Contact lenses offer a popular alternative to traditional glasses, providing clear vision and greater freedom for daily activities. Wearing them requires learning new habits for safety and comfort. Successfully transitioning to contacts depends on mastering the physical handling of the lenses and consistently practicing proper daily care.
Mastering Insertion and Removal Techniques
Mastering the physical process of handling lenses without contamination is essential. Before touching a lens, always wash your hands thoroughly with mild soap and dry them completely with a lint-free towel to prevent transferring germs or fibers to the eye. Once your hands are clean, place the lens on the tip of your index finger and check its orientation; it should form a perfect bowl shape with the edges pointing straight up. If the edges flare outward, the lens is inside out and must be gently flipped.
For insertion, use your opposite hand to hold your upper eyelid near the lash line, preventing a blink reflex. With the middle finger of the hand holding the lens, gently pull down your lower eyelid to create a wide opening. Look straight ahead or slightly upward, then smoothly place the lens directly onto the center of your eye or the lower white part. Slowly release your eyelids and blink several times to allow the lens to settle into the correct position.
Removing the lens also requires a gentle, controlled technique. Start by washing and drying your hands again, then look upward and use your middle finger to pull down your lower eyelid. With the tip of your index finger, slide the lens down from the cornea onto the white of the eye. Once the lens is positioned on the lower white part, gently pinch it between your thumb and index finger to lift it cleanly off the eye’s surface. If your eye feels dry, using lubricating drops a few minutes beforehand can make the removal process easier and more comfortable.
Navigating the Initial Adaptation Period
When first placed on the eye, a contact lens will feel like a foreign object. This initial sensation often causes mild tearing or a temporary feeling of scratchiness until the eye begins to adapt. The full adjustment period varies but typically lasts anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks for most new soft lens wearers.
To allow the cornea to adjust to the presence of the lens, your eye care professional will recommend a gradual wearing schedule. This schedule usually involves starting with a short duration, such as two to four hours on the first day, and slowly increasing the wear time by about one hour each subsequent day. Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses may require a slightly longer adaptation phase that can extend over several weeks.
Strictly following the prescribed schedule prevents overburdening the eyes and reduces the risk of irritation or discomfort. Wearing lenses for too long prematurely can compromise corneal health by limiting the oxygen supply to the eye’s surface. As your eyes acclimate, the initial foreign body sensation will diminish until the lenses feel comfortable and natural. If mild blurriness occurs upon insertion, blinking several times often helps the lens center and clarifies vision.
Essential Habits for Comfort and Eye Health
Long-term success with contact lenses depends on hygiene to prevent the introduction of harmful microorganisms. Never use tap water, saliva, or any non-sterile liquid to clean or store your lenses, as tap water can harbor an organism called Acanthamoeba that causes a rare but severe corneal infection. For reusable lenses, always use fresh, recommended disinfecting solution for cleaning and storage, never reusing or “topping off” old solution.
A proper cleaning regimen involves the “rub and rinse” technique, where you place the lens in the palm of your hand, add a few drops of solution, and gently rub the lens with your finger for about 10 to 15 seconds. This mechanical action is necessary to dislodge protein and lipid deposits from the lens surface before rinsing it thoroughly with more fresh solution. Additionally, the lens storage case itself should be cleaned daily, left to air-dry, and replaced completely every three months to prevent bacterial accumulation.
Sleeping in contact lenses significantly increases the risk of infection, as a closed eyelid substantially reduces the oxygen supply to the cornea. Oxygen deprivation makes the eye more vulnerable to bacterial invasion and can lead to corneal ulcers. Even for lenses approved for extended wear, follow your eye care professional’s specific guidance for overnight use.
If you experience persistent discomfort, redness, or a sudden change in vision, remove the lenses immediately. Ignoring these symptoms and continuing to wear your lenses can lead to serious eye damage, making prompt consultation with an eye care professional necessary.
Warning Signs
Other signs that may indicate an infection include:
- Excessive tearing.
- Light sensitivity.
- Discharge.
- The appearance of a white or yellow spot on the colored part of the eye.