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Tips on How to Put in Contacts

It can take some time and practice to learn the art of putting in contacts. Above all, exercise patience when learning how to insert your contact lenses. It is imperative that you be gentle in order to prevent damaging your contacts or your eyes.

  1. Cleaning and Prep

    • It is vital that you insert your contact lenses over a clean surface. You may inadvertently contaminate the lens if you drop it. Ensure that your hands are completely clean and dry prior to handling your contact lenses. Set up everything that you need to insert your lenses before you begin. This will prevent you from having to stop in the middle because you are ill-prepared.

    Work With One Lens at a Time

    • Build a habit of beginning with the same eye each time you put in your contact lenses. Begin with the eye that coordinates with your dominant hand. Open one side of your contact lens case only. By only opening the one side, you will never mix your lenses up. Work with one contact lens at a time and do not open the other side of the case until the first lens is inserted properly.

    Lens Placement

    • Remove the lens gently from the case and check to ensure that it is right side out. For most soft contact lenses, the lens should resemble a smooth bowl if it is right side out. An inverted lens will have sharper, flared edges. Open your eye as wide as you can and balance the lens on your finger. No edge of the lens should be touching your finger, otherwise it may not release easily. Gently insert the lens, placing it lightly against your eye without shoving, pressing or pushing it on.

    Upward Glance, Downward Glance

    • When you place the contact on your eye, you should have an upward glance. The white of your eye should be exposed when properly holding this position. Once you place the lens on your eye, pull your finger away with your eye held open. Release your eyelids and lower your glance to the floor. Close your eye slowly. When you reopen your eye, the lens should be properly positioned and you should be able to see clearly.

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