Contact Lens Care (Contact Lenses)

There are 5 steps in contact lenses care. To insure your eyes always stay healthy and oxygenated these steps are essential:

1. Solutions and Cleaning:
Your optician will have recommended you solution when you had your lens fitted. A lot of the newer solutions are fool proof but there are some things you need to know about them. Most of the solutions come with a no rub recommendation. Although this is the case, rubbing the lens with solution proves to beneficial. As well as rubbing the lens after taking them out and putting them in, it is essential to change the solution in the lens case everyday to ensure all day long comfort. 

2. Preparation for the Lens:
•    The first and most important thing to do is wash your hands. As obvious as it seems it is probably the most disregarded. 
•    Next is to check the right way to put the lens in. 
•    The lens will go in your eye both ways but if the wrong side is inserted the lens will feel uncomfortable and may even pop out. 

3. Insertion of Lenses:
•    Place the contact lens on the index finger of the hand you write with. 
•    With the same hand take the middle finger and hold the bottom lid open. 
•    With the free hand reach over and hold the top lid close to the lashes open. 
•    You should have created a large enough space for the contact lens to go in without touching anything other then the eyes. 
•    Bring the finger closer to the eye until all edges of the lens are touching the eye. 
•    The contact lens will release from your finger to your eye. 
•    Let go of the lids slowly. 
•    Slowly close your eye and pat the eye a little to get rid of any air bubbles that may have occurred. 
•    Repeat this process for the other eye. 

4. Removal of Lenses:
There is two main ways of removing contact lens. 
•    The first is to pull the lens down with the index finger and bring in the thumb and pinch the lens out. 
•    The second way is to pull the lens down and to the side with your index finger. The lens will roll up into the side of your eye for you to take out. 

5. Wearing Schedule:
When starting to wear the lens you must start off slowly and then build it up. Initially you should start wearing the contact lenses for about 4 hours, and then gradually build this up by 2 hours everyday until you get to 8-10hours which is the recommended time unless specified by your optician. If wearing the disposable lenses you must get rid of these at the proper time and not try over using them as this can lead to infections, dry eyes and other problems. 

6. Emergencies and Discomfort:
If you find that you have any of the following, remove your lenses and contact your optician as soon as possible. 
•     Burning and Watery Eyes 
•     Persistent Pain 
•     Constant Redness 
•     Sensitivity of Light 
•     Hazy vision that remains an hour or so after removal.