Inserting contact lenses for the first time feels awkward, but it gets easier fast. Most people can do it smoothly within a few days of practice. The key is clean hands, a dry fingertip, and a simple sequence: hold your eyelids open, place the lens on the white of your eye, then look into it to center it. Below is everything you need to get through those first attempts and build a reliable routine.
Start With Clean, Dry Hands
Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them with a lint-free towel. A regular cotton towel or paper towel can leave tiny fibers on your fingers that transfer to the lens and irritate your eye. A microfiber cloth or a freshly laundered smooth towel works best.
Avoid moisturizing soaps or anything with lotion, fragrance, or oils. Residue from these products can coat the lens and blur your vision or cause stinging.
Check That the Lens Isn’t Inside Out
An inside-out lens won’t damage your eye, but it will feel uncomfortable and slide around. Before you insert it, place the lens on the tip of your index finger and hold it up to eye level so you’re looking at it from the side.
A correctly oriented lens looks like a small cup with edges pointing straight up. If it’s inside out, the edges flare outward like a shallow bowl or rimmed saucer. Some people find this hard to see, especially with thin lenses.
The “taco test” makes it easier. Hold the lens between your thumb and index finger and gently squeeze it as if folding it in half. If the edges curl inward toward each other (like a hard-shell taco), the lens is right-side in. If the edges bend outward toward your fingers, flip the lens over. Many lenses also have a faint handling tint. When the lens is correctly oriented, the edges look brightly tinted (usually blue or green). If the tint looks pale, it’s inside out.
Step-by-Step Insertion for Soft Lenses
Place the lens on the tip of your index finger on your dominant hand, with all edges facing upward like a little bowl. Here’s an important detail most guides skip: if your finger is too wet, the lens will stick to it instead of transferring to your eye. A lens clings to wet surfaces, so your eye needs to be the wetter surface. If the lens keeps sticking to your fingertip, lift it off with your other hand, rub your fingertip against your wrist to dry it slightly, then try again. Don’t use a tissue or paper towel to dry your finger, since it will leave fuzzy particles on your skin.
Now hold your eyelids open. Use the middle finger of your dominant hand (the same hand holding the lens on the index finger) to pull down your lower eyelid. Use the middle finger of your other hand to hold up your upper eyelid. This two-handed hold keeps you from blinking at the critical moment.
Look straight into a mirror with your head turned slightly to one side. Bring your index finger up and place the lens onto the exposed white part of your eye, not directly onto the colored part. This feels less startling and triggers less blinking. Once the lens is on, look into it to slide it over your cornea, the clear center of your eye where it belongs. Then gently release your eyelids, lower lid first.
Close your eye and look around slowly, or gently massage the closed eyelid to help the lens settle. Blink a few times. If the lens feels off-center or blurry, close your eyes and gently press on the lid to nudge it into place.
Inserting Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses
Rigid (RGP) lenses are smaller and firmer than soft lenses, so the technique differs slightly. Before handling, remove the lens from its storage case and add one drop of conditioning solution. Rub the solution gently over both sides of the lens to coat it evenly.
Check the orientation the same way you would with a soft lens. A correctly oriented RGP lens looks like a cup. If it’s inside out, it flattens into a saucer shape with the edges flaring outward.
Place the lens on your fingertip and insert it the same way: hold both eyelids open, look slightly to one side, and place the lens on the white of your eye. The main difference is what happens after. Release your bottom eyelid first, then gently close your top eyelid. Blink slowly and gently until the lens begins to feel comfortable. RGP lenses take a bit longer to settle than soft lenses, especially during the first few wears.
How to Remove Soft Lenses
There are two reliable methods. Most people start with the pinch method and stick with it.
The Pinch Method
Look upward and use your middle finger to pull down your lower eyelid. Place your index finger on the lower edge of the lens and gently slide it down onto the white part of your eye. With your other hand, hold your upper eyelid open to prevent blinking. Once the lens is off the cornea and sitting on the white of your eye, pinch it lightly between your thumb and index finger and lift it away in one smooth motion.
The Slide Method
Look to the side, place your index finger on the outer edge of the lens, and slide it toward the corner of your eye. As the lens moves off-center, close your eyelids gently and let the lens fold on itself. Open your lids slightly, catch the folded lens with your fingers, and drop it into your case or discard it.
How to Remove Rigid Lenses
RGP lenses pop off rather than fold, so the technique is different. One approach: look straight ahead and press the edge of your lower eyelid against the eyeball beneath the lens. Lift your upper eyelid above the lens, then push it down over the eye until the eye is shut. The lens should pop out and rest between your eyelashes, where you can grab it.
A second option: look straight ahead, open your eye as wide as possible, place your finger at the outer corner of your eye, and pull the skin tight toward your ear. Then blink. The tension on the lids should pop the lens out. Cup your other hand underneath to catch it.
Keep Water Away From Your Lenses
Tap water, shower water, pool water, and lake water all pose a risk. Water can cause soft lenses to swell, change shape, and stick to the eye, scratching the cornea. More importantly, water carries a dangerous amoeba called Acanthamoeba that’s commonly found in tap water, wells, and lakes. It can cause a serious, hard-to-treat eye infection.
The CDC recommends removing your contacts before swimming, showering, or using a hot tub. If water does touch your lenses, take them out as soon as you can. Either throw them away or clean and disinfect them overnight before wearing them again. Never rinse or store contacts in water of any kind, including distilled water.
Choosing the Right Solution
Two main types of contact lens solution exist: multipurpose solution and hydrogen peroxide solution. Multipurpose solution is the simpler option. You use it to rinse, clean, disinfect, and store your lenses in one step.
Hydrogen peroxide solution is preservative-free, which makes it a good choice if your eyes are sensitive or allergic to the preservatives in multipurpose formulas. However, it requires a neutralization step that converts the peroxide into water and oxygen before the lenses are safe to wear again. This process uses a special case that comes with each bottle. You cannot substitute a regular lens case. If you skip neutralization and put a peroxide-soaked lens in your eye, it will cause intense stinging, burning, and potential corneal damage.
Most hydrogen peroxide bottles have a red tip and cap to distinguish them from multipurpose solutions. Always use the fresh case included with each new bottle, and never reuse an old one.
Tips for First-Time Wearers
The biggest obstacle is the blink reflex. Your body instinctively wants to close your eye when something approaches it. Practicing the two-finger eyelid hold (one finger pulling down the lower lid, one holding up the upper lid) is the fastest way to override this. Some people find it helpful to look slightly away from the approaching finger and place the lens on the white of the eye rather than aiming directly for the center.
If the lens keeps folding or sliding off your fingertip, it’s probably too wet. Remember: a lens sticks to the wetter surface. Your eye is naturally moist, so your fingertip needs to be drier. Rub your fingertip against your wrist, reload the lens, and try again. Work at a well-lit mirror, ideally at a table where you can lean in close. Standing at a bathroom mirror with your arms extended makes everything harder.
Most people find that insertion takes several minutes per eye during the first week and drops to under 30 seconds within a month. If a lens feels scratchy or painful after insertion, take it out, inspect it for debris or damage, rinse it with solution, and reinsert. A lens that consistently hurts may be torn, inside out, or the wrong fit for your eye.