Top Tips on Contact Lens Insertion

Optometrist Advice on: How to put a contact lens in your eye

When learning contact lens insertion, it can seem a little daunting. Those who have been wearing contact lenses for years make it look easy. Like anything worth learning, it takes time, effort and determination to learn how to put a contact lens on your eye.

The majority of customers are able to insert a lens the first time within a half-hour lesson. A personal hands-on lesson is the best way to learn.

Your optician will guide you through and ensure you are competent before letting you leave with lenses. With practice at home, you will soon become proficient and confident in handling your contact lenses everyday.

Important - WASH your hands with soap, before handling contact lenses.

Contact Lens Insertion:

For a new lens, open the blister pack and fish out the lens. It will be floating in a sterile buffered solution that keeps the lens moist and sterile while in the packet.

Place the lens on your index finger with the base of the lens on the pad of your finger and all of the edge up in the air.

To get the lens securely on to your eye, you need to line up the curve of the lens with the curve of your eyeball and press it on.

Unfortunately, your eyelashes and eyelids often get in the way as they were built to protect the eye from foreign objects getting in. Firmly hold your eyelids out of the way by gripping the top eyelid with the index or middle finger of your free hand. Pull the eyelid up and hold it against the bone in your eyebrow.

Pull the bottom eyelid down as far as you can with the middle finger of the hand that is holding the lens. This gives you the maximum space to work with.

Keeping the eyelids apart, place the lens onto your eye. Remove your finger. If the contact lens stays on your eye, you can gently let go of your eyelids and gently blink.

If the lens does not stay on your eye... start again from the beginning of this Contact Lens Insertion Guide.

Can a contact lens be inside out?

Yes. It is also possible to insert a contact lens while it is inside out. However, it will be uncomfortable because the edges are poking up, rather than sitting snug against the eye. Your vision may also be variable.

It is best to remove the lens, turn it around to the correct way and re-insert it.

Why does the lens feel "scratchy"?

Usually, this is due to a particle trapped under the lens. It may be an eyelash or lint from the handtowel.

To remove it, slide the lens across to the white of your eye and keeping your finger on it, rub the lens in small circles against the white of your eye. This usually dislodges any particles. Slide the lens back to the correct position and see if it feels better.

If the lens is still uncomfortable, you will need to remove it. Rinse it with saline and inspect the lens for any torn edges or defects. If no tears or defect, then reinsert the lens.

Can I keep wearing a contact lens that is torn?

No.

Even if you don't find it uncomfortable, there are now sharp edges to scratch your sensitive corneas, causing abrasions with high potential for infection. Throw the lens out and start a fresh one.

What if I have run out of contact lenses?

Wear your glasses.

Yes - Contact Lens wearers must have glasses for backup, if their vision is too poor without contact lenses on. It is illegal and dangerous to drive a vehicle without adequate vision. Don't be caught blind without a backup!