How to Wear Contact Lenses Effortlessly and Without Pain
Here are some helpful tips on how wear contact lenses like a certified pro, without pain or agony.
Wearing contact lenses is an excellent way to correct poor eyesight and still maintain an active flexible lifestyle, as opposed to wearing eye glasses. However, new contact lens wearers always experience one fundamental problem – they cannot place the soft lens on their eyes. It’s a mixed emotion of fear of touching the eyeballs, and worry that placing the lens might inflict pain.
If you are one of those people having a hard time placing contact lenses, or if you’re planning to wear contacts but you’re hesitating to do so for fear of being hurt, I understand what you’re going through. I had the same fears before I made a switch from glasses to contacts. The first time I bought contacts, the ophthalmologist actually gave up trying to place the lens on my eyes. We stayed inside the “fitting room” for more than an hour, but to no avail, my eyes just closes each time the ophthalmologist tried to fit the lens upon my eyeballs. I just can’t do it.
I asked the ophtalmologist in a humorous tone: “Do I now hold the world record for the longest time elapsed for fitting a contact lens?” She instantly answered with a frown: “YES”. That night, I went home thinking I’m a big hopeless case.
But two days later, I decided to tackle the whole thing all over again. So I gathered courage and started to take it on my own. No ophtalmologist. No one watching. For my eyes only. After some trial and error, I discovered that the whole thing WAS EASIER THAN I THOUGHT. Now, I can insert and remove a contact lens like a certified pro. I realized that it’s only the FEAR that keeps me from doing what I need to do. It’s the FEAR that paralyzes me. The moment I dismantled FEAR from my system, I was able to enjoy the benefits of a new experience.
Before I give you the steps of how to effortlessly wear a contact lens, let me give you a few guidelines first. These tips will help you cut the learning curve and avoid learning the hard way like I did:
- Believe it or not, touching the eyeballs for a split second or two doesn’t hurt – Tell that to yourself if you’re a first time contact lens wearer. And yes, that’s the truth, it wont hurt. It actually feels a litle ticklish.
- It’s impossible for the contact lens to get lost inside your eyes – Many people have the fear that the contact lens might get stuck somewhere inside the concave of the eyeballs and may never be recovered again, leaving the person blind. This is rubbish. It’s only a false voice inside your head. The doctors already figured this out. The contact lens is designed to automatically stick and adjust itself to the “swimming pool” of the eyes – the retina.
- As long as you wash your hands and wash your lens, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. The only enemy you have here is fear, and dirt.
Ok, now you’re ready to wear your first contact lens.. Are you ready? Here are the instructions:
- Prepare your work area. Put yourself in front of a decent mirror. Clear all distractions. If you’re in front of a bathroom sink, make sure you close the hole or drain to avoid any “accidents”.
- Wash your hands thoroughly. I’m sure you know how to do that.
- Now..get your contact lens for the right eye. Place it on top of your left pointing finger. (Make sure your finger is moist but not wet, this will save you more time)
- Put a drop of saline solution (provided by your contact lens practitioner) on the contact lens.
- Lift your right upper eyelid with your right pointing finger (you must do this so that your blinking will be limited during the entire activity. You must be able to see the upper white of your eye), then lower your right lower eyelid with your right thumb.
- Now, using the left pointing finger, let the contact lens touch any part of the right eye near the center. While your lens is drawing nearer to the eyes, keep looking on the mirror. When the lens is very near to your eyes, suddenly stop looking on the mirror and try to look on the lens. Then, let the lens make contact with your eyes for a split second (remember it doesnt hurt, just ticklish).
- Withdraw your finger from the eyes..the lens has now been attached. Blink a few times. Everything is clearer now.
- Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 for your left eye (of course, now, you will need to use your right hand. If you did it once, you can do it again.)
Note: It is normal to be teary eyed after you have placed the contact lenses, especially if it’s your first time. But once your eyes get used to it, you will feel like you’re not wearing any lenses at all.
Removing the contact lens is much easier. Just use your thumb and index finger, then gently squeeze the lens from your eyes. That should remove it. Remember it doesnt hurt. It doesnt hurt. It doesnt hurt. I said that three times so you will remember it.
Warning: Before trying out contact lenses, make sure you get help from a certified eye practitioner.
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Lucy Lockett | Jul 8, 2008 | Reply
I wear glasses for reading but I admire people who have learned how to wear contacts and put them in! Vanity can challenge almost anyone to try new things. Good on you.
Duane | Aug 14, 2008 | Reply
I got my first pair of contacts when i was in the 5th grade, they were extended wear. I could use them with no problems the full 2 weeks, my optometrist took a little study in this and had me go in every day to monitor the wear comfort and health. I went for 2 months with no problems and he threw in the towel. from that i went on my own and averaged 6 to 8 months before swapping them out for a fresh pair. The optometrists never see a problem and I never tell of the wear time.. I am a heavy smoker, work with power tools and paints ect.. I am now 41 years old and probably have a world record for wear time, I put the pair I am wearing in now the beginning of May 2007 and still going 8-14-2008.
IJ | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
is it normal if ur eyes become a little reddish.. just a LITTLE, after removing the conacts?
