How to Put In and Take Out Contact Lenses Safely
Contact lenses take a little practice, especially the first time you wear them. Inserting and removing soft contact lenses usually gets easier once you build a steady routine, and the steps stay the same from day to day.
Clean hands, gentle handling, and the right technique protect your eyes while you learn. This guide walks through how to put in contact lenses, how to take them out, and the habits that keep your eyes comfortable and healthy.
If you are new to contacts, a contact lens exam is the best place to start. Our team at 20/20 FAMILY VISION in Brookings, SD can fit your lenses and show you how to handle them correctly.
How to Put In Contact Lenses: Step-by-Step Instructions
Inserting a soft contact lens comes down to clean hands, a mirror, and a calm, consistent routine.
Step 1: Wash and Dry Your Hands
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your contact lenses. Choose a soap that doesn't leave oily residues, fragrances, or moisturizing ingredients on your fingers.
Rinse well and dry your hands with a clean, lint-free towel. Wet fingers can make soft contact lenses harder to handle, and water should never contact your lenses.
Step 2: Start with the Same Eye Every Time
Start with the same eye each time you insert your contacts. This simple habit helps prevent you from mixing up your right and left lenses, especially if each eye has a different prescription.
You can start with either eye, as long as you stay consistent.
Step 3: Check Your Contact Lens Before Inserting It
Place the lens on the tip of your clean index finger and hold it up to the light. Check for tears, debris, or other visible damage.
A soft contact lens should look like a smooth bowl, with the edges pointing upward. If the edges flare outward, the lens may be inside out.
If you use reusable lenses, make sure you have cleaned and disinfected them properly, following your eye doctor's instructions. Insert daily disposable lenses fresh from their sterile packaging and discard them after use.
Never insert a torn or damaged contact lens.
Step 4: Gently Place the Contact Lens on Your Eye
Use the middle finger of the hand holding the lens to pull down your lower eyelid. With your other hand, gently hold your upper eyelid open to prevent blinking.
Look straight ahead into a mirror and slowly bring the lens toward your eye. Gently place it on the surface of your eye without pressing.
Slowly release your eyelids and blink a few times to help the lens settle into place.
Step 5: Check That Your Lens Feels Comfortable
Your contact lens should sit comfortably and provide clear vision.
If you notice irritation, blurry vision, or a sensation that something is under the lens, remove it and inspect it for damage or debris. Clean and rinse a reusable lens with the recommended contact lens solution before trying again. Replace a daily disposable lens with a fresh one.
If discomfort continues, leave the lens out and contact your eye doctor.
How to Take Out Contact Lenses: Step-by-Step Instructions
Removing your contacts becomes easier with practice. These steps apply to most soft contact lenses. Rigid gas permeable and scleral lenses require different removal techniques.
Step 1: Wash and Dry Your Hands
Clean and thoroughly dry your hands before removing your contacts. This helps prevent bacteria, dirt, and other contaminants from reaching your eyes.
Step 2: Look Up and Pull Down Your Lower Eyelid
Stand in front of a well-lit mirror and look upward. Use your middle finger to gently pull down your lower eyelid, keeping your eye open.
Step 3: Slide the Contact Lens Down
With the pad of your index finger, gently slide the contact lens downward onto the white part of your eye.
Avoid pressing firmly on your eye or dragging the lens across its surface.
Step 4: Gently Pinch and Remove the Lens
Use the soft pads of your thumb and index finger to gently pinch the lens and lift it away from your eye.
Keep your fingernails away from the lens and your eye to avoid scratches or irritation.
If the lens feels dry or difficult to move, don't force it. Contact lens compatible lubricating drops may help loosen it before another gentle attempt.
Step 5: Clean, Store, or Discard Your Contact Lens
If you wear daily disposable lenses, throw them away immediately after removal. These lenses aren't designed for cleaning, storage, or reuse.
For reusable lenses, follow the cleaning and disinfection instructions provided by your eye doctor and contact lens manufacturer. Store them in a clean contact lens case filled with fresh disinfecting solution.
Never use tap water, saliva, or homemade solutions to clean or store your contacts. Repeat the process with your other eye.
Contact Lens Safety Tips for Everyday Wear
Good contact lens habits matter as much as proper insertion and removal. A few simple precautions can help reduce the risk of irritation and infection.
- Follow your prescribed wearing and replacement schedule.
- Remove your contacts before swimming or showering.
- Avoid sleeping in your lenses unless your eye doctor has specifically prescribed overnight wear.
- Never share contact lenses with another person.
- Replace your contact lens case regularly, and use fresh solution every time you store reusable lenses.
- Keep an up-to-date pair of glasses available when you need a break from contacts.
When to Call Your Eye Doctor
Most new contact lens wearers go through a short adjustment period. A little awareness of your eyes helps you catch a problem early.
Remove your contacts and contact our office if you notice eye pain, significant redness, light sensitivity, or sudden changes in vision. These signs deserve prompt attention rather than another day in your lenses.
Reach out sooner if a lens feels consistently uncomfortable, if your vision stays blurry after you remove a lens, or if your eyes feel dry throughout your wearing time. Our team can check your fit and your eye health, then adjust your lenses, your wearing schedule, or your care routine as needed.
You can read more practical eye health guides in our eye care article library.
Get Comfortable with Contact Lenses at 20/20 FAMILY VISION
The right contact lenses should provide clear vision and feel comfortable through your recommended wearing time. Proper fitting and safe handling can help make contact lens wear a positive part of your daily routine.
Our team helps patients find suitable contact lenses and learn how to insert, remove, and care for them correctly. We offer contact lens exams and fittings, and we are glad to answer your questions about caring for your lenses.
Contact 20/20 FAMILY VISION at 605-692-2020 to schedule a contact lens exam, or visit our contact page for directions and office details.
