Wearing contact lenses is a popular and effective method of visual correction for people who need them. In addition to correcting your vision, they can also provide much more comfort than using glasses. However, it is important to know how to handle them properly. Otherwise, you can encounter various problems including infections.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been using them for years or you’ll just start to utilize them. This article will guide you on how to wear or remove them safely, step by step.
Note
Hard lenses and soft lenses have different properties. However, they both can be worn the same way. All you need to do is following the steps below.
How to Wear Contact Lenses
Step 1
You should wash your hands carefully and dry them completely. Then open your contact lens case.
Step 2
By using your fingertip, place the lens in your non-dominant hand.
Step 3
Use contact lens solution to rinse the lens. Don’t use regular water under no circumstance.
Step 5
Place the contact lens on your middle finger or index finger of your dominant hand. Make sure that the correct side of the contact lens is up. That means the lens forms a bowl shape facing up on your finger. If it is facing down, gently correct it.
Step 6
While looking in the mirror, keep your upper and lower eyelids open with your other hand. Gaze forward or upward while you are placing the lens in your eye. Close your eye slowly.
Step 7
While your eye is closed, press gently on your eyelid or gently roll your eye, in order to correctly place the contact lens. If the lens does not feel comfortable or you can’t see clearly after a few blinks, you should remove the lens gently, rinse it with lens solution and try to place it again.
Step 8
Repeat these steps for your other eye.
Be Careful: Lens Contidion
Make sure that the contact lens is not damaged. If it is damaged, discard it.
How to Remove Contact Lenses
Step 1
You should wash your hands carefully and dry them completely.
Step 2
Gently pull down the lower eyelid of one eye by using the middle finger of your dominant hand.
Step 3
While gazing upward, gently pull-down the lens to the white part of the eye by using the index finger of your dominant hand. Remove the contact lens from your eye by pinching it with your index finger and thumb.
Step 4
Place the contact lens in your palm and drop contact lens solution on it. Remove dirt, mucus and oil by rubbing it gently for around 30 seconds.
Step 5
Rinse the lens using the lens solution. Place the contact lens in its case. Cover the lens completely with contact lens solution.
Step 6
Repeat these steps for your other eye.
Caution: The Symptoms of Eye Infections
As a contact lens wearer, you should know the symptoms that might signal an eye infection. An infection is an emergency. If you suspect that you have an infection, remove your contact lenses and have somebody drive you to a hospital. Don’t drive yourself. Some of the symptoms most encountered include:
- Eye pain
- Eye watering
- Redness in the eye
- Swollen eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Irritation in the eye
- Blurred vision
- Discharge from the eyes
