Wearing contact lenses can be scary, especially if you're not comfortable touching your eyes. With a little knowledge and practice, you can eventually wear contact lenses. Be sure to see an eye doctor, but don't be afraid to experiment to find the one that's right for you!
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Part 1 of 4: Choosing Contact Lenses
Step 1. Choose the right contact lenses
An ophthalmologist can offer several options, depending on the eye and the specific needs required. Understand what you want from these contact lenses.
- Length of use: some contact lenses can only be used for one day, then discarded, while other types can be used repeatedly for an entire year. Among them, there are contact lenses that can be used on a monthly and bi-weekly basis.
- Softer contact lenses, which are worn for shorter periods of time, are more comfortable and healthier for your eyes, but are more expensive. Harder contact lenses can be more practical because they don't need to be removed more often, but they are also stiffer and more difficult to adjust than softer types.
- Contact lenses that are used every day should be removed every night before you go to bed. Long-term contact lenses can be used while sleeping. Some long-term contact lenses are FDA-approved for continuous wear for up to seven fingers, and some brands of silicone hydrogel contact lenses are approved for continuous use for 30 days.
Step 2. Don't be afraid to experiment
Most ophthalmologists will give you several options, and they will give you the opportunity to try some of the specific prescribed brands before you commit to spending big money.
- Try a different brand. Some brands of contact lenses are thinner and more porous than others and have softer edges that are more comfortable to wear. However, this type usually has a more expensive price. A good ophthalmologist will prescribe you to try one brand per week and make sure that the contact lenses are comfortable to wear.
- If you're not sure what you want to wear, ask your eye doctor to prescribe a trial pack of one or two pairs of contact lenses. Your ophthalmologist may also allow you to try on several contact lenses in their office if you have clearly chosen one type of contact lens.
Step 3. If you are under 18, inquire about the policy on the use of contact lenses for minors
Some opticians refuse to prescribe contact lenses until the patient reaches a certain age, for example 13 years. In addition, some recommend wearing contact lenses not to be used every day until the age of 18.
- As a general rule, children under 18 should not wear contact lenses more than 18 hours a day, four to five hours a week.
- If your eye doctor or legal guardian determines that you are not old enough to wear contact lenses, wear glasses. You can see clearly with glasses. You can try to wear contact lenses before you turn 18, but using glasses to correct your vision can also help you see.
Step 4. Consider buying colored contact lenses to change the color of your eyes
You can buy colored lenses with or without a doctor's prescription.
- You can choose an eye color that is common and different from your eye color, for example blue, brown, hazel, green. You can also choose unusual colors, such as red, purple, white, tie dye, spiral, and cat's eye.
- If you get a prescription for these contact lenses, make sure you choose the lenses you want to wear every day.
Part 2 of 4: Storing and Caring for Your Contact Lenses
Step 1. Take care of your contact lenses when not in use
Usually this treatment consists of two things:
- Always store your contact lenses in contact lens solution, unless you wear disposable contact lenses. Contact lens solution helps to clean, wash and eradicate bacteria and germs on your contact lenses.
- Throw away contact lenses on the recommended date. Most contact lenses fall into one of three categories: discard daily, weekly, or monthly. Check your contact lenses for the recommended disposal date and do not use them later than that.
Step 2. Make sure that you are using the right solution
Some solutions are made specifically for storing contact lenses, and some solutions are made to clean and kill germs or bacteria on contact lenses. Better you use a combination of the two solutions.
- Storage solutions are usually based on saline solutions. These solutions are gentle on the eyes, but do not clean contact lenses as effectively as chemical disinfectants.
- Solutions that clean and kill germs and bacteria are not intended for storing contact lenses, unless specifically labeled as a “cleaning and storage” solution. If the contact lens solution frequently irritates your eyes, consider buying another solution.
- Always use the disinfectant solutions, eye drops, and enzymatic cleaners recommended by your ophthalmologist. Different types of contact lenses require different solutions as well. Some eye care products are unsafe for contact lens wearers, especially if they are chemically based or non-salt eye drops.
Step 3. Clean contact lenses frequently
Clean contact lenses every day, before and after use.
