How to Use Soft Contact Lenses - A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
What are Soft Contact Lenses?
Soft contact lenses are made of soft plastics like silicone hydrogels and offer a comfortable wearing experience. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US notes that soft contact lenses tend to be more comfortable to wear and easier to get used to than rigid gas permeable contact lenses, which as the name suggests have a more rigid structure.
If you are a beginner and new to the world of contact lenses, then soft contact lenses can be a great place to start. Knowing how to use them properly can make your experience so much more enjoyable, not to mention much safer.
Using Soft Contact Lenses Correctly
As a first time user of contact lenses, you might be overwhelmed by the amount of information that exists regarding proper contact lens care and usage. For beginners, we suggest the best course of action is to follow the directions of your eye care professional or optometrist. Knowing the right way to use contacts can help you wear your lenses confidently from the first day!
Here are some tips to keep in mind before you start inserting or removing your contacts:
Tip 1 : Always Clean Your Hands Before Handling the Contact Lenses
The first and most important piece of advice that you will receive from any expert on the correct use of contact lenses is how crucial it is to avoid contamination of your lenses. Contamination can occur through the spread of microorganisms, from protein deposits from your own eyes and also through the deposition of dirt and debris, all of which can lead to eye infections and other complications.
By cleaning your hands with water and soap before you handle your lenses, you can avoid these complications. Ensure that you dry your hands thoroughly before touching the lenses as microorganisms can also spread from water. This also means you should never wash your lenses with regular tap water - opt for multi-purpose contact lens solutions instead.
Tip 2: Store Your Contacts Properly
Contact lenses usually come immersed in a saline solution contained in sealed plastic containers. This ensures that the lenses remain sterile. We recommend storing your lenses in a dark and dry place away from direct sunlight to avoid the damaging effects of high heat.
If you’re wondering whether you can use contact lenses straight from the package, you’ll be happy to know that it is perfectly safe to do so. However, individuals with sensitive eyes should consider rinsing the lenses in contact lens solution to avoid any potential irritation.
Tip 3: Clean and Store Your Lenses in Contact Lens Solution
If you have extended wear contacts, you will need to clean and store them in a lens solution after each use. A lens solution is usually a multi-purpose product that can be used to both disinfect and store your lenses. Gently scrub and rinse your lenses on the palm of your hand after each use. Top up your contact lens case with fresh solution and place your lenses in the designated spots to avoid mix-ups between your right and left lenses.
If you want to know more about using contact lenses for the first time, here are some more helpful tips that will help you get used to your soft contact lenses!
How to Put in Soft Contact Lenses - Tips for Beginners
Inserting and removing your soft contact lenses is a careful step-by-step process as detailed below:
Step 1 : Pick up your lenses
Use your fingers to pick up a lens from the original packaging or your lens case. Always remember to pick up each lens one at a time to avoid mixing up the left and right lenses.
Step 2 : Insert the Lens Gently into the Eye
Place your lens on the tip of the index finger of one hand while using the other hand to hold open your eyelids. Ensure that the edge of the lens is facing upwards and proceed to place the lens over your cornea. Blink to allow the lens to slide into the correct position. Repeat the process for the other eye.
Step 3: Remove the lens from the Eye
Use one hand to pull down the lower eyelid while using the other to slide the lens down onto the white of your eye. Once the lens has slid down, pinch the lens with two fingers and take it off the eye. Repeat the process for the other eye.
Step 4: Clean and Store Your Lenses
Once you get your contacts out of your eyes, use lens solution to gently scrub the lenses and rinse off any dirt and debris. Place them in a lens case topped with fresh lens solution. Leave your lenses to soak in the solution for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours before wearing them again.
Want to learn more about proper contact lens care?
Read our article on the do’s and don’ts of wearing contact lenses to gain more knowledge about proper contact lens usage. If you are looking for your new pair of soft contact lenses, shop soft contact lenses online in the UAE, KSA, GCC, US, UK and Canada on adasat.com