How to Remove Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

If you are a first-time wearer, you need to learn how to care for your new contact lenses. Part of this process includes learning how to remove them from your eyes. Though the process itself is a fairly straightforward one, extra caution needs to be exercised while working with your eyes. Any hasty movements executed as a result of frustration could render infections or damage on your delicate organs.

Things You'll Need

• Contact lenses
• Handheld suction (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash your hands thoroughly to keep dirt or other debris out of your eye during the removal process. Choose which eye you want to remove the lens from first. You will remove the lens from each eye separately.

2. If you are beginning with your left eye, place your cupped right hand under that eye to catch the contact lens. Open your left eye as wide as you can. Using your forefinger on your left hand, gently pull the left corner of your eye further to the left. Your contact lens should automatically pop out and drop into your cupped hand.

3. Follow the same process for your right eye. Cup your left hand under your right eye. Gently pull your eye to the right with your right hand forefinger.

4. If after multiple attempts, one or both contacts have not been removed from your eyes, suction it out. A mini handheld suction should have been included with the initial kit you received with your contact lenses. Open your eye as wide as you can; use your forefinger and thumb to keep eye open if you need to. Hold the pointy end of the suction and bring the wider round end within a couple centimeters of your eye. The force of the suction should automatically draw the contact from your eye.

Tips & Warnings

• Gas permeable contact lenses tend to become stuck when your eyes are dry. To keep them from drying out, regularly use eye drops while wearing your contacts. Purchase eye drops that are specifically designed to use with gas permeable contact lenses. Your optometrist will advise you on the best brand of eye drops for your particular pair of contacts.

• While attempting to remove your contact lenses, do not pry them out of your eye. Your fingers should not have to touch your eyeball in order to remove gas permeable contact lenses. If they can not be removed from the above methods, seek professional help. If your gas permeable contacts regularly get stuck on your eyes, visit your optometrist for care instructions and solutions.

References

• Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals -- "Care of Your Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses"
• Emergency Medical Procedures by Dino P. Rumoro (Section 11, Ophthalmologic Procedures; page 1212)