Contact Lenses?

Question

Hi, the last time I had a contact lense trial, my eyes got quite sore so I am going back today for another go. Does it get easier with practice? Does anyone have a certain technique for inserting them or taking them out, as I keep blinking everytime I put my finger towards my eye! Many thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Wear safety glasses.

Answer 2

Depending on which brand you use, as well as a few health issues (for example, common allergies, tiredness, hydration..), the whole contact lense experience can be ..unpleasant.

To start with ..soreness is a measure of 1) tiredness of your eyes, and 2) oxygen deprivation. Keep in mind, a lense is putting something directly on your eye, and eyes like to 'breathe.' To help reduce the discomfort, use rewetting drops often (even as much as 10-15 minutes apart, or less, if it makes you feel better), and take them out and let your eyes rest. It's additional weight AND not especially good for your eyes, depending on the brand, again....
As you wear them over time, your eyes will get used to it. As I said, try not to wear them for more than 3-4 hours at a time if it's really that much of a bother. Honestly, if it's more than a little discomfort, then you're probably just ...not going to do well with contacts.


As for keeping from blinking, place the lense on your index (pointer) finger of your right hand. Use your middle finger of your left hand to hold open your upper eyelid, and the middle finger of your right hand to hold open the lower eyelid. Try to look directly ahead and don't put the contact in at an angle. Make sure your eye is more wet than your finger, and the lense should adhere to your eye without as much difficulty.
Taking it out, ..use rewetting drops first. Maybe wait a minute or two afterward, before taking them out. You can use the same ..eyelid holding process (it'll stop creeping you out to poke your eye, soon enough..), and gently pinch the lense between your thumb and index finger. If you're having more difficulty, try just sliding the lense toward your nearest ear, and pinch it when it's folded off.

Good luck-

Answer 3

I started wearing contacts when I was 14, my eyes didn't really get sore the first time but I did had the most comfortable and easiest ones (1-Day Acuvue). Heres how I put them in and take them out (Both while looking in a mirror)
Putting in:
1.) Hold your top lid open with one or two fingers , and your bottom lid with one finger and open your eye wide.
2.) Put the contact on either your index finger, or the one closest to your thumb.
3.) With your eyelids and lashes held firmly back place it straight onto the cornea (coloured bit) and let it sink into your eye.
4.) Slowly let go of your eyelids and lashes and blink slowly. If it is irritating you then close your eye and massage your upper lid, if it still irritates you then open your eye and hold down your lower lid for a few seconds (I worked out to do this myself, and it works!)
5.) If your lenses aren't a very tight fit then they may fall out when you blink after putting them in, due to air bubbles being trapped behind. To prevent this, when you place the contact on your eye push it gently against your eyeball so you can see the air bubbles being 'squeezed' out.

Taking out:
I find taking out very easy, I can even do it in a moving car! There are two different ways that I do it, when I have long nails I do this...
1.) Hold open your top eyelid (You dont actually have to do this, but it helps) and open your eye wide
2.) Look either left or right (depends on which eye) so your cornea is in the corner of your eye (nearest your nose) and the white part of your eye is visible.
3.) Take one finger and move the contact to the white part of the eye.
4.) It should fold up or crinkle slightly, use your nails to grab the crinkled bit sticking out and pull it out of your eye.
5.) If it doesn't crinkle up then DON'T USE YOUR NAILS, as you may damage your eye.
When I have short nails...
Do 1.) 2.) and 3.) then
4.) Once the contact is moved to the very side of your eye (furthest from your nose) put a finger on your bottom lid near the contact but not actually on the eye ball.
5.) Put another finger on the contact and using that finger and the other finger move it out of your eye by 'pinching' it.

Make sure when removing your contact to always move it to the white part, it has no nerves so you can't feel any pain and you don't want to damage your cornea.

The blinking was a bit of an issue the first few times as before I never even touched my eye to get an eyelash out, but its really easy because you can hardly even feel your fingers on your eye.
Good luck!! xx

Answer 4

Have you had the curvature of your eyes measured? It could be that if they catch and slip when you're blinking then they're too flat, you can order more curved ones if you need to.
When putting mine in I usually place the lense on my left index finger (I'm a leftie) and pull up my eyelid with my right index finger so I can't blink it shut. Taking them out I just pull at them lightly with my left thumb and index finger to get them loose. Again, you can pull up your eyelid with the other hand if you feel the need to.

It definitely gets easier with practice, I can happily put them in without a mirror in a moving vehicle now! You should eventually be able to suppress your blink reflex by yourself, but for now definitely just try holding the eyelid up to stop your eye from closing.

Good luck! Remember not to wear them for too long at a time, carry eye drops, and if it hurts a lot when you put them in, take them out to check they're turned the right way out and don't have any hair or fibres on them.

Answer 5

CAUTION - DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH!!!

When I take them out, I hold my top lid open with the middle finger of my opposite hand (ie left eye; right finger). I then gently pull my eye down with the middle finger of the other hand (ie left eye, left middle finger) and use my index finger to remove the lens.

To insert them, I use my thumb and index finger from the side I am working on (ie left eye, left hand) to open my eye. I then tilt my head back and with the lens on my opposite index finger, I place it on as centrally as possible, then close my eye and blink a couple of times.

I've worn lenses for over 12 years and this is the way that works for me.

Make sure you keep your eyes lubricated (normally the cleaning fluid can be used as a lubricator as well). I carry around Allergan Refresh Contacts Eye Drops (you can buy them in Boots for £4.29 (15ml).

Answer 6

I've been using contacts for 9 years.I can can remember my very first week my eyes felt irritated and were red.But it takes time to get used to them.You must make sure you clean them properly and dispose of them at their expiration date or else you will experience discomfort.Inserting them will definitely get easier.First be sure you wash your hands.sometimes something on your hands could cause discomfort when inserting.Then use your fingers to hold your eye firmly.Right before you push the contact to your eye look
away.If you look directly at the contact you will
blink.Look away and press down and gently slide the contact a little so all air comes out from under it.Then close your eyes for a moment.When removing wash hands and place the tip of your index finger on the contact.
Slide the contact downward and then pinch it with your index and thumb finger.Always use fresh solution.Hope this helps you.

Answer 7

Hold your bottom eyelid down with one hand while you look up and insert them with the other.
I have been wearing them for about 10 years now and it does get easier with practice. I would say it took me about 3 weeks to get used to having them in my eyes when I first started wearing them.
There are a lot of different lenses available, so trying another type may help.

Answer 8

If your eyes got tired/sore after a period of wear, they were too tight. If they were uncomfortable when you first put them in, they were too loose. If you can't get them in, you need more instruction. If it happens again, try another eye doctor. Your doctor should offer several different lens options. Some company's lenses may be more comfortable than another. If you have more of a sensation than a cold/wet feeling or a mild lid sensitivity, you need to try something else. If you have astigmatism or want to change your eye color, you may be limited in your choices.

Answer 9

Talk with your optometrist/opthalmologist; contact lenses are not right for everyone. You might also consider the possiblity that your eyes are getting dry, and be sure to have drops handy as you get used to them. Good luck.

Answer 10

put the contact on 1 finger hold you eyes open with both hands and keep on keeping on