- Clean each lens by rubbing the lens with your index finger in the palm of your hand. Most multi-functional solutions don't have the “don't swipe” label anymore. By rubbing slowly, it can remove dirt on the surface of the contact lens.
- Change the solution in the contact lens case to prevent bacteria from growing. It is better to replace the contact lens solution every time you change contact lenses. But you can also replace it every few days depending on the type of lens you use.
- Clean the contact lens case after each use with a sterile solution or hot water. Dry by airing. Change the contact lens case every three months.
Step 4. Make sure your fingers are clean before handling contact lenses
Wash your hands with soap and warm water and dry them with a clean towel.
Remember, any residue from soap, lotion, or chemicals can stick to your contact lenses and cause irritation, pain or blurred vision
Step 5. Do not use other people's contact lenses, especially if they have already been worn
- If you wear something that someone else has put in their eyes, you run the risk of spreading the infection and spreading harmful particles from their eyes to yours.
- All recipes are not the same as each other. Your friend can be nearsighted, while you are farsighted. Or, if you are both nearsighted, your friend's nearsightedness can be even worse than yours. Some people need specially shaped contact lenses for conditions such as astigmatism.
Step 6. Visit your eye doctor for a yearly term to check your contact lens prescription
You can change the prescription as your eyes age and change.
- Your eyes change from time to time. Your vision can deteriorate, and you can have astigmatism, which changes the shape of the eye and develops a refractive network for all distances.
- An ophthalmologist can test the eye for glaucoma. Glaucoma is a deteriorating eye disease that can obscure your vision, and lead to other dangerous conditions. Always try to visit your eye doctor.
Part 3 of 4: Wearing Contact Lenses
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap
Rinse to remove soap residue. Dry with a towel (paper towels or toilet paper can leave a layer of paper), or if possible, use a hand dryer.
- Any residue from soap, lotion, or chemicals can stick to contact lenses and cause irritation, pain or blurred vision.
- Contact lenses stick to wet surfaces. You can clean your hands, but allow your fingertips to get slightly wet to allow the contact lenses to stick easily.
Step 2. Remove the contact lens from its holder
Unless the prescription is the same for both lenses, remember to check if the lens is for your right or left eye.
- Keep the place for other lenses closed, so that no dust and other particles will contaminate the contact lens solution.
- If you put a contact lens in the wrong eye, you can't see clearly, and it can cause pain. If contact lens prescriptions differ significantly for your right and left eye, then you can tell if you have been wearing the wrong contact lenses.
Step 3. Place the contact lens on the fingertip that is most comfortable for you
(Use with care, or you may damage or wear the contact lens upside down.) Make sure that the concave one is facing up at your fingertips, with the wall not touching your skin.
- Be sure to touch the contact lens with the skin on your finger, not the nail on your fingertip. It will be easier if you drip a little solution on the finger where the contact lens will be attached.
- If it is a soft contact lens, make sure that it is not upside down. It might be easy, but sometimes it's hard to figure it out. The contact lens must be perfectly concave, curved equally throughout the edges. If the curves are not the same then the lens may be upside down.
- While the lens is still on your finger, check for rips or dirt. If there is dust or dirt, clean it with contact lens solution before wearing it.
Step 4. Gently pull your skin away from your eyes
Use the tip of the index finger on the non-contact-lensed hand to pull the eyelid up. Use the middle finger of your dominant hand (the hand with the contact lens on) to pull the skin under your eye down. As you get more experienced, you can do this by simply tugging at the skin under your eyes.
Step 5. Hold the contact lens close to your eye calmly and confidently
Try not to blink and not move suddenly. Also try to look up and it is also recommended that you do not focus your eyes, to make it easier for you to wear contact lenses.
Step 6. Gently place the contact lens on your eye
Make sure that the lens is centered, so that it covers your iris (the colored part of the circle in your eye), and slide it if needed.
Step 7. Remove the skin you pulled earlier
Make sure to remove the skin you're pulling down, as releasing the top can create air bubbles against your eye, which can make your eye sore.
Step 8. Blink slowly so as not to take out your contacts
Notice if you experience pain or discomfort. If you think something is wrong with your contact lenses, remove them then clean them and put them back on.
