Tricks for Getting Contact Lenses Out

Even though your eye doctor has showed you how to insert and remove your contact lenses, now that it's nighttime and you're getting ready to retire for the night, you're not sure you remember everything he told you--and you're nervous because you don't want to hurt your eye or tear one of your lenses. You don't have to use a method that doesn't work for you. Find a method you're comfortable with.

Keep Your Eye Open

• Always start with the right eye so you don't mix up your lenses. You will instinctively want to close your eye when your fingers get close to your contact lens. If you can't keep your eye open, use your non-dominant hand to hold your upper and lower lids apart. Because you're taking your contact lenses out, you do need to keep your eyes fully opened. Once you've got your eyelids separated, use your dominant hand to gently slide your lens onto the white of your eye with one finger. Once it has slid down, you will be able to pick the lens up off of your eye. Be gentle in removing your contact lens and don't use your fingernails. Use the balls of your finger and thumb.

  Once you've removed the lens from your right eye, slip it into the prepared lens cleaning solution and put the lid on that side of the case.

  Repeat this procedure for your left contact lens.

Pinch

• Make sure your hands are completely clean before removing your lenses with the pinch method. Start with the right lens. Look up toward the ceiling and slide the lens down to the white of your eye, then pinch it gently between your forefinger and thumb. Remove it, keeping it folded until you place it, inner side up, into the fresh contact lens solution.

  Repeat the pinch procedure for your left contact lens. (See Ref. 2)

Hang Your Head

• Once you have begun to get used to removing your lenses, you can try other methods for removing them. Remember to start with your right eye every time and make sure your hands are completely clean so you avoid eye infections.

  Hang your head over the sink and look upward toward the mirror. You expose the white of your eye by doing this. Using your forefinger, gently slide your lens to the white of your eye, but don't let go of the lens. Using your thumb and forefinger, gently pick your contact lens up off your eye and place it in the prepared solution.

  Repeat this procedure for your left contact lens.