How to Properly Insert Soft Contact Lenses

A large amount of people wear soft contact lenses daily. All ages of people can wear contacts lenses. In this article I will describe all the steps needed to properly insert a contact lens. It may take some time for a first time contact lens wearer, but with practice it will get better.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Contact lenses
• contact lens solution
• soap and water
• paper towel(s)
• mirror (optional)

1. 
   wash hands with soap

   MUST BE CLEAN:
   
   Wash your hands with water and soap. Then dry them with a papertowel. Washing your hands will clean them to prevent any infection, since you will be touching your eye. It will also clear your hands from any tiny deposits you may have. If you have tiny bits of dirt for example inside the contact lens, it may feel extremely uncomfortable and painful.

2. 
   contact lens on finger

   PLACE IT ON YOUR FINGER:
   
   Now you will take your lenses out of the case. Gently remove the contact lens for the right eye and position it on your index finger with all the edges of the lens straight up. The contact lens should not be folded or on it's side because otherwise it won't go in. The contact lens should look like a little bowl on your finger.

3. LOWER LID DOWN:
   
   Now you will insert the contact lens into the right eye. Make sure that the rest of your 9 fingers and face are dry. You don't want your fingers to be slippery.
   Use the middle finger of the hand that has the contact lens to pull down the lower eyelid.

4. LASHES OUT OF THE WAY:
   
   Use the index finger on the opposite hand to pull the upper lashes out of the way. Make sure that your upper lashes are behind the index finger.

5. KEEP IT OPEN:
   
   You can use a mirror here if you need to. The eye must be open bigger than the contact lens. If the opening of your eye is smaller, then you need to open your eye more. Gently place the contact lens on your right eye. Look around a bit to get rid of air bubbles. Blink a few times. If inserted properly, the contact lens should be comfortable in your eye.

Tips & Warnings

• There are two sides of a contact lens. The inverted side is the incorrect side. You can tell it's the inverted side if your hold the contact lens on your finger like a bowl. Then put it eye level and exam the edge. If the edge is slightly outward, it's inverted. With the correct side, the contact lens is a bit more compact and looks like a perfect little bowl. The edges do not go out. If you're not sure, then keep turning the contact lens and keep comparing the edges.
• If you don't get them on the first try you may need to use multi-purpose contact lens solution to keep the contact lenses dry and to remove any dirty deposits you may have gotten on the lens. MAKE SURE THE SOLUTION IS SAFE ENOUGH FOR YOUR EYES, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLUTION
• If you have any questions about the contact lenses, just go back to the doctor that prescribed them to you.
• Never sleep with contact lenses unless approved by your doctor
• Never use contact lenses longer than recommended (i.e. if they're monthly, throw them out after a month)
• Never use water to rinse lenses, lens case or store lenses in case. Only use the solution recommended by the doctor.
• Always wash hands before inserting contact lenses.
• Replace case every three months
• Never share contact lenses

Resources

• How to Remove Soft Contact Lenses
• How to Get an Eye Infection With Soft Contact Lenses
• How to Order Soft Contact Lenses

[TomCom]

on 2/21/2009 The only time I could ever get a Contact Lens to pop right in was when it still had a little bit of Pliagel soap on it. Of course, then it burned so bad that I had a fit trying to open my eye to take it out!

[DiscountTickets]

on 2/16/2009 Great article, so well written.