Always use a clean, dry towel to dry your hands. Microfiber towels are your best option because they’re less likely to leave lint or fuzz on your hands, which might get on your contacts. If you don’t have a microfiber towel, you might consider letting your hands air-dry if your eyes are sensitive.
Don’t use your nails to get the contact, as this may damage it. Be very careful with your contacts because it’s easy to damage them.
If you see any debris on the contact, apply more contact solution to it and lightly rub it with your fingertip to remove the debris. Never, ever use tap water on your contacts. Only use contact solution to rinse your contacts.
If the edges are flaring out, then it is inside out. Put it back on your palm and use your fingertip to gently flip it right side out.
You only need to hold your top eyelid open if it keeps blinking or your eye is very small. This is normal when you first start wearing contacts, as you’re not used to putting things in your eye. Over time, you may not need to hold your upper eyelid open anymore.
The contact needs to be over your iris, which is the colored part of your eye. Try to put it directly over this area, if you can.
If the contact feels itchy or painful, remove it and clean it with solution. Then, try inserting it again.
Never reuse old contact solution, as it increases your risk of getting an eye infection. Always use fresh contact solution.
Try not to get any lint on your hands from the towel. [10] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Opthamologists Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research Go to source Make sure your towel is clean and dry.
Check the label to make sure your rewetting drops are approved for use with contacts. If they aren’t, don’t use those drops, as they’ll damage your contacts. If you don’t have rewetting drops, you can use saline solution to wet your eyes. However, you shouldn’t use contact lens cleaning solution, which can dry or irritate your eyes.
If your contact feels out of place before you remove it, blink a couple of times to help it recenter over your iris.
Always use the pads of your fingers when you’re touching your contacts. Using your nails may damage your lenses.
If the contact is old or damaged, throw it away.
Make sure you store your contact in the correct side of the lense case. Don’t use old contact solution. Be sure to use fresh solution each time you store your contact.
If your contact looks damaged, throw that contact away and use a new one. If you see any dust or debris on the contact, rinse it clean with contact solution.
Soft contacts are typically changed either every day, weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Extended wear contacts can be worn overnight, and they’re typically changed weekly, biweekly, or monthly, depending on the brand and your individual needs. Rigid gas permeable lenses last much longer and may be worn for up to a year. However, your doctor will give you additional cleaning instructions for maintaining these lenses, which aren’t prescribed often. Don’t try to save money by wearing your contacts for too long. Your contacts were formulated to last for a certain period of time. After that point, they start to deteriorate, making them less comfortable and more likely to collect germs, bacteria, or debris that can harm your eyes.
If you have dry eyes, you may not be able to sleep in contacts even if they’re approved for sleeping. Talk to your doctor if you think you have dry eyes.
As an alternative, replace your case with a new one, which may be the safest option.
It’s helpful to carry a bottle of contact solution with you when you’re out. You can even find a trial sized version to make it easier to fit in your bag.
Eye drops that are safe to use with your contacts are typically kept near the contact lens solution at your local drug store. Otherwise, you can buy them online.
If you wear your contacts in the bath or shower, you may develop an eye infection.
It’s not safe to wear contacts you wore while swimming, even after you clean them.
Visit your eye doctor if you think you may have an infection. If you’re worried about the cost of your backup glasses, look for a budget option. For instance, you can buy glasses online for as low as $6. 95. Just ask your doctor to give you a copy of your prescription and to write your pupillary distance (PD) on it, which is a measurement you’ll need to buy your glasses.
