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How to put in contacts in eyes
If you are new to contact lenses, or if you just want to brush up on how
to put in contacts in eyes, here is the process recommended by many eye care professionals. Click here if
you'd like to review a bullet summary of the steps for how to put in contacts. You will need soap,
preferably without a perfume scent, water, a towel, a mirror may be helpful, and of course, your
contact lenses. Let's get started.
First clean your hands with soap (preferably fragrance free) and water.
This is important to remove any bacteria, viruses or particles from your hands before handling
your contact lenses. Thoroughly dry your hands before handling your contacts. If your finger is
wet when you handle your soft contact lens, it may flatten. Avoid using your fingernail when using
your contact lenses. Be sure to close the drain, if you are close to a sink to avoid losing your
contacts. Remember to follow the same pattern (first left, then right, or the opposite order) when
putting your contacts into your eyes to ensure your contact lenses are matched with the correct
eye.
Next, empty the contact lens and its storage fluid from your contact lens
case into the palm of your hand. Carefully look for any tears, particles or deposits on your contact
lens. If everything looks okay, proceed. If you notice any problems with the contact lens, take
action to correct the problem before continuing.
 Position
the contact lens with the bowl or cup side facing up on the tip of your index finger. Double check
to make sure the contact lens is right side out. If needed, turn the contact lens right side out
before continuing.
Inserting contact lenses
Now gently hold the eyelashes of your upper eyelid with the index finger
of your other hand to prevent blinking. Pull down your lower eyelid with the middle finger of the
same hand by gently applying downward pressure to the delicate skin at the bone you can feel below
your eyelid. Look up so you can see the white of your eye. Next carefully place the contact onto
the white of the eye in the center. You may instead want to look forward and carefully position
the contact lens over your cornea in the center of your eye. Remove your middle finger first releasing
the lower eyelid, then release the upper eyelid.
Look down to position the contact lens over the cornea in the center of
the eye. Close your eye for a moment to allow tears to moisten and lubricate your eye and your
contact lens. If your lenses seem dry or your vision is blurred, put one or two eye drops into
your eye to lubricate the contact lens.
Repeat these inserting contact lenses steps for your other eye. Remember,
it's important to have your eye doctor show you how to put in contacts in eyes before you try this
at home.
How to put in contacts in eyes
- Wash and thoroughly dry hands
- Empty contact lens and storage fluid into hand
- Check contact lens for tears, particles or deposits
- Place contact lens on index finger tip with cup side up
- Verify contact lens is right side out
- Hold upper and lower eyelids apart with other hand
- Look up
- Place contact lens onto white part of eye
- Release lower eyelid, then upper eyelid
- Look down to position contact lens
- Close eye for a few seconds
- Add eye drops to lubricate lens, if necessary
- Repeat steps for other eye
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