A complete guide to using contact lenses safely.

Wearing contact lenses is a big change, for you and your eyes, so it’s important to be clear and the do’s and don'ts of wearing them.

Feel Good Contacts have put together a comprehensive guide on contact lenses with Sharon Copeland, Contact Lens Optician sharing expert insight on everything from how to put lenses in properly, to the four things you should never do with your contact lenses.

How to put in lenses properly

Sharon Copeland, Contact Lens Optician at Feel Good Contacts advises: “Putting your contact lenses in can be tricky if you’ve never experienced the process before and inserting incorrectly can lead to damage and or irritation.

Here are my top tips for putting in lenses safely:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or liquid hand wash.

Use a lint-free towel or hard tissue paper to dry your hands. It’s important to dry your hands because you should avoid any water coming into contact with your lenses. Avoid soft toilet paper or anything that breaks apart easily, the particles could transfer onto your fingers and may cause irritation.

Remove the contact lens from the packaging or case and place it on the tip of your finger. Put the lens on the tip of your finger and hold it up to the light. If the edges flare out, it's inside out. Some lenses have a 1, 2, 3; indicator — if the digits are backwards then the lens is inside out. The lens should look like a bowl with straight edges. Also, check that it is not damaged before inserting.

Position yourself in front of a mirror. Using on. Holding your eye open while using the same hand, place the lens on the fingertip of the index finger on your dominant hand (the hand you use to write). Use your free hand to pull up your upper eyelid. Pull down the lower eyelid with the middle or ring finger of your dominant hand. Place the lens on the lower white part of your eye. Look down and then close your eyes. This will centre the lens on your eye If you feel air bubbles, sometimes you can see them, close your eye and move it from side to side. You can also close the eyelid and gently massage it over the lens.

“Don’t feel frustrated if you’re unsuccessful the first few times you try to wear your lenses. Some people struggle initially, but it quickly becomes second nature.”

“Also, in times where hand sanitiser has recently become everyone’s best friend, try and use perfume-free, antibacterial liquid wash to avoid any alcohols or other ingredients irritating your eyes.”

Four things you should never do with your contact lenses

“There are some common mistakes that people make when it comes to caring for their contact lenses, so we’ve put together a few ‘don’ts’ when it comes to wearing lenses.”

Avoid showering with your lenses in. All types of water are bad for contact lenses, so showering whilst wearing them should be avoided. If you’ve stepped into the shower accidentally with your contacts in, close your eyes, step carefully out of the shower, dry your hands thoroughly and remove your contact lenses. Store them until you are done with your shower.

Don’t rub your eyes. Frequent rubbing of the eyes can dislodge your contact lens or push it to the upper eyelid of your eye. If your contact lenses are causing irritation, it may be best to remove them. If your eyes are feeling irritated because of dry eyes, it may offer some relief to use some eye drops.

Never sleep with your contacts in. Many contact lens wearers are guilty of taking a nap in their contact lenses but unfortunately, this can still irritate and damage your eyes. Even taking a nap in daily contact lenses is a bad idea, despite being able to throw them away at the end of the day. So, nap lovers are recommended to remove their contacts before taking a nap, even unplanned ones, and always remove them before settling down for a night’s rest.

Don’t wear your contact lens inside out. An easy mistake to make, but inserting your contact lens in inside out will cause your vision to blur and be uncomfortable. The number one rule to prevent putting your lens inside out is to make sure it is shaped more like a round bowl than a saucer. Most of the time, your lens will already be settled in the shape it should enter your eye when you take it out of the pack.

For full guides and advice on wearing and caring for contact lenses, you can check out Feel Good Contact’s complete Eye Care Hub.