Dr. Winnie Chen and Associates

Contact Lens Insertion and Removal

Preparation

  1. Every time you’re about touch your lenses, wash your hands with soap and water, then rinse and dry your  hands with a lint-free towel. 
  2. Make sure the lens is not inside out. If the edges flare out, it’s inside out. It should look like a bowl with straight edges.
  3. Symptoms of an inside out lens on your eyes include: discomfort, blurred vision, and excessive lens movement when blinking.

Inserting the Contact Lens

  1. Place lens on the tip of your index finger of the inserting hand.
  2. Use the middle finger of your other hand to pull your upper lid toward your brow, so you don’t blink or get your eyelashes in the way.
  3. Pull down your lower lid with the middle finger of the hand holding the contact lens.
  4. Look at the mirror, and slowing move the contact lens towards the center of your eye.
  5. Once the lens is close to the eye, look upward as your place the lens on the white part of your eye.
  6. Look down. And slowly release your lower eyelid, and then your upper eyelid.
  7. Close your eyes and blink a few times to allow the lens to settle.
  8. Repeat for your other eye.

Removing the Contact Lens  

  1. Ensure your hands are clean and dry.
  2. Start with your right eye. Use your middle finger to pull your upper lid toward your brow.
  3. Pull down the lower lid with the middle finger of your dominant hand.
  4. Slowly bring your index finger to your eye until you tough the lower edge of your lens.
  5. Look up and slide the lens down to the lower white part of your eye.
  6. Gently squeeze the lens between the tip of your thumb and index finger to remove it.
  7. Repeat for your left lens. 

Storage and Maintenance 

* If you wear daily disposable contact lenses, discard after each use.*

If you wear bi-weekly or monthly disposable contact lenses:

  1. Place the lens in the palm of your hand and rub the lens for 10 seconds with multipurpose contact lens solution.
  2. Rinse the lens with more multipurpose solution.
  3. Place your contact lens into your lens storage case.
  4. Fill the case with the multipurpose contact lens solution.
       *Never mix old and new solution together*
  5. Screw the top onto your lens case.
  6. Repeat steps 1-5 for other lens.

Replacement and Hygiene

  • Discard the solution in the storage case after each use (Never reuse old solution or ‘top off’ remaining solution in your case.
  • Replace the storage case at least every 3 months, or right away if it gets cracked or damaged.
  • Don’t use anything else on your lenses except proper lens solution. Tap water, saliva, and eye drops are not the same as multipurpose lens solution and can increase the risk of infections.
  • Don’t wear contact lenses when swimming or entering a hot tub.
  • Never sleep in contact lenses that are not designed to be slept in.