If you see dust or grit on your lenses, clean them with a contact lens cleaner.

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Replace contact lenses as directed by your doctor. Most contact lenses are short-term use, which means you will change them often. Depending on the type and brand of glasses, you may need to change your lenses daily, weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. Always adhere to the correct glass replacement time as directed. This will help you keep your eyes healthy. ^{[18] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Soft contact lenses can usually be changed daily, weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. The overnight type can be worn while sleeping and is usually changed weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, depending on the brand and individual needs. Hard contact lenses are much more durable and can last up to 1 year. However, your doctor can give you further instructions on how to maintain these infrequently prescribed lenses.
Don’t try to save money and wear contact lenses for too long. Contact lenses are made to be used for a certain period of time. After that time, it will begin to lose quality, no longer pleasant and easy to accumulate bacteria, pathogens or debris that are harmful to the eyes.

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Only wear contact lenses while sleeping if your doctor approves. Taking off your contact lenses every night may seem inconvenient, but it’s very important. If you go to bed with your unused contact lenses on overnight, you could end up with dry eyes, more exposure to bacteria, and potentially dangerous complications, such as ulcers. Always remove your contact lenses before bed, unless your doctor says you can wear them overnight. ^{[19] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

If your eyes are dry, you may not be able to sleep with your contact lenses, even with overnight lenses. Tell your doctor if you think your eyes are dry.

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Clean the glasses case or replace it with a new one every 3 months. Contact lens case for a long time will get dirty. To clean the glass case, boil a pan of water. Place the glass case in the boiling water and let it sit in the saucepan for at least 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove, use tongs or a spoon with holes to remove the glass case and wait to cool before handling. Finally, you wash it with a saline solution before using it again. ^{[20] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Replacing the contact lens case with another is the safest option.

Warning: If the glasses case appears to be cracked or damaged, replace it immediately, no matter how old it is. A cracked or damaged contact lens case increases the risk of infection.

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Avoid using saliva or tap water to clean your lenses. Absolutely do not put contact lenses in your mouth to wash, because this will be very dirty. Saliva is not sterile, and it can contaminate the lenses with bacteria and pathogens. Similarly, tap water is not sterile, and any bacteria or chemicals in the water will stick to the glass. Also, both saliva and tap water will dry out the lenses. Always wash your contact lenses with a special solution. ^{[21] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

It’s also helpful to carry a bottle of contact lens cleaner with you when you go out. You might even find a trial-sized vial that fits in a very compact pocket.

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Make sure the eye drops are for contact lenses. Most eye drops will dry out contact lenses, even if the label says dry eye treatment. If you want to moisten your eyes while wearing contact lenses, read the label on the bottle to see if it is safe for contact lenses. ^{[22] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Contact lens safe eye drops are usually located near contact lens cleaners in pharmacies. You can also purchase this product online.

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Remove contact lenses before showering. Contact lenses can be easily damaged when you shower because tap water and soap bubbles can get into the lenses. This can dry out your contact lenses, leaving residue and harmful bacteria behind. Always remove your contact lenses before taking a bath or shower to avoid damaging your lenses. ^{[23] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

If you wear contact lenses in the shower, you can get an eye infection.

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Avoid swimming or taking a hot tub while wearing contact lenses. Swimming pools, natural rivers and hot tubs contain bacteria, pathogens, and sometimes chemicals. Water can splash into eyes and contact lenses, damaging or contaminating lenses. This can lead to eye irritation or an eye infection. Please remove contact lenses before entering the water and replace with glasses with frames. ^{[24] X Trusted Source American Academy of Opthampogists Go to Source}

Contact lenses once worn while swimming are no longer safe to wear, even after being washed.

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Back up a pair of glasses with frames that match your current prescription. You can wear contact lenses most of the time, but you’ll also need a pair of glasses with a spare frame when you’re not wearing them. You should wear rimmed glasses at night to give your eyes a rest. In addition, you will also need to wear glasses with frames if your eyes are irritated or inflamed. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

See your doctor if you suspect an eye infection.
If you don’t mind the cost of spare glasses with frames, look for economical options. For example, you can buy glasses online for only 150,000 VND. You just need to ask your doctor to write a prescription for prescription glasses and write down the PD number (distance between the two pupils) to buy glasses.

Advice

Most people have a hard time putting on contact lenses for the first time, so if you’re having a hard time getting your glasses back on, don’t worry. If you start to feel frustrated, take a break to calm down and try again.
The first time you wear contact lenses, you will feel a little strange, but this is completely normal.
If lenses fall out of your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with contact lens cleaner.
Make sure fingers are dry and contact lenses are wet. That way the lenses won’t stick to your fingers when you put them on your eyes.
Tell your doctor if you feel that your contact lenses do not fit your eyes. Your doctor may tell you to use another brand.

Warning

Never wash your hands with hand sanitizer before putting on or removing contact lenses. In this case, hand sanitizer is not a substitute for washing hands with soap and water.
If you experience eye pain or discomfort even after removing your contact lenses, tell your eye doctor.
If your eyes are puffy, sore, or red, don’t wear contact lenses. Wear rimmed glasses and get an eye exam.
Wear contact lenses before applying makeup to avoid contaminating the lenses. At the end of the day, take off your glasses before removing your makeup. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

Things you need

Mirror
Contact lens
Contact lens cleaning solution
Contact lens case
Eye drops for itchy eyes

Steps