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How to Insert Contact Lenses

Author | 10.08.2007 | Category Contact Lenses

One of the reasons that people sometimes shy away from using contact lenses is that they are nervous about being able to insert the lenses.  After all, the thought of touching your eyeball is disturbing to many people.  However, the insertion process is easy to learn, and veteran contact lens users can do it without thinking about it.  Here is a quick guide to show you how to insert contact lenses yourself.

1. Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly.  You want to be sure to remove any debris that could contaminate your lens.  If your hands are damp, the lens could stick to them, making it difficult to insert.

2. Remove the contact lens from its case and rinse it briefly with saline solution to make sure that there is no dust or dirt on it that could irritate your eye.

3. Examine your contact lens to ensure that it is right-side out.  It should have a smooth, even curve; bulging is an indication that it is inside out.  Depending on the brand you use, there may also be a word or logo that should be readable from the outside.

4. Position the lens on the pad of your index finger.

5. Add just a tiny drop of saline solution to the inside of the contact lens, to make it easier to insert in the eye.

6. With your other hand, pull your eyelid gently upwards, and hold it so that you cannot blink.

7. Use the middle finger of the hand with the contact on it to pull the same eyelid slightly down.

8. Look straight ahead into a mirror so that your eye does not move. 

9. Gently move the contact lens over your eye.  When you get close enough, the lens should move from your finger to your eye.

10. Release and close your eyes for a few seconds, to ensure that the lens stays in place.

Voila!  In just ten easy steps, you’ve inserted your contact lens!