How to wear your contact lenses

A quick guide for beginners 

Welcome, beginner contact-lens wearers! Here, we have a quick guide with everything you need to know to start wearing your lenses. 

How to wear contact lenses for the first time 

Before you get started, make sure you have a clean solid towel and contact lens solution.  

Ok, ready? You got this. Here we go. 
 
Step 1: Wash your hands and dry thoroughly. 

Step 2: Place your towel in the sink. It’ll be your safety net in case you drop a lens.

Step 3: Take a contact out of its container and place it on the tip of your dominant hand’s pointer finger. 

Step 4: Making sure it’s not inside out, drop some solution into the lens.

Step 5: 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.

Step 6: Use the middle finger of the hand holding the contact to pull your bottom lid down.

Step 7: Look straight ahead as you slowly place the lens on to the middle of your eye.

Step 8: Blink, blink, blink, until your lens is comfortably in place.

Step 9: Give yourself a mirror high-five. Come on, up top. You did it.

Are you more of a visual learner? We’ve got a video that’ll guide you through all of the same steps. Check it out, here. 

Taking out your lenses for the first time 

Step 1: Wash and dry your hands thoroughly. 

Step 2: Place your clean towel in the sink, just like before. 

Step 3: Use the same technique as above (steps 5 and 6) to hold your eye open. 

Step 4: Now pinch the outer edges of your lens together using your thumb and pointer finger. 

Step 5: The lens should bow and push away from your eye as you do this. 

Step 6: Dispose of the contacts if they’re daily contacts or clean and store your lenses if meant for continued use. You can learn how to do that right… here. 

Need a visual example on how to remove your contact lenses? Check out our video tutorial. 

Common questions from beginners 

Is my contact lens inside out? 

You can tell if your contact lens is inside out by gently squeezing the edges of your lens together. If the edges part outward toward your fingers instead of folding toward one another, the lens is inside out. An inside-out contact lens is also likely to fall out of your eye. We’ve got a helpful diagram you can check out here. 

Can I sleep in my contacts? 

Nope. Your eyes need oxygen to properly fight infection and repair themselves while you sleep. Let your peepers breath and rest up overnight.  

Should I change my eye makeup? 

When it comes to makeup and contact lenses, some brands and ingredients are better than others. Ideally, you’d want makeup that’s free of oil, fragrance, and fiber. Look for hypoallergenic makeup that’s been ophthalmologically tested, and you should be good. 

How long does it take to get used to wearing contacts? 

Don’t get discouraged! It’s totally normal for things to feel a little odd for the first couple of weeks. Give your eyes time to adjust to their new wardrobe the way you would with a new pair of jeans or boots.  

How do I put in colored contacts? 

The same way you’d put in your regular contact lenses. Just make sure you’re putting them in right-side out. And you know how to do that now, so it’ll be a breeze. 

Well, now you’re ready for your first day in your new contacts. Feeling confident? Ready to take on the world with clearer vision? Or do you still have questions? We’ve got a customer care team filled with experts ready for whatever you want to toss their way. Give them a ring at 1-800-266-8228, text 41800, or chat anytime, 24/7.