Putting in contact lenses

its been a week now and it still takes me a good 10-20mins to put my new contacts in. Basically i sit there poking my eye through a contact lense until, by some fluke, it goes in. And I ripped one the other day which is annoying cos they're expensive 2-week ones.

Tips, advice, experiences as a contact lense virgin, special techniques anyone?

Reply 1

*soph*

14

Keep at it - it will get easier. I used to be OK getting them in, it was taking them out that was the problem, I'd spend about 20 mins taking one out, poking until my eye was red and sore!

Reply 2

tinkerbellejess

13

All I can say is it does get easier, but I can't remember how long it took. But when I first got then I remember I would dread all day the thought of having to take out my contacts lenses that evening!

When your eyes are getting sore, it's best to take a break for a few minutes and then try again. When my eyes get sore because I've been poking around in them, the lenses won't feel comfortable when I do eventually get them in!

Reply 3

*River

15

Practice makes perfect! I've been wearing them for almost 4 years now, and I think it takes a couple of months to get used to them. Basically, I've found that the easiest way to get them in is as follows:
-turn the lense so that there isn't a 'lip' around the top (if you flip it both ways it should become apparent what I mean!) and put it on your middle finger of your left hand, if you're putting the lense in your left eye, or the opposite for your right eye.
-bring your other arm over your head and use your hand to pull your top eye lid up
-use your index finger of the hand with the lense on to pull your lower lid down, and then look directly at your middle finger as you bring the lense towards your eye.
-blink slowly, and move your hand away from your eye.
With practice, you'll get the hang of it eventually so don't give up just yet.

Reply 4

*Joanna*

12

No, don't look at your finger! If I do that I blink and the lens comes out. I use my index finger of my right hand to put the lens on my eye, pull the lower lid down with the ring finger of my right hand and pull the upper lid up with the middle finger of my left hand. Make sure your fingers aren't wet, otherwise your lens will prefer to stick to them instead of your eye. If you keep missing your eye, put it back in the solution and shake it a bit to get rid of any fluff.

Reply 5

Fluent in Lies

2

I look straight at the finger. Goes right into place in the center of your eye that way. Though I use my index finger/middle finger reversed as to descibed before. i.e. lens goes on index finger.

Reply 6

Nitzy

1

Ahhh I remember those times took me three days to first get it in as I wouldn't stop blinking but now its just normal now. You'll get used to it I just pull my lower lid and put the lense in from the bottom and it goes up of course with my right hand.

And to add to what *Joanna* said if your lenses irritate your eye take it out put it in the palm of your hand put a bit of your eye solution and just rub it with your finger.

Reply 7

cpj1987

15

I just forced myself to be brave one day, and instead of just putting the lens in, I held it there for a long time, watching in the mirror until it folded correctly over my eye, then looked all around to make sure it was completely secure before moving my finger away. It means holding the lens on the eye for at least 10 seconds but you can be sure your lens is always in right!

Reply 8

Puppy :)

Best way for me to get mine in is as follows:

When putting the lense into your left eye:
1. look towards your nose.
2 then place the contact lense on the white part of your eye
3 then quickly look up down and all around and the lens will stay on your eye.
Use the above strategy for your right eye as well, basically, place the lense on the white of your eye.

No pain whatsoever :smile:

, well for me...

Good Luck!!

Reply 9

fruitlooplou

Hey! I know the feeling- and i used to be a bit squimish about touching my eyes and things!! Made me late for everything!
however i managed to find a way that works for me.
firstly i pull down the lower lid with my left hand, then with the contacct lense on the middle finger of my right hand i put the contact lense towards the bottom of my eye..on the white bit. then using my right hand i lift my upper eyelid off my eyeball..look up, put the eyelid back down over the contact lense and it moves into the centre everytime!

--also its ALOT harder trying to take contacts out with longer nails..end up pinching the eye and it picks like mad! ended up having to bite mine all of :biggrin:

hope this was some help!
Lou

Reply 10

Triplet1

13

halfoflessthan50p

its been a week now and it still takes me a good 10-20mins to put my new contacts in. Basically i sit there poking my eye through a contact lense until, by some fluke, it goes in. And I ripped one the other day which is annoying cos they're expensive 2-week ones.

Tips, advice, experiences as a contact lense virgin, special techniques anyone?

Just kepp practising.

Try jsut spending some time taking it out and putting it in.

Also just relax when your putting it in, that might help.

It will get easier :smile:

Reply 11

Zoecb

11

You need to put the lens on the right place on your finger so that you're placing it directly ONto the front of your eye. When you do, press a bit and even slide it around a bit to make sure it's on your eye. Then when you shut your eyes look around, it'll stablise it on the middle of your eye.

Reply 12

hermaphrodite

15

halfoflessthan50p

its been a week now and it still takes me a good 10-20mins to put my new contacts in. Basically i sit there poking my eye through a contact lense until, by some fluke, it goes in. And I ripped one the other day which is annoying cos they're expensive 2-week ones.

Tips, advice, experiences as a contact lense virgin, special techniques anyone?

it took me three days to get used to it.

buy a months supply daily disposables and use them first until you get used to using them. Then start using the continous wear ones you have now. tearing the continuos ones is very expensive; but if you accidently tear a disposable it's th equivalent of less than a pound

Reply 13

LostRiot

14

I'm going to glastonbury next month, I'm hoping to go and get sorted for some contacts sometime this week and practice using them as I figure they'll be more practical than glasses. but reading this is worrying me, how many weeks of practice will it be till I can change them in a tent?

Reply 14

Andrew28913

Practice, practice, practice - it makes perfect eventually. But my advice would be just to take your time and make sure your eyelids are held back as far as possible.

Reply 15

Jackus

I took forever first, eyes watering forever. 4 years later I can the pair in 5 seconds.

Reply 16

Andrew28913

LostRiot

how many weeks of practice will it be till I can change them in a tent?

err...never? Not a good idea.

Reply 17

tbtommyb

11

You just need to find your own method. If it's that you keep blinking, make sure you're holding your eyelids firmly so that they don't twitch. If I'm putting it in my left eye, I use my left hand to hold the upper eyelid, middle finger on the right to pull down the other eyelid and have the lens on the index. It might work for you, it might not. I find it better to unfocus your eye rather than staring at the lens. And when it's in resist the temptation to blink and instead look around to get rid of air bubbles. If you're having trouble getting it in and your eye is watering, dry your hands and around your eye to make it a bit easier.

Reply 18

Gem

14

I think you should buy some Saline, like...

Or similar. Saline lubricates the eye when you put it in, it's not as 'dry' and so it doesn't hurt later in the day.

I've been wearing lenses....9 years (didn't realise it was that long!) and when I stay over somewhere and forget my saline, they hurt all day long, like I have grit in my eye.

As for putting them in, as people say, practise makes perfect. I used to use a mirror, so I could see where I was aiming, but now it just comes naturally - and for you it will, trust me! Just give it time :smile:

Good luck.

Reply 19

Invent

halfoflessthan50p;

putting lenses in is a piece of cake now, and takes me about 5 seconds.

I started wearing them in February so you can see it hasnt taken long for me to get the knack.

I guess all i can say is that practice makes perfect. Look at your eye in the mirror as you are putting them in. I never look at my finger cause i miss then lol. So i find it easiest to use a mirror, but different people have different techniques.

It took me about 20-30 minutes getting them in the first week or so, and it gradually got faster and faster and now, 4 months down the line it takes me 5 secs

Taking them out however has never been an issue with me. I have always been able to get them out in seconds.

But please take this advise: ALWAYS, ALWAYS make sure you clean them properly, as i learned from my mistake by not doing this. 3 months after getting my monthly disposables, i was at the opticians with Viral Conjunctivitis. Completely and utterly my own fault for not cleaning them properly, purely cause i could never be bothered at night, and i never put fresh solution in either. On top of that i wore them for about 16 hours a day which is badd.

Advice is this: Wear them for about 12 hours a day, or less if your eyes start to get tired. When you take them out, immediately clean them properly and refresh the solution in your container before you forget. If you dont, you will suffer the same consequences as i did. By not cleaning them and wearing them too long each day, the lenses became contaminated and i wasnt aware. 2 weeks later i had a very bad case of viral conjunctivitis because i had ignorantly been putting contaminated lenses back in my eyes every day

Summary lol: All i can say with regards to the time it takes to put them in, is; practice makes perfect. Try different methods until you can perfect your own technique. Also, CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN them EVERY day :wink:

hope this long winded post helps

Putting in contact lenses

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