Contact lenses provide a safe and effective way to correct vision when used with care and proper supervision. Like eyeglasses, contact lenses help to correct refractive errors and perform this function by adding or subtracting focusing power to the eye’s cornea and lens. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to wear contact lenses:
- First, wash your hands thoroughly and dry them well.
- Open your contact lens case and use your fingertip to put the first contact lens in your non-dominant hand.
- Rinse the lens with contact lens solution. Never use regular water.
- Put the lens on the top of the index or middle finger of your dominant hand.
- Check to make sure the lens isn’t damaged and that the correct side is facing up. The edges of the lens should turn up to form a bowl, not flip out. If it’s inside out, gently flip it. If the lens is damaged, don’t use it.
- Look in the mirror and hold your upper and lower eyelids open with the hand not holding the lens.
- Look in front of you or up toward the ceiling and place the lens in your eye.
- Close your eye slowly and either roll your eye around or press gently on the eyelid to settle the lens in place. The lens should feel comfortable, and you should be able to see clearly after blinking a few times. If it’s not comfortable, gently take out the lens, rinse it, and try again.
- Repeat with the second lens.