The initial experience of placing a contact lens directly onto the eye can feel awkward or frustrating for new wearers. These delicate, curved medical devices are designed to rest on the cornea, allowing light to focus correctly onto the retina to improve vision. Contact lenses are commonly used to correct refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. While the idea of touching the eye may seem difficult at first, adopting simple, deliberate techniques can transform the process into a quick, easy part of your daily routine.
Essential Pre-Insertion Preparation
A successful and comfortable lens application begins with meticulous hygiene. Always wash your hands thoroughly with a mild, non-cosmetic, oil-free soap before handling your lenses. Oil-based soaps or lotions can transfer residues onto the lens surface, leading to blurred vision and significant eye irritation.
After washing, dry your hands completely with a clean, lint-free towel. This prevents water from introducing microorganisms to the lens or the eye, as tap water can pose an infection risk. Examine the lens immediately after removing it from the storage solution and placing it on your fingertip.
Look for any small nicks, tears along the edges, or specks of debris that could cause discomfort. It is also important to confirm the lens is oriented correctly using the “bowl” test. When placed on your index finger, the lens should form a perfect, smooth bowl shape with edges pointing straight up. If the edges flare slightly outward, resembling a wide-lipped soup bowl, the lens is inside-out and must be flipped for proper fit and comfortable wear.
Step-by-Step Guide to Smooth Insertion
Once you have confirmed a clean, correctly oriented lens, the next step is stabilizing the eye to overcome the natural reflex to blink. Place the lens on the pad of your dominant hand’s index finger, ensuring your finger is relatively dry so the lens adheres to your eye rather than sticking to your finger.
Use the middle finger of the same hand to firmly pull down on your lower eyelid, resting it right at the lash line. With your non-dominant hand, use your index or middle finger to pull the upper eyelid upward and against the brow bone. This two-point stabilization technique holds both lids wide open, preventing the involuntary closure that often happens when the lens approaches. Maintaining a firm grip on both lids is highly effective.
While holding the eyelids open, focus your gaze either straight ahead at a fixed point in the distance or slightly upward toward the ceiling. Directing your focus away from the approaching lens helps suppress the blink reflex and keeps the eye still. Slowly and deliberately bring the lens on your dominant index finger toward the eye.
Gently place the lens directly onto the center of the cornea. If looking up, place it onto the white part of the eye (sclera) below the iris. Upon contact, the lens should immediately transfer from your finger to the moist surface of the eye. Do not press the lens onto the eye; simply let it touch the surface, ensuring there is a clear, continuous connection between the lens and the eye’s tear film.
After the lens makes contact, slowly remove your index finger, keeping your gaze fixed on the distance for a moment. Gently release the lower lid, followed by the upper lid, maintaining a slow and controlled motion throughout. The stabilizing fingers should be lifted straight away from the eye, rather than sliding across the skin, to prevent disturbing the newly placed lens.
Close your eyes slowly and gently roll them around to help settle the lens into its correct, centered position on the cornea. A few soft blinks will allow the tear film to distribute evenly beneath the lens, securing it in place and ensuring comfort. If the lens feels centered and vision is clear, the insertion process is complete. If the lens feels slightly off-center, a gentle massage over the closed eyelid can sometimes help it slide into position.
Overcoming Common Insertion Obstacles
Even with the correct technique, several common obstacles can prevent a smooth insertion, the most frequent being the involuntary blink reflex. To counteract this, ensure the area surrounding your eye is completely dry, as moisture can stimulate the reflex. Focusing on a distant, stationary object during the entire insertion process keeps the eye muscles fixed and less reactive.
Sometimes, the lens may fold in half or slip off your index finger just as it nears the eye. This usually happens because the lens is too wet or the fingertip is too moist. If this occurs, immediately remove the lens, dry your finger completely, and place the lens back on the finger, ensuring the lens surface is not excessively saturated with solution before attempting re-insertion.
A common post-insertion issue is immediate, noticeable discomfort, which is often a sign that the lens is inside-out or has a small piece of debris trapped underneath. If discomfort occurs, remove the lens immediately, check its orientation using the bowl test, and rinse it thoroughly with fresh contact lens solution. Never attempt to wear a lens that causes pain or a persistent stinging sensation.
Dry eyes can also complicate the insertion process, causing the lens to resist settling or feeling scratchy upon placement. If your eyes feel noticeably dry before insertion, applying re-wetting drops specifically formulated for contact lenses can increase the moisture barrier. This pre-hydration step allows the lens to float comfortably on the tear film, making the initial application much easier.
If the lens tends to stick to your finger instead of transferring to the eye, try placing the lens on the white of the eye (sclera) first, then slowly glancing toward the lens. This motion naturally pulls the lens onto the cornea. Brief blurry or fogged vision immediately after insertion is often due to excess solution trapped beneath the lens, which typically resolves within a minute or two.