The question of whether wearing contact lenses is “hard” is common, often rooted in the anxiety of touching the eye and maintaining a new routine. Any difficulty is typically temporary and subjective, depending on the specific task involved. For new wearers, the initial hurdles are procedural and psychological, centering on the mechanical steps of handling the lens. Once these skills are learned, the long-term challenge shifts toward maintaining a consistent hygiene schedule and adapting to the physical sensation of the lens. Modern advancements have significantly reduced the overall difficulty, making successful wear achievable for most people.
Mastering Insertion and Removal
The most significant barrier for new wearers is the process of getting the lens onto and off the eye. This initial difficulty is primarily a psychological response to the natural blink reflex. Learning to override the eye’s instinct to close when an object approaches requires practice and patience.
When inserting a lens, the technique involves using fingers to hold the eyelids firmly open to prevent blinking. New users often struggle with stabilization, which can cause the lens to be misplaced or the eye to water excessively. It is also common for the eye to roll upward involuntarily as the finger approaches the cornea, complicating placement.
Proficiency is usually achieved quickly, often within a few days to a week of consistent practice. Eye care professionals recommend setting aside time during the first week to practice the process stress-free. The removal process, which involves gently sliding the lens to the white of the eye and then pinching it off, is often considered easier than insertion once apprehension is overcome. Always start with clean, dry hands and check that the lens is correctly oriented, resembling a shallow bowl.
Understanding Daily Comfort and Adaptation
Once the lens is successfully in place, the next phase relates to the physical sensation of wearing a foreign object. The initial period of adaptation involves a mild awareness of the lens, sometimes described as a film or faint pressure. This sensation is normal and typically subsides as the eye adjusts to the lens material.
Modern lenses, especially those made from silicone hydrogel, have vastly improved comfort levels compared to older designs. Silicone hydrogel allows significantly more oxygen to pass through to the cornea than traditional lenses. This high oxygen permeability helps keep the cornea healthy and reduces the likelihood of issues like dryness and redness.
Ongoing discomfort is most frequently a sign of a poor fit or underlying issues like dry eyes. A lens that is too tight or too loose can cause friction or inadequate tear exchange, resulting in irritation and blurred vision. Therefore, a professional eye examination and precise lens fitting are necessary to ensure long-term, comfortable wear.
The Ongoing Routine of Care and Hygiene
For individuals using reusable lenses, a layer of difficulty is added by the strict, ongoing hygiene and maintenance routine. Unlike glasses, contact lenses require meticulous daily cleaning and storage, demanding adherence to specific protocols. This routine involves physically rubbing the lens with a disinfecting solution and then storing it in a fresh batch of solution overnight.
This discipline is directly related to eye health and safety. Protein, lipids, and other deposits from the natural tear film accumulate on the lens surface over time, leading to discomfort and increased risk of serious eye infections like microbial keratitis. Failure to follow the prescribed cleaning and replacement schedule allows these contaminants and microorganisms to build up.
The replacement schedule for the lenses—whether bi-weekly or monthly—must be followed precisely, even if they still feel comfortable. The lens storage case must also be maintained, requiring daily rinsing, air-drying, and replacement at least every three months, as the case itself can become a breeding ground for germs.
How Modern Lens Types Simplify the Experience
Many traditional difficulties associated with contact lens wear have been significantly mitigated by technological advances. Modern lens options provide practical solutions that simplify the daily experience, particularly for new wearers. The most transformative of these options is the daily disposable lens.
Daily disposables eliminate the entire cleaning and storage routine, removing the hygiene-related difficulty. A fresh, sterile lens is used every morning and discarded every night, drastically reducing the risk of deposit buildup and infection. Studies show that the risk of infection is lower with daily disposable lenses compared to reusable ones, due to minimal handling and lack of solution-based care.
Specialized lens designs also simplify successful vision correction for those with complex prescriptions.
Specialized Lens Types
- Toric lenses correct for astigmatism.
- Multifocal lenses address age-related loss of near vision.
These lenses allow for clear vision without the need for glasses or multiple pairs of contacts. A comprehensive fitting with an eye care professional ensures the chosen lens type, material, and replacement schedule align with the individual’s lifestyle, minimizing potential difficulty and maximizing successful wear.