Inserting and Removing your Contact Lens: Easier Than You Think!

Most contact lens wearers laughingly remember struggling in front of a mirror the first time they tried to insert or remove their lenses. As they soon learned, inserting contact lenses follows the old saying - with practice comes perfect.

For everyone from first time contact lens wearer to experienced contact users, here are a few helpful tips to show you how to properly insert and remove your contact lenses:

Inserting Your Lens

• Place the lens on the end of your clean, dry index finger
• Using you other hand, pull and hold your upper eyelid so you cannot blink
• Pull you lower lid down with the middle finger of your inserting hand
• Look up and gently place the lens on the lower white part of your eye
• Look down so you can position you lens correctly
• Slowly release your eyelids
• Close your eyes for 10 seconds
• Now blink several times. This will help the lens center itself on your eye.
• If the lens is uncomfortable, it may be because of small dust particles trapped behind it during placement. If this should happen, simply slide the lens with a finger off to the side of your eye and then back.

Removing your Lens

• Before doing anything, ensure that the lens is centered in your eye
• Look up and pull down your lower eyelid with the middle finger of your inserting hand
• Now, bring your index finger close to your eye until it covers your field of vision
• Touch the lower edge of the lens and slide it down to the lower white part of your eye
• Gently squeeze the lens between your thumb and index finger
• Now remove the lens from your eye
• Follow the lens care regimen recommended by your eyecare practitioner.

Source: AMO Advanced Medical Optics