Contact lenses are a popular option for vision correction, offering a glasses-free alternative. While a brief period of adaptation is necessary, most people adapt quickly to wearing modern contact lenses. The adjustment process is generally straightforward, though the perception of difficulty often depends on individual sensitivity and initial expectations.
The First Few Days: Managing Foreign Body Sensation
The most immediate experience new wearers report is a mild awareness of the lens, often described as a foreign body sensation. This feeling occurs because the cornea is highly sensitive, and the eye naturally registers this new presence, which can trigger initial physiological responses like increased tearing or slight blurring of vision.
Modern soft contact lenses, particularly those made from silicone hydrogel materials, are designed to minimize this initial discomfort. These lenses allow a high level of oxygen to pass through to the cornea and are highly flexible, conforming closely to the eye’s shape.
This design significantly reduces mechanical stimulation compared to older, less permeable lens types. Over the first few days, the eye’s sensory nerves begin to adapt to the constant presence of the lens, a process called corneal adaptation. This adaptation causes the initial awareness to fade quickly, often within hours for soft lenses.
The Learning Curve of Insertion and Removal
Beyond the physical feeling of the lens, the manual skill of putting the lens in and taking it out presents its own temporary challenge. Most new users experience initial awkwardness and a tendency to blink or flinch as they try to touch their eye.
Proper technique begins with meticulous hand hygiene, washing with mild soap, and drying hands completely with a lint-free towel. The key to successful application is stabilizing the eyelids and ensuring the lens is correctly oriented, meaning it should look like a perfect bowl.
Many people find it helpful to look up or away when placing the lens on the white part of the eye, then gently blink to let it settle. Removing the lens typically involves sliding it down to the lower white part of the eye and gently pinching it off. Consistent practice quickly builds muscle memory, transforming the initial struggle into a routine habit.
Adaptation Timeline and When to Seek Help
For most people using soft contact lenses, physical comfort is usually achieved within three to five days of consistent wear. The process of inserting and removing the lenses becomes routine within one to two weeks as the wearer gains confidence and speed. This adaptation period can sometimes be slightly longer for those switching to specialized lenses, such as toric lenses for astigmatism, which require precise alignment.
While mild, temporary irritation is common, certain symptoms indicate that the discomfort is not a normal part of the adjustment and requires professional attention. These symptoms may suggest an issue with the lens fit, a reaction to the solution, or the possibility of an infection.
You should contact your eye care professional immediately if you experience:
- Persistent, severe pain or stinging.
- A sudden, lasting change in vision.
- Excessive redness that does not clear up quickly.
- A sensation that something is constantly stuck in the eye.
- Blurred vision that lasts longer than 30 minutes.