1. How to put in your contact lenses

Jun 19, 2020

“How To Put In Your Contact Lenses” is the first video in a three part series aimed to help you learn the ins and outs of contact lens wear.

Don’t forget to also check out “How To Take Out Your Contact Lenses” and “How To Clean Your Contact Lenses.”

Video Transcript

This is Emily. She just got her first pair of contacts. Emily, are you ready to learn how to put them in? It’s nothing to be scared of. We’ll take you through each simple step, one at a time.

Putting in your contacts

Here’s what you’ll need. Clean hands, a solid-colored towel, lint-free if you have one, contact lens solution, and of course your lenses.

First, wash and thoroughly dry your hands. Clean hands help keep your eyes healthy and free from infection. Place your towel over the sink. Really, it will keep your lens from going down the drain and help you find it if you accidentally drop it. Now, take one of the contacts out of the box and note which eye it’s for. We recommend starting with the same eye every time. This routine will help make sure you have the correct lens for the correct eye.

After you’ve taken the lens out of the box, place it on the tip of your dominant hand’s pointer finger. Make sure the lens isn’t inside out. Drop some solution into the lens. This will help draw the contact to your eye comfortably.

Ok Emily, here’s the most important bit: holding your eyelids open. You’re trying to create the biggest target possible for your lens, so it’s important to tell your peepers no when their natural reaction is to close. It’s easiest if you keep both eyes open as wide as possible, looking forward at yourself in the mirror. Now, with the hand that’s not holding your contact lens, use your pointer finger to gently lift the eyelashes of your upper lid towards your eyebrow, pressing the lid against the bone. And with the middle finger of the same hand that’s holding the lens, press the lower lashes. Just like you did with the upper lid, pull the lower lid down towards the cheek.

Relax. Take a deep breath, and go to your happy place. Remember, it’s nothing to be scared of. We promise. Look straight ahead as you slowly place the lens on to the middle of your eye. Blink a few times to help center the contact lens.

And there you have it. Good job! We knew you could do it. Now it’s time to throw yourself a party.

1-800 Contacts. Never run out of contacts.


 
There are a lot of stressful things in life but putting in your contact lenses doesn’t need to be one of them. We’ll take you through each simple step and get you on your way to being a contact lens wearing pro.

What you’ll need

  • Contact lenses
  • Contact lens solution
  • Sink
  • Mirror
  • Clean countertop
  • Unscented, lotion-free soap
  • Solid-colored, lint-free towel

Clean hands mean happy eyes

Use an unscented, lotion-free soap to thoroughly wash your hands. Perfumes and lotions from soaps can transfer onto contact lenses leading to eye irritation. Dry your hands with a lint-free towel—getting lint in your eye is not fun, trust us. After you’ve finished drying your hands, place your towel over the sink to help you find your contact if you drop it and to prevent your contact from going down the drain.

Routine is key

Take one of the contacts out of the box and note which eye it’s for. Establishing a routine of starting with the same eye every time will help make sure you have the correct lens for the correct eye.

Getting your lens ready

Place your lens on the tip of your dominant hand’s pointer finger. Make sure the lens isn’t inside out—it should look like an evenly rounded bowl. Put a couple drops of solution into the lens to help draw it to your eye comfortably.

Important

Holding your eyelids open is one of the most important parts when it comes to putting in your contact lenses because your eyes will naturally want to close. Fighting this natural response and creating the biggest target possible will make it a lot easier

Opening your eyelids

With the hand that’s not holding your contact lens, use your pointer finger to gently lift the eyelashes of your upper lid at the hairline towards your eyebrow, pressing the lid against the bone. With the middle finger of the same hand that’s holding the lens, press the lower lashes at the hairline and pull down towards the cheek.

Placing your lens

With your eye held open, look straight ahead as you slowly place the lens on to the middle of your eye. Blink a few times to help center the contact lens.

Repeat

Follow these steps with your other eye and there you have it. We knew you could do it.

Learn about taking out your contacts here.