Here’s 5 Tips on How to Wear Contact Lens for the First Time
Contact lenses, for most people, mean more visual freedom. It allows you to live an active and dynamic lifestyle, such as during sports or vacations. Using contact lenses can also give you a more natural appearance without the use of eyeglasses.
However, if you have never worn contact lenses in your life, it is completely normal to be hesitant. Questions like: how to wear contact lens for the first time? How to put in colored contacts for the first time? How to remove contact lens for the first time? are common.
While contact lenses are safe, comfortable, and enjoyable, there are some questions that should be answered before using them. Generally, if you are careful and follow proper wearing and cleaning methods, there is nothing to worry about.
But, if you are wondering how to wear contact lens for the first time, here is a list of tips for first time contact wearers! [1]
- Choose the Right Contact Lenses
Depending on your medical needs, your eye care specialist will assist you in finding the best contact lenses. They will also instruct you about proper lens care to make sure you steer clear of any eye infections.
However, conducting your own research and staying up to date on the top products can be of help too. The type of contacts you wear is also influenced by your lens habits i.e., how often you wear them and for how long.
Consult your optometrist about your specific needs and anticipated contact usage to understand how to wear contact lens for the first time. Once you have your contact lenses at home, it is time to consider hygiene and proper contact lens maintenance.
- Use Appropriate Cleaning Solution
When learning how to wear contact lens for the first time, you must carefully learn the lens care routine. [2] It is best not to choose shortcuts when it comes to cleaning your lenses. Your optometrist will offer precise instructions for the lens care regimen they have chosen for you.
If you are using a multipurpose solution, for example, you should rub and rinse your lenses every time you take them out before replacing them in a fresh solution. When you put your lenses on in the morning, thoroughly empty the case, rinse it with fresh solution, and set it upside down on a paper towel to air dry.
- Avoid Touching Your Contact Lenses with Fingernails
Fingernails house dirt and germs. These can infect your eyes if you are not careful. That is why keeping your fingernails away from your contacts is one of the crucial tips for first time contact wearers. Keep an eye out for sharp fingernails as well.
- Know How to Insert and Remove Contact Lens for the First Time
Oftentimes, people do not buy contact lenses because they think it can be painful or troublesome to put them on or remove them. However, if you follow the guidelines on how to insert / remove contact lens for the first time, you can learn it in no time at all.
Tips for first time contact wearers: [3]
- Before handling your lenses, wash your hands thoroughly (use mild soap for this, avoid soaps containing lotion, cream, perfume, etc.), rinse thoroughly, and dry them.
- Use your fingertips to handle your lenses and avoid touching them with your fingernails
- Follow either the one-hand or two-hand placement technique to insert the contact lenses.
- If you use the one-hand technique, you need to place the lens on the index finger of your right hand. Pull your lower eyelid down with the middle finger of your placement hand while staring straight ahead. Keep your gaze fixed on a point above you. Then, on the lower white area of your eye, insert the lens. To correctly set the lens, look down and once you close your eyes for a second, and the lens will automatically centre on your eye.
- A similar procedure is followed in the two-hand technique except you pull the upper lid of your eye toward the brow with the middle finger of the other hand while holding the lens on your index finger. The middle finger of the placement hand should be pulling down the lower lid to place the lens in the centre of your eye.
- When you are removing the contact lenses, remember to keep your hands washed, rinsed and dried thoroughly. Check if the lens is appropriately placed on your before attempting to remove it. You can start by looking up and slowly pulling down your lower lid with the middle finger of your other hand while placing your index finger on the lens' lower edge. Remove the lens by lightly squeezing it between your thumb and index finger. Avoid rubbing the lens's edges together.
- Replace Contact Lenses When Necessary
If it is your first time wearing contacts, blurry vision may be a result of not putting them on right. It could also be because you did not clean them properly, or it is time to replace them. It is critical to stick to the wearing and replacement schedules in addition to cleaning the lenses and case on a regular basis. If you have short-term lenses, such as monthlies or daily, do not try to wear them for an extended period of time which means you should not sleep in them. [4] Follow your eye care specialist’s recommendations for lens replacement and make sure you replace your lenses on time. [5]
If you have recently started wearing contact lenses, keep these tips for first time contact wearers in mind. Learn how to wear contact lens for the first time and keep your eyes healthy with Bausch and Lomb.
We provide a variety of contact lenses that are tailored for conditions like astigmatism, presbyopia, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Schedule an eye appointment with your optometrist and begin a healthier life with Bausch and Lomb.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be considered as medical advice, and it is not meant to take the place of a doctor’s advice. Always see your eye doctor if you have any specific questions.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/protect-your-eyes.html
[2] https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/contact-lenses
[3] http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/Ophthalmology/ContactLens/InsertionandRemovalofSoftContactLenses.pdf
[4] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care
[5] https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/contact-lens-care
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