New wearers have the greatest fear about using lenses. Many people view this as a complicated and dangerous process. It is actually quite simple to apply and remove contact lenses. Even an 8-year old child can do it.
Contact lenses are very easy to apply and are painless. It does not require touching any nerves, as the contact lenses are simply placed on the eye’s surface. It may seem confusing at first but once you become familiar with the process it will be second nature.
Contact lenses
1. Contact lenses preparation for application
- Use soap or disinfectant to wash your hands thoroughly
- Use a towel or a dryer to dry your hands. A cloth towel should not be used as a towel because it may leave lint on your hands.
- Avoid using cream-based or oily cosmetics before you touch the lenses. They may get absorbed into your lens.
- If you place your lenses above the sink, make sure you cover the drain hole with an appropriate plug to prevent it from leaking. This will ensure that you don’t lose your lens if it falls.
- If you drop the lens, rinse it with the solution and then apply the solution again to the eye.
- If you have the chance, place a towel on a flat surface. Make sure the area is well lit.
- Use the tip of your fingers to gently lift the lens from its case.
- It can easily break if you touch it or press it with your nails.
2. The position of the lens is checked
- Place the lens on your index fingertip, with the open end up. Always position the lens on the index finger.
- Check if it is a regular semicircle shape. If the edges are bent slightly outwards, it is likely that the lens has been upside down and should be turned over
- To flip the lens, hold it in your palm, then add a few drops to the solution to it. Then, gently flip it to the other side.
- If the lens is being applied to the eye, it should not be turned. This will cause discomfort and make it difficult for you to see clearly.
3. Apply the lens to your eye
- Always start with the right eye
- Look directly into the mirror (it is ideal to have one that magnifies the reflection).
- Lift the upper eyelids with the index finger of your left hand
- Gently pull the lower eyelids down with the middle finger of your right hand
- Place the lens so that it touches the eye’s surface.
- To help the lens position itself, blink a few times
- Repeat the process for the left eye.
- Contact lenses can be removed
1. Preparation for lens removal
- Hands must be clean and dry when applying lenses.
- Spread a towel on a flat surface.
- Prepare the lenscase, and ensure it is clean and filled up with special solution.
2. Contact lenses can be removed
- Pull the lower eyelid down slightly
- Slowly pull the lens towards the cornea (the white portion of the eye) using your index finger.
- Use your thumb and index fingers to gently pinch the lens.
- If the lens is still folded, you can place it in the solution-filled lenscase and let it hydrate for a few moments before unfolding.
These are the most common mistakes made when using contact lenses
You don’t sanitize your hands properly
Use plain water or tap water to rinse the lenses. Contact lenses should only be cleaned with a special solution and not with tap water. This is to avoid infection with Acanthamoeba Keratitis (a bacteria found in drinking water).
If you don’t tighten the lids enough, you run the risk of blinking before the lens settles on the eye. This will cause it fold.
The lenses are confused with one another: the right lens is placed on the left eye, and vice versa.
How long do contact lenses last?
Disposable lenses can be lenses that are applied to the eye at the start of the day, taken out in the afternoon and then thrown away. These lenses do not have to be worn while you sleep.
Daily wear lenses are lenses that you apply to your eyes and then take off and store in the case for cleaning or disinfection. These lenses do not have to be worn while you sleep.
Extended wear lenses can be worn continuously for up 5 nights. They have a higher oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t) and are suitable for daily use. Do not confuse extended wear lenses with continuous wear lenses. Extended carry should be used only when necessary and not abused.
Continuous wear lenses have lenses with a high level of oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t). They can be worn every day for up to 30 days and not need to be removed from the eye. However, experts recommend that the lenses be removed at most once every five days for cleaning and disinfection. Even if you only use your contact lenses during the day, you cannot extend the warranty.
Contact lens replacement period
Disposable lenses can be lenses that are worn at the beginning of the morning and then taken out at night.
Weekly lenses can be worn for two weeks with daily wear or one week with continuous wear.
Monthly lenses can be used for one month from the date of opening the blister. You can wear them only during the day (from 10-12 hours) or you can wear them continuously (day and night), depending upon the lens that you select.
Annual lenses are hydrogel lenses, but they can also be made from a more rigid material. They can be worn for up to 12 hours per day for a year.
