Multifocal contact lenses correct presbyopia, an age-related condition where the eye loses its ability to focus on close objects. These lenses contain multiple prescription zones, enabling simultaneous vision correction for near, intermediate, and far distances. The brain learns to automatically select the clearest image for the task at hand from the visual information provided by the different zones. Mastering the correct insertion technique requires careful attention to hygiene and specific details unique to the multifocal design.
Hygiene and Setup Before Handling
A thorough pre-insertion routine minimizes the risk of introducing foreign matter or microbes into the eye. Wash your hands completely with a mild, non-lotion soap, as oil and residue from moisturizers can easily adhere to the lens surface and cloud vision. Rinse your hands well, removing all traces of soap, and then dry them completely with a lint-free towel or tissue to prevent transferring small fibers to the lens.
Setting up a clean, well-lit surface provides a safe area to work and minimizes the chance of dropping a lens. To prevent mixing up the lenses, consistently begin the insertion process with the same eye, such as the right eye. Establishing this routine avoids confusion, especially since the prescriptions are often different for each eye.
Ensuring Correct Lens Orientation and Placement
Identifying the correct lens for the correct eye is important, as multifocal lenses often use different designs for distance and near vision. Your eye care professional determines a dominant eye, which usually favors distance vision, while the non-dominant eye favors near vision. This difference is often indicated on the lens blister pack or prescription using “D” for dominant and “N” for non-dominant, or by the right (OD) and left (OS) eye assignment.
After removing the lens, place it on the tip of your clean, dry index finger to check its orientation. A correctly oriented lens, or “right-side out,” resembles a perfect shallow bowl with smoothly curving edges. If the edge appears to flare outward, the lens is inside out and must be gently reversed. An inside-out lens will feel uncomfortable and cause poor vision.
Step-by-Step Insertion Method
With the lens correctly oriented on the pad of your dominant index finger, you are ready for insertion. To prepare the eye, use the middle finger of the insertion hand to gently pull down the lower eyelid. Simultaneously, use the index or middle finger of your opposite hand to hold the upper eyelid up against the brow bone to prevent blinking.
Keeping both eyelids held firmly open, look up toward the ceiling or straight ahead into a mirror. Slowly and gently bring the lens toward the exposed white part of your eye or the iris. Once the lens makes contact with the eye’s surface, it will adhere naturally due to the surface tension of the tear film.
After the lens is on the eye, slowly release the lower lid first, and then the upper lid, allowing the eye to close naturally. Keeping the lids open too long can cause the lens to dry out before it settles. A few gentle blinks will then help the lens naturally center itself over the cornea.
Immediate Adjustments and Comfort Checks
The moments immediately following insertion are when you confirm the lens is properly seated and comfortable. After the initial gentle blinks, the lens should feel smooth and comfortable, and your vision should be noticeably clearer. If the lens feels scratchy or shifts excessively with blinking, it may be inside out, dirty, or improperly centered.
If discomfort occurs, remove the lens immediately. Rinse it thoroughly with fresh contact lens solution, and check it again for the correct bowl-like orientation and any debris before reinserting. A brief adaptation period is normal for new multifocal wearers as the brain adjusts to the simultaneous presentation of near and distance images. If your vision remains blurry or the discomfort persists, remove the lens and contact your eye care professional for guidance.