Do you find it hard to remove your contact lenses? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most contact lenses users usually have a hard time putting on and removing their lenses.

In fact, this is very common for people who are new to wearing contacts. Despite the challenge, you’ll eventually learn to remove contact lenses more easily. But until then, we have a few crazy hacks to get you started. 

Contact lenses are becoming more popular these days. In fact, a report from MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly shows that there are 45 million Americans using contact lenses since 2016.

So if you haven’t tried them out, we suggest you get a pair and enjoy the experience. Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses can make you feel like you have perfect vision.

This because you don’t have to wear any sort of frame on your face when you use contacts. All you need to do with contacts is to put the lenses in your eyes.

That’s how convenient they are. However, it’s also what makes wearing them difficult for beginners.

You really have to learn how to put on and remove contact lenses. Read on and find out how our crazy hacks can make removing them easier.

1. Wash your hands with soap

Before you remove contact lenses, you should always wash your hands with soap. This rule is also applicable to any situation that requires you to hold your lenses with your bare hands.

Washing your hands properly is essential in keeping your lenses safe from contamination. Your hands are basically tools that you use on a daily basis and you’d be surprised at how dirty they can get.

Additionally, you should wash your hands with soap and clean running water. Avoid using lotions, hand creams, and even hand sanitizers when you touch your lenses.

This is because the compounds or these products may affect your lenses in a negative way. Similarly, just follow these steps to wash your hands properly:

• Wet your hands with running water. You can also use warm water.
• Scrub your hands with soap for half a minute.
• Wash your hands with water and make sure to rinse out all the soap.
• Use a microfiber towel to dry your hands to avoid any lint or particles sticking to your skin.
• Additionally, make sure that you use a hand cloth that is dry and clean.

2. Moisten your eyes with eye drops

Most of the time, having dry eyes can make it more difficult to take out or put on your contact lenses.

That’s why it’s always a good eye idea to look at a mirror and check if your eyes are dry. You can easily moisten your eyes by applying some eye drops. Just make sure that you use a brand that’s safe for contact lenses.

Finally, you can play safe and make things easy by applying eye drops even when your eyes aren’t as dry. Follow these tips to effectively moisten your eyes:

• Take your eye drops and read the label on its bottle. You should check to see if your eye drops are safe to use for contact lenses.
• If it does not indicate that it is contact lens compatible, then don’t use your eye drops.
• If your eye drops are safe for contact lenses, squeeze out two to three drops onto your eyes.
• Finally, never use your contact lens solution to moisten your eyes because they are only designed to disinfect your contact lenses. In fact, this type of solution is strong enough to dry out your eyes and cause some irritation.

3. Use your finger to pull down your eyelids

You might find it hard to keep your eyes open while you try to take out your lenses. In fact, this is a practically common problem that a lot of new contact lens users encounter.

Your eyes have a natural tendency to protect itself from free-roaming particles. As a result, you have a natural reflex to close your eyes whenever something approaches it.

That’s why taking out your lenses can be a little tricky. So how do you remove contact lenses more easily? Just follow these tips to make keeping your eyes open easier than it actually is:

• Use one of your middle finger to pull down on the lower part of your eyelid.
• Keep your middle finger in place by applying a firm yet gentle hold on your eyelid.
• If you do this correctly, you should be able to see more white portions of your eye.
• Sometimes, your contact lenses can feel out of place when you do this. To fix this, just blink your eyes a couple of times to put the lens back into place.

4. Use your index finger to touch your lens

This next tip allows you to remove contact lenses with only one hand. Which is a very efficient method that also makes you look like a pro.

In fact, this is a trick that a lot of beginner contact lens users should definitely learn. Follow these tips and experience it for yourself:

• Use the index finger of the same hand that’s pulling down on your eyelid.
• With your middle finger tugging your eyelid in place, use your index finger to touch your lens.
• With the pad of your index finger, softly touch the edge of the lens until it sticks to your fingertip.
• Carefully pull the lens down to the lower part of your eyeball.
• Your contact lens will fold on its own as it reaches the edge of your eyelid.

5. Use your thumb to squeeze out your lens

Taking out your contact lens with one hand will eventually become easier as you keep practicing. With this method, you utilize the fingers of a single hand to easily remove contact lenses.

As mentioned in the previous steps, you simply use your middle finger to pull down your eyelid. Next, use the index finger of the same hand to drag your lens to the bottom of your eye.

And finally, you use your thumb and index finger to pull out your lens. Follow these quick tips to do it properly:

• Gently squeeze your lens between your thumb and index finger.
• Once you have a soft grip on your lens, pull it carefully away from your eye.
• Always be gentle to avoid the risk of accidentally ripping or damaging your lens.
• Never use your nails to touch your contact lenses. This can be harmful to both your lenses and your eyes.
• Only use the pad or tip of your fingers to touch your lenses.

6. Clean your contact lens on your palm

Cleaning your lenses before and after using them will always be an essential part of proper contact lens care. Similarly, rinsing your lens before you put it in its case is a good habit to practice.

This will help ensure that germs and particles don’t find their way inside your contact lens case. Make sure that you follow all the right steps to remove contact lenses safely.

Follow these guidelines to keep your lenses and case clean:

• Gently place your contact lens on your palm
• Make sure that your lens is facing up.
• Mildy rinse your lens with your contact lens solution.
• Softly rub each side of your lens to effectively remove any particles.
• Rinse your lens one more time to wash off any remaining dirt.
• If you notice that your contact lens is damaged, throw it away immediately.

7. Stash your lens inside your contact lens case

Contact lenses are now more popular than ever before. That’s because of how the contact lenses have the potential to improve your confidence.

In fact, a study by The Ohio State University College of Optometry shows that children prefer contact lenses over glasses because it helps them feel good about their appearance.

However, contact lenses need a little more care compared to eyeglasses. To put it simply, you need to make sure that you always store your contact lenses properly after use.

Follow these steps and keep your confidence up by storing your lenses correctly:

• Make sure the case is empty. 
• If there is some old solution in your case, throw it away because it won’t disinfect your lenses effectively anymore.
• Carefully put your lens in the correct side of its case.
• Pour some fresh contact lens solution in your case.
• Make sure that you fully submerge your lenses in the solution.
• Put on the lid of your case and close it firmly.

8. Follow the same steps to remove your other lens

The last part is pretty simple. All you have to do is go back to tip number one and do the process for your other eye.

Additionally, you should follow each step carefully and take note of all the details. This will help you get used to the complete and correct steps on how to remove contact lenses easily.

Finally, don’t worry too much about being perfect. As long as you follow the rules and keep practicing, you’ll eventually get better at it. And in no time, you’ll be able to take out your lenses with ease.

You’ll even feel like a master of how to remove contact lenses. Just don’t forget to take good care of your contact lenses and visit your eye doctor every now and then.

References:

Risk Behaviors for Contact Lens–Related Eye Infections Among Adults and Adolescents — United States, 2016

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6632a2.htm

Benefits of contact lens wear for children and teens.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17993828

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