Before contact lenses were invented, you’d only have the option to choose the color and shape of your eyeglasses. That’s basically all the options you have in terms of style and comfort for your corrective eyewear.

But now, people with refractive errors even have the option to choose from hard or soft contact lenses. Which only proves how much we’ve been able to develop our ways of correcting our vision problems.

But with all the fuss about contact lenses these days, has anyone ever told you about how exactly they work?

Whether you prefer glasses over contacts, it’s still important that you learn how to use contact lenses effectively.

How Contact Lenses Work

Before we talk about how to use contact lenses properly, you need to understand how they work. Despite the massive difference in size and shape, contact lenses and eyeglasses practically work in a similar manner.

Both corrective lenses alter the flow of the light rays and focus them correctly on your retina. This means that regardless of the shape and size, people with refractive errors only need a lens that improves vision.

Do you need contact lenses?

If you have any sort of refractive error, then contact lenses or eyeglasses can definitely help improve your vision. Check out this list of common refractive errors:

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Astigmatism
• Presbyopia

Do any of them sound familiar? The reason why eyeglasses and contact lenses are so popular is that these vision problems are very common worldwide.

In fact, a report by MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly shows that around 45 million people in the United States wear contact lenses. That’s a lot of people! So, if you have any of the mentioned vision problems, you shouldn’t be too worried.

These eye problems don’t normally cause any severe health complications, however, it can affect your quality of life. So if you love your eyesight, you should consider getting corrective treatment for your eyes.

Whether you want eyeglasses or contact lenses is entirely up to you.

How to Use Contact Lenses More Effectively

If you’re new to contact lenses or if you’re thinking about getting a pair, you should definitely read up on this.

Knowing how to use contact lenses properly is an important skill that even experienced users often forget. Whether you’re new to contacts or you just need to improve the way you use your lenses please read on.

Because these simple tips can definitely help you avoid daily mishaps and concerns that can come with contact lenses.

In fact, a WebMD article states that 90 percent of contact lens users don’t practice the right hygienic standards for proper contact lens care.

So if you’re planning to get a pair, be a user who does the right thing. Not only will you keep your eyes safe from harm, but you’ll also make the most out of your lenses.

To put it simply, taking care of your lenses ensures that you get the best possible experience with your contacts and your vision in the long run.

Can you identify if your contact lens is inside out?

This may seem like a simple dilemma but it is real and very important. In fact, you might not even notice that it’s inside out unless you put them on incorrectly.

Since contact lenses are generally transparent, you won’t know by looking at the details of the lens.

There aren’t any rigid lines or alternate textures that can help you know if it’s inside out.

However, did you know that you can use the shape of the lens to know if it’s inside out? 

Yes, simply put your lens on your finger so that it forms into a cup. Then, hold the lens at the level of your eyes so that you can see the side of the cup. If the lens forms a simple bowl shape, then it’s in the correct position.

But if forms a bowl with the top edges flaring outwards, then you know it’s inside out. Things can be a little different if you’re using lenses with a handling tint.

To find out if it’s inverted, simply put the lens on your fingertip and look straight down at it. If the edge of your tinted lens looks dark blue or green, then it is inside out.

So what happens when you put on your inverted lenses? Don’t worry, it’s not going to cause any major issues.

You’ll just feel some discomfort in your eyes because of the awkward shape that it has.

You should easily be able to take them out and readjust them accordingly. 

How do you wear your contact lenses?

If you want to learn how to use contact lenses, start by learning how to put them on correctly.

This part is very important because it is where your lenses, eyes, and fingers, come in contact with each other.

As a result, having bad methods of wearing your lenses can potentially lead to contact lens issues. 

For starters, make sure that your hands are clean. Before you touch your lenses, wash your hands properly with soap and water.

However, you should avoid using any soaps with oils and scents as they may ruin your lenses.

Additionally, never use moisturizing lotions before handling your contact lenses.

The chemicals in your lotion and products with lanolin can easily harm your contact lenses.

Another tip that you should keep in mind is to practice wearing the first contact lenses in the same eye.

This will help you mix your right contact lens with your left lenses. This is particularly important for people who have extremely different lens powers for each eye.