Verniel Cutar | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
You should make sure that your hands are VERY clean when removing contacts. It is normal for your eyes to be a little red after lens removal. But if it becomes too red, you are irritated. Use a few drops of saline solution and rest your eyes for a while. If irritation persists, consult your physician.
graverunner | Jan 8, 2009 | Reply
Oh god, my fear of contact lenses is just very huge. I think though, it’s mostly the FEAR that keeps me from wearing ‘em. My flinch reflex is very strong and my mom was looking on the entire time and telling me, “Honey, please stop jerking”. XD
The weird thing is, I used to wear contacts when I was younger. But my mom put them in and out for me. The I stopped for a few years and now that I’m 17, I suddenly seemed to have developed a phobia. >__<
Today I tried putting on the new contacts I bought for the first time. I actually succeeded (only for the left eye though), then it came to the “taking out” part. Unfortunately, I freaked out really badly. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get it out. So my mom did it for me in the end. *sigh*
I do hope I’ll be able to successful put the contacts in and take ‘em out for BOTH EYES in the end.
TO IJ: Yeah, it’s normal. You should have seen how red my eyes got at the failed attempt at getting it out.
mad | Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
am 18yrs old nd I actually use glasses only during my classes..i don use em otherwise nd ths resulted in increse of my eye power………i feel very uncomfortable in usin lens…i feel it is very problematic cos i hav to be even more careful so tat i don get my eyes inffected……minute dust may result in irritation so should i continue with power glasses or try usin lens……..
Rohit Sharma | Apr 20, 2009 | Reply
I am 28 years old and I got my first contact lenses 3 days back. I am using the bausch and lomb Purevision Toric lenses.
Surprisingly It was so easy to wear them and taking it out.
The doctor who helped me was successfully able to place the lenses in my eyes in the first attempt. Then I was also able to wear them and take it off in the first go and the entire process took more than 2 minutes. I guess I was prepared for it and the doctor told me the correct tip to use them. Now it is my third day of wearing the contact lenses and I think they are lot more better than glasses. The vision lot clearer and as they are Toric lenses to I have a really good corrective vision. These lenses are of monthly use.
Cat | Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
I recently had to get glasses, went in for contacts and no matter what we tried I couldn’t see with them. The doctor said I had a light astigmatism and the contacts (we tried all the brands they had) only seemed to make my vision blury to the point where I couldn’t even read the eye chart (yep the big E on top was a black blob). Though they claimed over and over the contacts were my correct perscription I think they were very wrong. I had the doctor put them in and again same issue, blury vison. I can see perfeclty well with the glasses (their only for distance), but not with contacts. I really wanted contacts because I don’t like wearing glasses. So I guess I will just return my glasses and compete with blury vision.
somsri | Jun 24, 2009 | Reply
i am just like you.I am a big couward.But i have to made it at any how.I have to get rid of my fear.
Risky Pathak | Aug 4, 2009 | Reply
I bought my first contact lens last sunday. The optometrists installed it to my eyes in 15 20 minutes with heavy resistance from my blinking eyes. After that it took 1 hour to me to wear contact lenses. and 15 20 mintues to remove them.
Today i read vernial’s post and i will try his procedure.
Thanks Vernial..
joana leonor | Aug 16, 2009 | Reply
im scared to wear contact lenses..
are you sure it’s easy.?
xhara | Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
i’m xhara. i’m Yr. 11 here in NZ=] I’m gonna have my contact lens 2 months from now.. I’m a lil` bit scared cause i’m putting it just to have a good looking eyes.. I’m a lil` bit scared but I’m ready to face it.. Thanks! roiizx=]
Amey | Oct 14, 2009 | Reply
I got my Bausch & Lomb soft contact lenses 3~4 weeks back i.e. in mid September 2009. I feel so compfortable while wearing lenses. 1 strange problem I have is when I wear glasses, my left eye feels like stiching & it blinks like something has broken inside. So It is must for me to use lenses always.
Some times I take hardly 2 mins to put both lenses, some times if eye flickers a lot it takes 45 mins. It’s boring when it takes too much time to fix in eyes. But once fixed, it feels cool all the day.
Glasses are my enemies. I really feel pain in left eye after wearing glasses/spectacles.
I agree with others it’s easy to wear lens in left eye, but to fix it in right is a bit difficult. And specially fi your vision isnt that clear then you have to go close to mirror if you are a newbie. My power is -3.5 & 4.0 so I need to stick a bit close to mirror.
I am from INDIA by the way and 25 yrs old male. I spend 8~10 hours every day in front of computer wearing lenses. But so far no problem. May be because my eyes are extra wet …
hilly | Oct 20, 2009 | Reply
Two years ago,i tried putting them in but i kept flinching.
It also sucks because everyone’s getting contacts now and i feel kinda stupid for not being able to do it. Also, the eye doctor yelled at me for not being able to put it in, though when he forced them in for me, it was really cool wearing them for once. I went there twice, both times giving up.
Oh and this was the type where you can only bring the contacts home if you could prove to him you are able to put them in.
Even all my friends who recently got contacts took only 15 or 30 mins. I never tried again after all that, especially since most my friends said i probably won’t be able to do it because I flinch when im nervous.
Im not really sure if i just lack the skill of doing it, or being pressured.
Noemi | Nov 12, 2009 | Reply
Are there contact lenses that you can inside out? I mean you can put the contact lens to your eyes either the inner and outer lens…