How to Insert & Remove Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great convenience. They are also a great responsibility. Proper care as well as proper insertion and removal techniques will help keep your eyes healthy and avoid sight threatening eye infections. Contacts come in two forms: Hard and soft. Gas Permeable, or as they are commonly called, "hard contacts," keep a rigid form, while "soft contacts" are made of a hydrophilic (water absorbing) plastic that makes them more pliable.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

How to Insert Contact Lenses

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and dry them on a lint free cloth.

2. Remove the first contact. Check to make sure that it is not inside out, if you have soft contacts. Some manufacturers will place a mark on the contact so you can see if it is inside out. You can also tell by viewing the lens from the side to see if the edges flange out.

3. Rinse the contact thoroughly in the solution that is both recommended by your optometrist and is appropriate for the type of contact you have.

4. Place the contact bowl side up on your index finger. With your other hand, pull the lower eyelid down and look up. Place the contact on the white underside of your eye. Close your eye and move your eye up and down several times behind your closed eyelid. The contact will move on its own to the proper place on your eye, which is over the iris (or colored part).

5. If your eye feels irritated after placing the contact, it may be because of lint or small loose debris. Take it out, rinse it off with saline solution and re-insert it the same way. Your contact should generally feel comfortable on your eye. However, keep in mind that hard contacts will take a longer time to get used to initially and may feel irritating at first. Contact your eye doctor if you are concerned about the amount of irritation you are experiencing.

Removing your Contact Lenses

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and dry with a lint free towel.

2. With one hand, pull your bottom eyelid down. With your index finger, slide the contact down to the lower part of your eye. With your thumb and forefinger, touch each side of the contact lens and pinch it together. This should allow you to remove it from your eye.

3. Rinse or clean your lens depending on the lens care procedures given to you optometrist, and place it in your contact case. Repeat the process with the other eye.

4. If you are removing hard contact lenses, open your eye wide and with your index finger, gently pull the skin on the side of your eye until the top and bottom eyelids are taut. Hold your other hand beneath your eye and blink hard. If done correctly, your eyelids should catch the rigid edges of your contact and pop it out of your eye, where you will catch it with your other hand. This takes some practice, however, and most optometrists will supply you with a little soft rubber tool that has a small suction on the end. If you use this, place the suction anywhere that is comfortable on the contact and apply gentle pressure to activate the suction. You will then be able to remove the lens from your eye.

5. Rinse or clean your lens depending on the lens care procedures given to you optometrist, and place it in your contact case. Repeat the process with the other eye.

Tips & Warnings

• Get into the habit of both inserting and removing your contacts in the same order every day so you don't accidentally switch them.

• Always wash your hands before handling your contacts to avoid contracting eye infections. Change your contact solution every day