So if you’re used to wearing your left contact lenses first, try to maintain that habit through and through.

Bonus Tips on How to Use Contact Lenses Properly

Aside from properly wearing your lenses, here are a few more tips that you can practice. After all, the more guidelines you know, the better it is for your overall contact lens experience.

• Shake your contact lens case – It’s good practice for you to gently shake your case before you use your lenses.
  
  Shaking your case stirs the solution inside so your lenses don’t get stuck on the walls of your container.
  
  So if you ever find your lenses stuck on the walls of your case, don’t ever try pulling them out.
  
  Pulling on them can damage your lenses. So the best thing to do is to simply shake your contact lens case gently.
  
• Don’t grab your lenses from the case – Instead of trying to squeeze or pinch your lenses, you can simply slide them out.
  
  Just use your index finger to slide your lens into the palm of your other hand.
  
  Don’t forget to rinse it properly with the right amount of contact lens solution.
  
• Use your index finger or your middle finger – To pick up your lens, simply place your lenses on the tip of your middle or index finger.
  
  However, make sure that your finger is not wet or just slightly damp whenever you do this.
  
• Opening your eyes for your lens – Keeping your eyes open while you place your lenses on them can be hard at first.
  
  This is because your eyes have a natural reaction to close whenever a foreign object tries to enter.
  
  To help you with this dilemma, simply use your free fingers to pull open your upper and lower eyelids. 
  
• Placing your lens on your eyes – To position your lens properly, try looking up to the ceiling as you place your lens.
  
  During this process, remember to keep a firm pull on your upper and lower eyelids to prevent them from closing.
  
  This process normally takes a lot of tries so don’t worry. You’ll eventually learn to place them faster as time goes by.
  
• After you place your lenses – Once your lens is successfully on your eye, close your eyes gently.
  
  With your eyes closed, roll your eyes in a circle so that the lens can settle in the right spot. 
  
• Check your eyes and lenses – With your lenses settled in the middle of your eyes, gently open them.
  
  Look straight at a mirror and examine your eyes. Finally, make sure that the lenses are correctly at the center of your eyes.
  
  If you put them on correctly, they should feel perfectly comfortable.

Are you removing your contact lenses correctly?

The next important part of learning how to use contact lenses is removing them.

If your not a contact lens user, odds are that you’re a little hesitant about pulling something from your eye.

Don’t worry, a lot of people get that scary impression about contacts. However, the odds of you harming your eyes while taking out your contacts are very slim.

Just follow our guidelines and you’ll learn the right ways to take them out with ease.

Similar to putting them on, you should first make sure to wash your hands before you handle your lenses.

And that’s true for any occasion. As long as you’ll touch your lenses, you should make sure that your hands are super clean.

You wouldn’t want any bacteria finding their way into your eyes now, do you? 

If you’re planning to take out your contacts in the sink, make sure that you cover the drain with a paper towel.

You wouldn’t want to lose your lenses in case they slip from your fingers. 

Removing Your Contact Lenses

Now that your hands are clean, you can start removing your lenses from your eyes safely.

Look up at the ceiling just like when you were putting them on. Don’t forget to use your other hand to keep your eyes from closing during this stage.

Use your finger to softly touch the white part of your eye. Once you feel the lens, use your thumb to softly pinch the lens.

Finally, carefully lift your lens from your eye and put it in its container. To keep things safe, make sure that your fingernails and cut short whenever you remove your lenses.

Make sure you understand your lenses

Finally, our last tip on how to use contact lenses focuses on understanding your lens.

There are different types of contact lenses in the market. Each with their own unique features and capabilities.

And with this diversity, contact lens care and handling can change according to its type.

So make sure that you talk to a trusted eye physician before you get your first pair of lenses. Ask about the contact lens options that are available for your refractive error.

Additionally, different types of lenses can come in a variety of prices, so make sure that you have everything accounted for.

Finally, enjoy yourself, learn about contact lenses, and find the pair that’s right for you.

References:

Warning Suggested for Contact Solutions

https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20080610/warning-suggested-for-contact-solutions#1

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

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