Contact Lens Training Information

 YOUR SOFT CONTACT LENS

A Guide to Care and Handling

Congratulations!  Your new soft contact lenses have been designed to provide you with excellent vision and comfort.  As with anything new, it may take a little practice to perfect your handling and inserting technique.

 

  • Before Handling Your Contact Lenses

·         Always wash and rinse hands thoroughly.

Use a mild, non-cosmetic soap, as the eyes can be irritated by soaps with lotions or perfumes that leave a film on the hands and transfer onto the contact lenses. 

·         Avoid oily substances before handling your lenses.

Substances such as cosmetics, hand creams, lotions, or perfumes should be applied after contact lens insertion.

 

  • Inserting Your Contact Lenses

    • Scoop or dump the contact lens from the case.

    • Rinse the lens as follows for Bi-Weekly and Monthly lenses, it is optional for Daily lenses.

Hold the lens vertically.

Rinse with a steady stream of the recommended solution.

·         Place the lens on the tip of your dry index finger.  A soft contact lens tends to “wrap-around” your finger if it is wet.  If your finger is dry, the lens will be attracted to your eye and will not stick to your finger.

·         Check if the lens is right side out (see diagram below). If the edges turn out, the lens is inside out.

·         Use the middle finger of your other hand to pull and hold your upper eyelid so you cannot blink.

·         Pull down your lower eyelid with the middle finger of your placement hand.

·         Look up steadily and gently place the lens on the lower white part of your eye.

  Remain calm.  If you don’t succeed on the first try, remove the lens and try again.

·         Look down to position the lens properly.

·         Slowly release your eyelids.

·         Close your eyes for a moment, then blink several times to help the lens center itself on your eye.

·         If you encounter immediate discomfort, slide the lens off and then back on to the cornea.  This will often remove small debris that may be trapped behind the lens during placement.  If the lens still feels uncomfortable, remove and rinse the lens.  Inspect the lens for any nicks or tears.  Check to see if it is inside out.  If irritation persists, remove the lens and consult your optometrist’s office.

·         Discard the solution in the storage case.  Rinse the case and let it air dry.

  • Removing the Lens From Your Eye

·         Check your eye to make sure that the lens is centered.

·         If the eye feels dry, use 1-2 drops of saline/rewetting solution before you remove your contact lenses.

·         Look up, and pull down your lower lid with the middle finger of your placement hand.

·         Bring your index finger close to your eye until it covers your vision.

·         Touch the lower edge of the lens and slide it down to the lower white part of your eye.

·         Squeeze the lens gently between your thumb and index finger in a pinching motion.

·         Remove the lens from your eye and place in the contact lens case (Note: be sure to place the lens in the proper (R or L) case so the lenses don’t get put in the wrong eye next time).

  • Cleaning Your Contact Lenses

·         Your contact lenses should be cleaned immediately after they are removed to prevent deposits from drying onto the lens surface which makes it more difficult to remove.  If contact lenses accumulate deposits (usually mucous, protein, or oil-like substances), this can produce “foggy” vision, discomfort, and inflammation of the eye and eyelids.

·         Place the lens in the palm of your hand.

·         Put 1-2 drops of contact lens solution (as recommended by your doctor) onto the inside surface of the lens and rub gently with your finger in a circular motion for 10-20 seconds. 

·         Rinse well with fresh solution and place the lens into the contact lens case filled with disinfecting/conditioning/multipurpose solution.  Do not store in saline as this is not the same as disinfecting solution.

·         Follow your doctor’s instructions on protein removal, if applicable.

·         Discard the solution daily, rinse the case, and allow it to air dry.  The soaking solution should be replaced daily because any residual solution left in the case can be contaminated and create an eye infection.  If contact lenses are not worn for prolonged periods, store in disinfectant solution (NOT saline) and replace solution regularly (at least every 2 weeks) to prevent contamination.  Storage cases should be replaced on a regular basis (every 3-6 months).

·         If the tip/mouth of any solution container should touch any surface, disinfect with rubbing alcohol.  Throw out any solutions after being opened for one month or if there is discoloration around the tip/mouth of the container.

·         NOTE:  Most solutions for disposable soft contact lenses are a multipurpose solution which means that they can be used for rinsing, cleaning, disinfecting, and storing your contact lenses.  Many of these solutions also advertise a “No Rub” solution – this means that most patients can simply rinse the lenses after removing them and insert them in the contact lens case; if you find that you are prone to deposits and/or buildup on your lenses, you may find more comfort if you continue to rub the lenses to clean them after removal.

  • Wear Schedule

·         It is advisable to build up your wearing schedule when adapting to contact lenses.  Failure to adhere to this schedule can result in serious damage to your eyes, even though the lenses may feel comfortable at the maximum recommended wearing time.

