The use of lenses is one of the biggest fears among new wearers. Most people see this as an extremely complicated and risky process. The truth is that applying and removing contact lenses is so easy that even an 8-year-old can do it.
Applying contact lenses is painless and very simple. The process that occurs does not involve touching any nerve, but only placing the soft lens on the eye’s surface. Although it may give you headaches at first, once you get used to it, it will practically get you in reflex. Moreover, always buy the best brand contact lens for your convenience.
Applying Contact Lenses
Preparing contact lenses for application
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant
- Dry your hands with a paper towel dryer or towel. It would be best if you did not use a textile towel, as lint may remain on your fingers
- Do not use oily or cream-based cosmetics before handling the lenses as they may be absorbed into the lens.
- If you apply your lenses over the sink, be sure to cover the drain hole with a stopper, so you don’t lose the lens if you drop it.
- If you drop the lens, it should be rinsed with a solution, and then you can try to apply it to the eyes again.
- If you can, spread a clean towel on a level surface and make sure the place you do is well lit.
- Gently remove the lens from the lens case with your fingertip.
- Be very careful not to touch it or press with your fingernails because it can break very easily.
Check the Position of the Lens
- Place the lens on the navel of the finger with the open side facing up. The lens is always positioned on the index finger.
- Check if its shape is a regular semicircle; if it has slightly curved edges on the outside, it means that the lens is upside down and needs to be turned.
- To turn the lens, place it in the palm, add a few drops of solution over it and turn it slightly on the other side.
- The lens should never be applied to the eyes if it is turned over because it will make you uncomfortable, and you will not see clearly.
Apply the Lens to the Eyes
- Always start with the right eye.
- Look directly in the mirror (ideally have one with an effect of increasing reflection)
- Raise your upper eyelid with your index finger of your left hand
- Gently pull down the lower eyelid with the middle finger of the right hand.
- Carefully position the lens on the iris of the eye so that the edge of the lens is in contact with the surface of the eye.
- Binks a few times to help the lens position itself
- Repeat the procedure for the left eye
- Always put the first contact lens in the same eye, either left or right.
Removing Contact Lenses
Preparing to Remove the Lens
- As with the lenses’ application, the hands must be very clean and well dried, without traces of cream
- Spread a clean towel on a straight surface
- Prepare the lens case and make sure it is clean and filled with fresh solution
Remove Contact Lenses
- Gently pull down the lower eyelid
- With your index finger, slowly pull the lens from the iris to the cornea (white part of the eye)
- Pinch the lens very lightly with your index finger and thumb
- If the lens remains folded, put it in the lens case with solution, and let it rehydrate for a few minutes before opening it
The Most Common Mistakes in Handling Contact Lenses
- You don’t sanitize your hands properly
- Rinse the lenses with tap water or plain water. Contact lenses are cleaned only with a particular solution, so there is a risk of becoming infected with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a bacterium found in water.
- You don’t fix your eyelids well enough, and you risk blinking before the lens starts to fixate on your eyes, which will cause it to bend.
- Confuse the lenses with each other: position the right lens on the left eye and vice versa.
While Wearing Contact Lenses
Disposable lenses
Disposable lenses are lenses applied to the eyes at the beginning of the day and are removed in the evening, then discarded. With these lenses, you do NOT have to sleep.
Daily wear lenses
Daily wear lenses are lenses that are applied to the eyes, worn 10?12 hours/day, then removed and stored in the lens case for cleaning and disinfection. With these lenses, you do NOT have to sleep.
Extended wear lenses
Extended wear lenses are daily lenses with a higher level of oxygen transmissibility (Dk / t), and which can be used continuously for up to 5 consecutive nights. Be careful not to confuse it with continuous wear lenses! The extended wear function should only be used when needed, and should not be abused!
Continuous wear lenses
Continuous wear lenses are lenses with a very high level of oxygen transmissibility (Dk / t), and allow the lenses to be worn day and night for 30 days, without being removed from the eyes. Even so, experts recommend that they are removed at least once every five days for cleaning and disinfection. If you use continuous-length monthly lenses but only use them during the day, it does not mean that you can extend the lens replacement period.
Contact lens replacement period
- Disposable lenses are lenses applied to the eyes at the beginning of the day and are removed in the evening, then discarded.
- Weekly lenses can be for two weeks, with daily wear, or for one week, with continuous wear.
- Monthly lenses are used one month after unsealing the blister, whether worn daily or occasionally. They can only be worn during the day (10?12 hours) or with continuous wear (day and night), depending on the lenses you choose.
- Annual lenses are lenses made of hydrogel, but a stiffer material can be worn for up to 10-12 hours a day for a year.
When contact lenses expire
The following phrase is written on each lens box: mm / yyyy (ex. 11/2021), representing the validity of the contact lenses. This means that they can be used no later than the end of the 11th, respectively, November 2021.
As the editor of the blog, She curate insightful content that sparks curiosity and fosters learning. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she strive to bring diverse perspectives and engaging narratives to readers, ensuring every piece informs, inspires, and enriches.
