Contact Lens Insertion and Removal: A Beginner’s Guide to Safe Contact Lens Wear
- David B. Sabin
- May 29
- 4 min read
Learning how to put in and take out contact lenses can feel intimidating at first, but with practice, most new wearers become comfortable very quickly. The most important part of contact lens success is not speed, it is safety. Clean hands, good habits, and proper lens care help keep your eyes healthy and reduce the risk of irritation or infection.
Contact lenses sit directly on the surface of the eye, so hygiene matters every time you handle them. The CDC recommends washing and drying your hands before touching contact lenses and avoiding water exposure, including swimming or showering in lenses. Sleeping in contact lenses and using old solution can also increase the risk of serious eye infections.
Before You Start: Clean Hands Are the First Step
Before touching your contact lenses, always wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean, lint-free towel. Try to avoid oily soaps, lotions, or creams right before handling your lenses because residue can transfer onto the contact lens and cause blurred vision or irritation.
It is also helpful to start with the same eye every time. For example, always insert and remove the right lens first. This simple habit helps prevent mixing up your lenses, especially if your prescription is different in each eye.
How to Put Contact Lenses In
Start by placing the contact lens on the tip of your clean, dry index finger. Look closely at the lens to make sure it is not torn, damaged, or inside out. A properly shaped soft contact lens should look like a smooth bowl. If the edges flare outward, it may be inside out.
Use the middle finger of the same hand to gently pull down your lower eyelid. Use the other hand to hold your upper eyelid open so you do not blink. Look straight ahead or slightly upward, then gently place the lens on the white part of the eye or directly over the colored part of the eye, depending on what feels easiest.
Once the lens is on the eye, slowly release your eyelids and blink a few times. The lens should settle into place. If it feels uncomfortable, do not rub your eye. Wash your hands, remove the lens, inspect it, rinse it with approved contact lens solution if appropriate, and try again.
Tips for New Contact Lens Wearers
Contact lenses should feel comfortable after they settle. Mild awareness of the lens can be normal in the beginning, but pain, strong redness, light sensitivity, or sudden blurred vision is not normal.
New wearers should remember:
Do not use tap water to rinse or store contact lenses.
Do not sleep in contact lenses unless your eye doctor specifically approved it.
Do not wear lenses longer than recommended.
Do not reuse old contact lens solution.
Do not wear a torn or damaged lens.
Keep a pair of glasses available as a backup.
Daily disposable contact lenses are often the easiest option for new wearers because a fresh pair is used each day. Reusable lenses can also be safe, but they require consistent cleaning, storage, and case care.
How to Remove Contact Lenses Safely
Before removing your lenses, wash and dry your hands. Look in the mirror and hold your eyelids open. Look upward, then use your finger to gently slide the contact lens down toward the white part of the eye.
Once the lens is off-center, gently pinch it between your thumb and index finger and remove it from the eye. Avoid using fingernails, because they can scratch the lens or the surface of the eye.
If the lens feels stuck, do not panic and do not force it. Apply rewetting drops approved for contact lens use, blink several times, and try again. If you still cannot remove the lens or your eye becomes painful or very red, contact your eye doctor.
What to Do After Removing Your Lenses
If you wear daily disposable lenses, throw them away after removal. Do not reuse daily lenses.
If you wear reusable lenses, clean and store them exactly as directed. Use fresh contact lens solution every time. You shoudl do a light rub and rinse the lens with fresh solution every use. Never “top off” old solution in the case. Empty the case, rinse it with approved solution, and let it air dry. Replace your contact lens case regularly.
Good lens care is just as important as learning how to insert and remove the lenses. Many contact lens complications happen because of shortcuts with hygiene, sleeping in lenses, water exposure, or overwearing lenses.
When to Call the Eye Doctor
Remove your contact lenses and call your eye doctor if you notice:
Eye pain
Increasing redness
Light sensitivity
Discharge
Sudden blurry vision
A feeling that something is stuck in the eye
Symptoms that do not improve after removing the lens
These symptoms may be signs of inflammation, infection, or a corneal problem that needs prompt care.
Contact Lens Training at OPT-ISM
At OPT-ISM, we help new contact lens wearers learn how to insert, remove, and care for their lenses safely. Contact lenses can be a great option for school, sports, work, special events, and everyday convenience — but healthy habits are the key to long-term success.
If you are new to contact lenses or have struggled with them in the past, our team can help you find the right lens type, review safe handling techniques, and make sure your eyes stay comfortable and healthy.
Comments