How Do You Put in and Remove Your Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are a common option for correcting refractive errors, like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. They can give you a more natural look than eyeglasses and are generally safe to wear as long as you care for them properly. Many first-time wearers tend to find it challenging to put in and remove their contacts.

Put in and take out your contacts easily using these helpful tips. 

How to Put in Your Contacts

Before handling your contacts, wash and dry your hands. Failing to do so heightens the risk of eye infections and corneal ulcers from bacteria exposure. Wash your hands using soap and warm water to ensure they are clean. Moreover, avoid drying your hands with cloths or towels with lint. 

Go in front of a mirror and stand on a flat surface. If there’s a sink below you, make sure to plug the drain. To avoid confusion, make it a habit to put in the same lens first. Place your contacts on the tip of your index or middle finger of your dominant hand. Inspect your lenses for scratches or damaged areas. If your lens forms a blow and the edges turn up, it means it’s in the correct position. 

Hold your upper lid open with your non-dominant hand while in front of a mirror, and hold down your lower lid with the ring finger of your dominant hand. It’s now time to put the lens in your eye, which you should do while looking at the ceiling. To allow your lens to get in place, shut your eyes and roll them in a circular motion. Open your eyes and blink a couple of times. Check your eyes in the mirror to see if the contacts are in the center of your eyes. 

You’ll know your lenses are in the right position if you’re comfortable and seeing clearly. If not, take out the lenses and reinsert them. Repeat the same procedure to your other eye once you’ve successfully put in the first lens. 

How to Take Them Out

Again, make sure your hands are clean and dry before touching your contacts. Remove any leftover contact lens solution from the case and allow them to dry or dry with a clean cloth. Get in front of a mirror and gaze up. Pull your lower lid down using the middle finger of your dominant hand. It helps to take off the same lens first to save yourself from confusion. 

Gently push the lens down to the white of your eye using the index finger of your dominant hand. Carefully pinch the lens with your index finger’s pads and thumb to take it off your eye. Do the same procedure to remove the lens from your other eye. 

Need to upgrade your contact lens prescription? Lumen Optometric has options for different vision correction needs. Call us at (626) 921-0199 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment.