How to place contact lenses
The placement of contact lenses within the eye is by following the following steps:
- Wash your hands well.
- Start with the same eye always, so as to avoid mixing the right and left eye lenses.
- Use the index finger to remove the lens from its box.
- Put the lens in the palm of the hand, and wash it with the solution recommended by the ophthalmologist.
- Place the lens on the tip of the index finger, and pull the lower eyelid down with the middle finger of the hand itself.
- Hold the upper eyelid with the other hand, and then place the contact lens on the iris directly.
- Leave the eyelid gently, and blink once or twice to make sure the lens is stable.
How to remove contact lenses
Remove contact lenses from the eye by following these steps:
- Wash hands before removing lenses.
- Pull the eyelid of the lower eye.
- Look up or to the side.
- Move the lens gently to the white part of the eye.
- Using the thumb and forefinger, gently bend the lens and lift it off the eyes.
Tips for contact lens users
When using contact lenses you must pay attention to many things, including:
- Wash your hands with soap before using contact lenses to make sure they are free of perfume, oils or any other preparations that may cause discomfort or blurred vision.
- Dry the hands with a clean, lint-free towel.
- Use hair spray (hair fixer) before placing contact lenses.
- Keep nails short and trimmed, so as not to hurt contact lenses or scratch the eye.
- Put make-up after placing contact lenses, remove contact lenses before cleaning the face of make-up.
- Use disinfectants, eye drops, and enzyme-recommended detergents.
- Wear a wide hat when going out in the sun, wearing sunglasses with UV protection, because contact lenses may make the eyes more sensitive to light.
- Do not wear someone else’s contact lenses.
- Remove contact lenses and contact your eye specialist when you feel itching, burning, irritation or redness of the eyes, as it can indicate an infection.
- In case of eye dryness, remove contact lenses and use eye drops.
- Perform a medical examination of the eyes annually, because the examination shows any abnormal changes in the cornea.
- Change the contact lens type or change its size to increase comfort and improve visibility if necessary.
- Remove contact lenses before bedtime even if the lenses are permanent, because continuing to wear them for long periods increases the risk of eye infections.
- Remove contact lenses before swimming or using a hot tub, and not expose them to water or saliva.
- Remove contact lenses, if the vision becomes blurred, or when feeling pain, light sensitivity, or swelling, contact the eye specialist for immediate treatment.
How to care for contact lenses and cans
To take care of contact lenses and cans, you must pay attention to many things, including:
- Clean and dry the contact lens box each time the lenses are removed. It is best to wash with new solutions and leave them dry. Keep in mind the cans when drying until any residual solution leaks, and the container should be replaced every 3-6 months.
- Do not replace sterile solution of lenses with any other solution.
- Use the solution recommended by the eye care professional, and follow the instructions on the box, because all contact lens care products are not the same.
- Do not buy cosmetic contact lenses from any non-medical source, such as wholesaling stores, new stores, street vendors, second-hand goods markets or the Internet.
- Do not use expired contact lens products.
- Replace contact lenses and cans as recommended in the instructions.