Nowadays, millions of people around the world wear contact lenses to correct their vision. Compared to eyeglasses, contact lenses provide tremendous ease of usage and comfort. However, wearing contact lenses may also lead to eye complications if they are not handled correctly and safely.
According to leading optometrists, not caring for eye contact lenses properly or failing to follow the prescribed safety rules of contact lens usage can cause irritation, redness and even infection in the eye.
Here, we would look at various aspects of contact lens usage and how you can make sure towear your contacts safely and correctly.
How to Know if Your Contact Lens is Inside Out?
- Before putting them in your eye, first,place the contact lens on your finger (after you have cleaned your hands thoroughly with soap and water)so that a cup is formed.
- Then hold the contact lens up directly at eye level so that you are looking at its side.
- If your contact lens forms a ‘U’ with its top edges flared out, it is flipped inside out.
- On the other hand, if the contact lens forms a standard’U’, it is shaped correctly.
- Before wearing your contact lenses, make sure that each lens looks like half a ball and not like a soup bowl with a rim.
- Some brands have their insignia or a laser marking on the edges of the contact lenses to help you check whether the lens is inside out.
Wearing Contact Lenses
- Always wash your hands with water and soap, before putting on your contact lenses.
- You must avoid using soaps that contain lanolin or any moisturising agents, as they could adhere to your contact lenses.
- Put your contact lens in the same eye every time, to avoid confusion and swap your contact lenses.
- In case, your contact lens seems to stick to the container, you should gently shake the lens case (containing the contact lens solution) to loosen the lens.
- You should slide the contact lenses out of their case and into your palm.
- Place the contact lenses on the tip of your middle or index finger (make sure there is no moisture on your fingertips.)
- Gently use the fingers and thumb of your other hand, to pull apart your upper and lower eyelids simultaneously.
- Position the contact lens on your eye as you look forwards or upward.
- After placing your contact lenses in each eye, close them gently and roll your eyes in a complete circle to settle the contact lenses.
- Open your eyes, blink, and look closely in the mirror to position the contact lens correctly on your eye.
Removing Contact Lenses
- You must wash your hands thoroughly and dry them completely before removing your contact lenses.
- If you are standing close to a sink, you can use a fresh paper towel to cover the drain so that you do not lose or damage the contact lens, if it were to fall accidentally.
- Look upward or sideways while you use your finger to gently manoeuvre the contact lens onto the white portion of the eye.
- Here, you must pinch the contact lens gently with your thumb and index finger, while you pull your lower eyelid downward, and lift the lens off the eye.
- Make sure you have short and clean fingernails so that you don’t scratch your eye accidentally.
Wearing contact lenses offers a more natural look and improved conveniencethanusing eyeglasses. Contact lenses from reputable brands such as Bausch+Lomb provide superior visual acuity, comfort, and ease of use – provided you take good care of them and make sure you follow the right procedure for contact lens insertion and removal.
The handling process is the same for different types of contact lenses, whether it is the daily wear contact lenses or monthly contact lenses. If you are not sure about which contact lenses to choose or are having trouble handling them, you should consult an eye care professional and make sure that you follow the recommendations correctly.
