When switching from eyeglasses, contact lenses require a short period of adjustment and new habits. These medical devices sit directly on the eye’s surface, and new wearers may initially feel a mild foreign-body sensation. This temporary awareness is normal, and with practice, handling and wearing the lenses will soon become routine. A smooth transition involves mastering insertion/removal and consistently following proper care guidelines.
Mastering Insertion and Removal
The most immediate challenge for new contact lens wearers is learning to confidently place the lens onto the eye and take it off safely. Before touching the lens or the eye, always wash your hands thoroughly with non-moisturizing soap and dry them completely with a lint-free towel. Starting with the same eye, such as the right one, helps prevent mixing up prescriptions if they differ between eyes.
To ensure the lens is not inside out, perform the “taco test.” Place the lens on the tip of your index finger; if the edges curl inward, forming a smooth, half-sphere shape like a taco shell, the lens is oriented correctly. If the edges flare outward, the lens is inverted and must be gently flipped.
For insertion, use your non-dominant hand to pull up your upper eyelid and the middle finger of your dominant hand to pull down your lower lid, keeping your eyelids wide open. Look straight ahead and gently place the lens onto the center of your eye. If you find it difficult to aim, some wearers prefer to look upward and place the lens on the lower white part of the eye, then roll their eye back to center the lens.
Removing the lens involves a similar, gentle technique using clean fingertips, not fingernails. Look up and slide the lens down to the white part of your eye using your index finger. Once the lens is on the lower sclera, gently pinch it between your thumb and index finger pads to lift it off. Ensuring your fingers are dry can improve grip, as the lens sticks to wet surfaces.
The Initial Wearing Schedule
The eye needs time to adjust to the presence of the lens. Eye care professionals recommend a slow, progressive wearing schedule rather than attempting a full day of wear immediately. Starting too fast can lead to discomfort, dryness, or irritation, hindering the transition.
A common recommendation is to begin with a short duration, such as two to four hours on the first day. The wearing time can then be extended by two hours each subsequent day, for example, four to six hours on Day 2 and six to eight hours on Day 3. Most people using soft lenses find comfort within a few days, and a full 8-to-12-hour wearing time is typically reached within the first week to two weeks.
This slow build-up allows the cornea to adapt to the new environment under the lens. If the eyes begin to feel dry or tired, the lenses should be removed for the day. Consistent adherence to the replacement schedule—whether daily, bi-weekly, or monthly—prevents protein deposits from accumulating.
Essential Hygiene and Comfort Practices
Strict hygiene is the most important factor for successful contact lens wear, protecting the eye from infection. Handwashing with soap and drying with a lint-free towel must happen before every instance of touching the lenses. Never use tap water for rinsing or storing lenses, as water contains microorganisms like Acanthamoeba that can cause severe eye infections.
Lenses must be cleaned using only the solution recommended by your eye care professional, as not all solutions are compatible with all lens materials. For reusable lenses, a “rub and rinse” technique is advised, where the lens is gently rubbed with solution in the palm before a final rinse and soaking. Never reuse old solution or “top off” the liquid in the case, as the solution’s disinfecting properties degrade over time.
The lens case requires daily rinsing with fresh solution and air-drying to prevent contamination. Replacing the lens case every two to three months is necessary to prevent the build-up of germs and bacteria. Sleeping in lenses, unless approved for extended wear, drastically reduces oxygen supply to the cornea and heightens the risk of infection, so they should always be removed before bed.
Common mild discomforts, such as dryness or a foreign-body sensation, can be managed with rewetting or lubricating drops. These drops help stabilize the tear film over the lens surface. If eye dryness persists despite using drops, an eye care professional may recommend a different lens material or an alternative moisturizing drop.
Recognizing When to Seek Professional Help
While mild irritation is normal during the initial adjustment period, certain symptoms are considered “red flags” and require immediate attention. Persistent discomfort or pain that does not resolve after removing the lens is a warning sign. Soreness, even if minor, may indicate an underlying issue like a scratch or a developing infection.
Extreme or sudden redness that persists for more than a few hours is a symptom of inflammation or infection. Other urgent signs include a sudden sensitivity to light (photophobia) or a visible discharge from the eye. Any sudden or persistent blurring of vision that does not clear with blinking or rewetting the lens also warrants a prompt medical evaluation.
If any of these severe symptoms occur, the lenses should be immediately removed and not reinserted until a doctor has examined the eyes. Ignoring these signs can lead to serious complications, such as corneal ulcers. Regular eye examinations, typically once a year, are necessary to ensure the lenses continue to fit correctly and the eyes remain healthy.