- You can close your eyes for a few seconds to stabilize your contact lenses. If you can activate your tear glands, it can make the process easier because of the natural lubrication your eyes produce. Place your palms under your eyes in case your contact lenses fall.
- If the contact lens falls out of your eye, don't worry, as this usually happens the first time. Clean contact lenses with a solution and try until you can actually use them.
Step 9. Repeat the process with the other contact lenses
When finished, throw the contact lens solution down the sink and close the contact lens holder.
Try wearing contact lenses for a few hours. Make it so that your eyes get used to it so it doesn't dry out again when you're wearing contact lenses. If it starts to hurt, remove your contact lenses and rest your eyes
Part 4 of 4: Removing Contact Lenses
Step 1. Know when to remove your contact lenses
- Do not leave your contact lenses on for longer than recommended by your eye doctor. You should remove your soft contact lenses daily before you go to bed. You can use long-term contact lenses for longer use: some long-term contact lenses are FDA-approved for continuous wear of seven fingers, and some brands of silicone hydrogel contact lenses are approved for continuous use for 30 days.
- Consider removing contact lenses before swimming or taking a hot bath. Chlorine can damage lenses, shortening their life.
- If you are just starting out with contact lenses, your eyes may not get used to them. Your eyes will dry faster and your eyes may feel uncomfortable. Remove contact lenses immediately after work or school for the first days, as soon as possible if you don't need perfect vision, to rest your eyes.
- Remove contact lenses before removing makeup or painting at night to avoid sticking makeup or paint on your contact lenses.
Step 2. Make sure that your hands are clean before you remove the contact lenses
- Clean your hands with soap and warm water, then dry them with a clean towel. Again, contact lenses stick to wet hands. Wet your fingers slightly to make removing contact lenses easier.
- Keeping your fingers clean will dramatically reduce the risk of infection. If you don't clean your hands, then particles from the things you held before can get into your eyes.
- It is important to avoid touching contact lenses after touching dirt, your own feces, pets, or other people. Exposure to dirt particles will result in conjunctivitis eye infections and can interfere with your eye health.
Step 3. Fill half of the contact lens holder with the solution before you remove the contact lenses
- Consider using a saline solution to store your lenses and a disinfectant solution to clean contact lenses. Disinfectant solutions can irritate your eyes.
- Make sure that small particles such as dust, hair, soil and other contaminants do not fall into the solution. The point is to keep the solution clean.
Step 4. Remove the first lens
- Use the middle finger of your dominant hand to pull the skin under your eye down. At the same time, use the index or middle finger of your non-dominant hand to draw in the upper eyelid of your eye.
- Look up and slowly slide the lens down, away from the pupil, then release it. Use a gentle touch and try not to tear the contact lenses.
- Eventually, with practice, you can remove contact lenses without sliding them down. Don't try this before you're confident, as doing it roughly can tear contact lenses.
Step 5. Clean your contact lenses
Place the contact lens in the palm of your hand. Drop a drop of contact lens solution and rub it with your finger in a spiral, from the center to the outer edge.
- Turn the contact lens over and do the same on the other side.
- Rinse the lens again with the solution and place it in place (right or left). Be sure to store your lenses in a separate place, especially if your low-sightedness differs from one another. Storing them separately also reduces the risk of spreading the infection between your eyes.
Step 6. Repeat the above steps to remove and clean your other lenses
- Again, make sure you put the contacts in the correct place. Keep it for a few hours and rest your eyes.
- If you have trouble removing your contact lenses, keep practicing! This process will become easier if you practice often.
Tips
- It is important to increase the hours of contact lens wear each time you wear them. Wear it within an hour for a few days, then two hours, then increase it periodically.
- If the contact lens falls on an object, soak it in a saline solution (store it for some time before trying to put it back on). If the lens is dry, use the same.
- Using contact lenses is a habitual influence. At first, you may feel the edges, but you will get used to it over time.
Warning
- Wash your hands. Always wash your hands.
- If at any time in use, your eyes are irritated, remove contact lenses. Consult an optician if you are concerned.
- Rest your eyes if they are inflamed or sore.
- Make sure there is no soap residue on your hands.
- Make sure there are no tears or damage in your contact lenses.
