From birth we are taught that the eyes are sensitive and not to be touched, and to avoid anything likely to hit the eye. We instinctively protect our eyes by closing the lids or putting your hands up to ward off flying objects. Suddenly you are asked to deliberately to put something in the eye. Most people find that by reflex they close both eyes and keep them closed. It takes a little time to get used to keeping both eyes open. They water, both from lack of blinking and in reaction to the lenses. But eventually, the tear reflex stops and putting in contact lenses becomes a habit.
You will be shown how to put in and take out your lenses by your specialist. However, the following steps are a useful guide and reminder when you are getting into practice at home. As you become more used to the procedure you will be able to cut out a lot of the steps and put the lenses in very quickly:
Step 2: Remove one lens from the container. Make sure it is clean, ready for putting in the eye. It is sometimes advisable to rinse the lens if the storage solution has a strong chemical in it; the directions on the bottle will tell you what to do. Do not wet the lens in your mouth, your saliva may contain germs.
Step 3: Place the clean lens on the index finger of the hand you write with. The lens should now look like a little bowl with the inside uppermost. If the lens is very soft and floppy, let it dry for a minute or two while on your finger and it will form a more rigid shape.
Step 4: With the other hand, hold the upper lid open. While looking with both eyes into the mirror with your head lowered, place the lens on the colored part (iris) of the eye.
Step 5: Repeat with the second lens.
A soft lens will gradually center itself. A hard lens will not, and if not positioned right at first it may go under the lid-but it cannot go behind the eye as some people believe. Whereever the hard lens goes, it can be massaged and directed on to the iris. You should close your eye and gently apply pressure to your eyelid.
Hard Lenses: Pressure and tightening the lids will flick out the lenses, so make sure your hand is cupped to receive them. A rubber sucker may be used.
Soft Lenses: Pinch below the center of the lens, with a backward squeeze, between the lids.
Rubber Lenses: Push the lens to the white of the eye with the index finger and pinch off slowly below the center with finger and thumb.
Step 1: Sit at a clean table top with a mirror at eye level. Place the lens container in front of you, together with a clean, non-fluffy tissue, which you can use to dry any excess tears. Make sure your hands are clean.
Removing Your Lenses: The technique for doing this is according to the type of lens you wear. Again, remember to wash your hands first.
Whenever lenses are removed they should be cleaned immediately. Keep them in their container in their proper storage solution. Rinse as recommended before reinserting them into your eyes. Do not reuse your storage solution.
Copyright 2006-2009 Vision Health
Also See:
Inserting And Removing Your Contact Lenses: