Guide to looking after your contact lenses

 

 Welcome to the world of contact lenses! Contact lenses can bring you a new level of freedom which your glasses can’t provide. Whether you wear them all the time or only once or twice a week, it is important you understand how to handle and care for your contact lenses to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy.

 

 

 

1. Putting your contact lenses in

 

• Wash your hands with soap, rinse well and use a clean lint-free towel to thoroughly dry your hands before touching your lenses.
• Place the contact lens on to the palm of your hand to check that it is clean and not torn.
• Place the lens on the tip of your forefinger and check it is not inside out (if it is the correct way round it will look like half a football, if it is inside out it will look like a bowl with a rim).
• Insert the lens. Use the forefinger on your free hand to hold up your top lid to stop you from blinking. Use the third finger on the hand holding the lens to pull down your bottom lid. Look up and place the lens on the white of your eye. Then look down so the lens slides into place. Remove your fingers and close your eye momentarily. Your lens should be sitting in the right position.
• Repeat the procedure for the other eye.

 

 

 

Helpful tips:

 

• Make sure the finger with the lens on is as dry as possible before placing the lens on.
• Grip the top lid by the base of the lashes to stop the lid from slipping and the lens catching on your lashes.
• Get in the habit of doing the right eye lens first. It’ll reduce the chances of mixing up your lenses.

 

 

 

 

 

It takes a lot of practice to perfect your technique so don’t despair if you are finding it difficult for the first few weeks. Our eyes are designed to stop things getting into them, so it’ll take a while to ignore the natural urge to blink. If you continue to have problems handling your lenses, book an appointment with your optician who will run through the technique again and give you helpful pointers and encouragement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Removing your contact lenses

 

•  Pull down your lower lid and look up.
• Place your finger on the bottom edge of the lens and slide in down onto the white of your eye
• Gently squeeze the contact lens between your finger and your thumb to remove the contact lens from your eye.
• Repeat for the other eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Cleaning and storing your contact lenses

 

 

 

 Always clean your hands before touching your lenses. Place the contact lens in the palm of your hand and apply a few drops of recommended contact lens solution to the lens. Use your opposite hand’s forefinger to rub the lens gently on both sides.

 

• Rinse the lens thoroughly with plenty of contact lens solution.
• Fill your lens case with plenty of contact lens solution and place your cleaned lenses in the appropriate compartment. Secure the cap of the lens case. * Let the lens soak in the solution for at least four hours to disinfect the lens.
• Clean your lenses before putting them in your eyes and before storing them for the night. When you remove the lenses from the case, pour the leftover solution away. Rinse the lens case with fresh solution and let the inside of the case dry out in the open air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO NOT USE WATER to clean your lenses or lens case. Water does not have the necessary contents to disinfect your contact lenses correctly. In fact, cleaning your lenses with water may lead to contamination of your lenses and has been known to cause very serious eye infections, which can lead to severe vision loss. Therefore we also do not recommend you go swimming in your lenses!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are wearing daily disposable lenses you do not have to worry about storing your contact lenses as above. However, if you drop your lens or something gets caught in your eye you may need to clean it. In which case, follow the first two points above.
It is recommended to handle your lenses over a flat clean surface so they are easy to find and clean should you drop one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 4. When to get in touch with your Optician
  Contact your optician if:
• You are close to the expiry date of your prescription/due for a contact lens check.
• Experiencing a deterioration in your vision with contact lenses.
• Considering changing to a contact lens solution which was not recommended by an optician.
• If you experience any of the following symptoms, first remove your lens and contact your optician as soon as possible (even if removing the lens lessens the discomfort or symptoms):
• Discomfort/pain
• Redness
• Excessive watering
• Sudden visual disturbance
• Sensitivity to light
  If your optician is not available, consult your GP or go to A&E at your local hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As long as you follow the above guide in caring for your lenses, and do not wear the lenses longer than their intended purpose or sleep in them, you should not develop any serious eye problems.
Should you have any queries do not hesitate to call us on 01245 461843 or email us at info@chelmervillageopticians.co.uk. Enjoy your lenses!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always remember we are here to help!