If the thought of putting in and taking out contact lenses seems scary to you, don’t worry — you are not alone. We all fear trying something new, especially when it comes to something as delicate and vital as our eyes.
But it doesn't have to be that way. With the right approach and a little practice, inserting and removing your contact lenses can become an absolute breeze. Discover our five easy tips and tricks on how to wear contact lenses, and you’ll get over your phobia in no time!
1. Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to get used to the act of putting on your contact lenses? Practise without them!
Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before you begin. First, gently touch your eyelashes, then your upper and lower eyelids, and then the white part of your eye. Doing so will help you get used to the sensation and the idea of touching your eyeball.
2. Look In The Mirror As You Insert The Lens
Instead of poking at your eye blindly, it’s always a good idea to face a mirror standing up to wear your lenses. It’ll help you avoid missing the centre of the lens and give you more confidence to reach for the lens directly.
Pro tip: lay a dark towel down on the counter beneath the mirror before you. If you accidentally drop your lens, it will be easy to find it on the towel!
3. Clean Your Lenses & Hands Thoroughly
For many people, the fear or anxiety of inserting contact lenses comes from getting unwanted germs into one’s eye. That’s a perfectly valid concern, as hygiene should be your number one priority when it comes to contact lenses!
Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses and dry them with a clean towel. This helps prevent any dust, oils, and bacteria on your fingers from contaminating the contacts. Keeping your reusable contacts clean is crucial, especially if you wear monthly contact lenses, as you’ll need to clean them every day with a lens care solution.
And while daily contact lenses should be disposed of after a single use, it’s still essential to have proper hygiene habits when handling them.
For a more in-depth guide to keeping your lenses clean, check out our blog on everything you need to know about caring for your contact lenses!
4. Look Up As You Insert It
If looking right at the lens as you move it towards your eye freaks you out, you can always look up or away when inserting it. Choose a spot on the ceiling and focus on it as you gently place the lens on the white of your eye.
If the lens doesn't land on your iris immediately, that's okay! Blinking and looking around in different directions will help you reposition the lens naturally. And no, your lens cannot get “lost” behind your eye by doing this. Contrary to popular belief, that is totally impossible, so don’t worry.
5. Use Eye Drops
Contact lens irritation can be uncomfortable at times. Eye drops can help relieve irritation and help you avoid any accidental scratches on your eye as you insert or remove the lenses.
It’s not uncommon for first-time contact lens wearers to feel nervous or uncomfortable when putting in and taking out their contacts. Just think of it as a new skill to learn — with practice and good techniques, you’ll soon be able to handle your contact lenses confidently!
If you have any doubts on how to wear contact lenses correctly, do not hesitate to reach out to us at Clearlab! Browse our range of high-quality daily and monthly contact lenses in our online shop or register for a free eye exam at our CentrePoint outlet in Singapore to get started on your contact lens journey.