Contact Lens Care
The information below is intended as a supplement to the training and instruction you receive as part of a contact lens fitting program.
How to insert your lenses
- Wash your hands with a mild soap, rinse completely and dry with a lint-free towel. A wet finger may cause a soft lens to flatten. Avoid using fingernails to handle your lenses.
- If you are working near a sink, close the drain.
- Get in the habit of always working with the same lens (right or left) first to avoid mix-ups.
- Pour the lens and storage fluid from the case into your palm.
- Inspect the lens for particles, deposits or tears.
- Place the lens, cup side up, on your dry forefinger. Determine if the lens is right side out. If it is right side out, the lens' edge will appear almost straight up. If inside out, the edges will flare out slightly. Another test is to place the lens on a crack in the palm of your hand and then cup the hand slightly. This will flex the lens. If the edge of the lens curls inwards, it is the correct way out; if the edge curls outwards and wraps onto the palm of the hand, it is inside out. If it is inside out, reverse it.
- Pull the bottom eyelid down using your middle finger of the hand that you are using to insert the contact lens.
- Hold the upper lashes (or lids) to prevent blinking with the other hand by reaching over your head.
- Look up so the white part of your eye shows.
- Place the lens onto the exposed white part of your eye. Or, instead of looking up, look straight ahead at the lens and gently place it in the center of your eye.
- Remove your finger and let go of the lids, bottom lid first, and then top.
- Look downward to help position the lens, then close your eyes momentarily.
- Apply one or two drops of lens lubricant (eye drops) if your lenses feel dry or if blurry vision occurs during wear.
- Follow the same steps to insert the other lens.
How to remove your lenses
- Wash and dry your hands and close any nearby drains.
- With your head straight, look upwards as far as you can.
- Place your middle finger on the lower eyelid of your right eye and pull the eyelid down, then touch the lower edge of the lens with the tip of your index finger.
- While still looking up, slide the lens down to the white part of the eye with your index finger.
- Still looking up and holding the lens under the index finger, move your thumb so that you can compress the lens lightly between the thumb and the index finger. Then gently remove the "folded up" lens from the eye.
- If you have difficulty removing the lens, place a few drops of artificial tears in the eye, wait a few seconds, and try again.
- Remove the left lens following the same procedure.
Follow professional advice
- Wear your contacts only for the length of time recommended by our optometrists, even if they feel comfortable.
- Remove, clean, and disinfect your lenses at the intervals prescribed.
- Have a contact lens examination every year, or sooner if recommended by our optometrists.
- Do not sleep or nap while wearing your contacts unless specifically indicated.
- Do not use any eye drops (medication or over-the-counter) without consulting our optometrists.
- Absolutely never use water or saliva on your lenses.
- Never wear your lenses when you have a cold, due to increased risk of eye infections and reduced tear levels, resulting from medication use.
- When you are fitted for contact lenses a particular lens care system is recommended -- a group of products to clean, disinfect and make your lenses safe and comfortable for wear. Since different systems use different types of chemicals, it is not advisable to mix or substitute solutions from other systems. Doing so could lead to discolored lenses, eye discomfort, or eye injury. In particular, rigid lens solutions should not be used to clean or disinfect soft lenses as the chemicals can damage the soft lens
material. If you wish to change your lens care regimen or to try a new lens care product, it is best to discuss this first, even
if only by telephone, with our optometrist to ensure that you select products that are compatible with your eyes and will work well.