·         Your personal wearing schedule:

Day 1:       Wear lenses for Maximum of FOUR hours

Day 2:       Wear lenses for FIVE hours

Day 3:       Wear lenses for SIX hours

Day 4:       Wear lenses for SEVEN hours

Day 5:       Wear lenses for EIGHT hours

Day 6:       Wear lenses for EIGHT to TEN hours

Day 7-14:  Wear lenses for EIGHT TO TEN hours

·         Your doctor will advise you if you can increase wearing time after your follow-up visit.  Do not exceed 8-10 hours wear time until that visit.

·         When you first start wearing contact lenses it is normal to have a brief adaptation period before you feel completely accustomed to regular daily wear.  Normal adaptation symptoms include:

-          Intermittent blurred vision.  The lenses will “float” on the eye at first due to increased tearing as the eye adjusts to contact lens wear.

-          Minor irritation or awareness sensation which reduces with wear.

-          Slight increase in glare sensitivity.  Sunglass wear may ease discomfort but shouldn’t be necessary indoors.

-          Slight inaccuracies in judgement of size and distance.

·         Remove your contact lenses and call your optometrist for any of the following abnormal adaptation symptoms:

-          You experience pain, redness, or excessive tearing in your eyes.

-          Your vision is persistently foggy.

-          You suspect something is wrong with your lenses or eyes.

·         In order to ensure safe and comfortable contact lens wear, a series of progress checks will be scheduled.  For your progress checks it is preferable to wear your contact lenses for at least 4-6 hours prior to the visit, providing you are not having any persistent difficulties.  If you lose or tear a lens prior to your progress check, please call the office so we can get you another one prior to your check. 

·         Your personal progress check schedule may differ but we recommend a check between seven to ten days at which time you will receive your prescription or your optometrist will try a new lens/parameters that will fit you better.

This schedule of progress checks may be increased to meet your needs in solving any difficulty you may be experiencing.

·         Unless otherwise recommended, have a complete visual assessment once a year.  You can determine the comfort and clarity of vision with your contact lenses, but you cannot determine the health of your eyes.  You will be required to have an eye exam every year to verify the contact lens prescription and the health of your eyes prior to reordering your contact lens boxes.

 

  • Tips for Contact Lens Success

·         Use a plug in the sink when inserting and removing your lenses.  Many lenses have been lost down the drain.

·         Keep lenses wet at all times.

·         Be careful with your lenses.  If they become torn or nicked, they must be replaced.

·         Have a pair of glasses with your current prescription handy for those times you are not wearing your contact lenses.

·         Have a pair of sunglasses.  They will be helpful due to increased light and wind sensitivity.

·         Insert contact lenses before applying make-up and remove them before removing make-up.

·         Occasionally, a lens can displace onto the white part of the eye when inserting, removing, or with sudden eye movement or increased tearing.  Don’t panic!  The lens may be left there for some time without injury or discomfort.  The lens will not get lost behind the eyeball.  Locate the lens; keep the eye wide open, then use the index finger to maneuver it back onto the cornea.  Looking in the direction of the contact lens while manipulating the lids make it easier to recenter the lens.  Avoid touching the cornea directly.

·         Don’t exceed your wearing schedule. 

·         Don’t sleep with your lenses in, unless your doctor has specifically prescribed extended wear contact lenses.  If they are accidentally over-worn, add a drop of contact lens/rewetting solution.  Blink a few times until the lens moves freely before removing it.

·         Avoid long fingernails which can rip or tear contact lenses and may possibly scratch the cornea on lens insertion and removal.

·         Soft lenses may be worn for sporting activities and are superior to hard contact lenses as they are not easily dislodged from the eyes.

·         Eye drops or solutions intended for hard contact lenses CANNOT be used with soft contact lenses. 

·         Do not use any eye drops or medications when your contact lenses are in unless specifically indicated by your doctor or indicated on the bottle.  Medications or preservatives can absorb into your lenses.

·         Some patients experience allergic reactions or sensitivities to different contact lens solutions.  Don’t mix and match solutions; if one is working well for you, stick with it.  It is possible to develop sensitivity to a contact lens solution, even after using it for some time; if so, notify your doctor immediately and he/she can recommend another solution to use.

·         Do not swim with your contact lenses in unless goggles or a mask are worn.  Hot tubs and swimming pools are known to be contaminated at times, and the risk of ocular infection increases significantly with contact lens wear.

·         If your eyes become dry with contact lens wear, the doctor can recommend one of several different artificial tear or rewetting drop solutions to use as needed.  Sometimes a different contact lens brand or solution may be needed.

 

 

Contact lenses, properly prescribed and monitored by your optometrist, properly maintained and not overworn, will provide you with safe, comfortable vision. 
Enjoy them!