How to Take Out Hard Contacts

Although most contact wearers now opt for soft lenses, some people still prefer to use hard contacts since they provide clear vision and can last many years. Hard contacts are usually easy to insert, but they can prove difficult to remove since they are small and hard to grab. With careful practice and patience, hard contact wearers can quickly get the hang of taking out their lenses.

Things You'll Need

• Mild soap
• Water
• Saline solution
• Contact lens case
• Towels

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands with mild soap. You want your hands and fingers to be clean before you touch your eyes. Preferably, use a soap that is fragrance-free to prevent eye irritation.

• 2

  Prepare your lens case. Discard any saline solution in your case and wash it out with some water. Fill the case with solution in preparation to remove your contact lenses.

• 3

  Stand over a flat surface. Position your body over a flat surface (like a bathroom counter or dresser) to make sure your contacts won't fall onto the floor accidentally.

• 4

  Cover your sink. If you decide to remove your contacts over a sink, place a towel over the drain to prevent your contacts from getting lost.

• 5

  Remove your right contact lens. First, cup your left hand underneath your right eye to catch the contact when it falls out. Second, place your right index finger onto the right side of your eye. Third, gently pull the skin with your finger and blink a couple times. The contact should fall out and drop into your hand. Place the contact into the lens case.

• 6

  Remove your left contact lens. First, cup your right hand underneath your left eye. Second, place your left index finger onto the left side of the eye. Third, pull the skin with your finger and blink a few times. Catch the contact when it falls out of the eye and place it into your lens case.

• 7

  Wet your eyes with a few drops of saline solution, if you still can't remove your contacts. Sometimes, your contacts may stick to your eyes if they are dry or if you have worn them for awhile. Place a couple drops of solution into your eyes, close your eyes, and then rub your eyes gently. Then, repeat the above steps to remove the contacts.

• 8

  Use a miniature suction cup to take out your lenses, if you still cannot remove them. Usually, your eye doctor will provide you with this instrument when you first obtain your hard contacts. If not, you can purchase a miniature suction cup at your local drugstore. To use the suction cup, simply point the cup at your contact lens and use the cup to grab onto your contact.