Troubles with first time inserting contact lenses?

Question

Hi,

I've recently had my eyes tested and went to my first contact lens consultation with my optometrist. I've had some great difficulty inserting the contact lens in my eyes. The problem is; the thought of touching the eye ball and my eye lids tend to close up or blink rapidly, causing the insertion to be quite difficult to impossible. My optometrist said i have relatively small eye lids and surface area, which makes it even worse. I need some ideas to overcome this as i want to have a safe and relatively procedure inserting them.

Does anyone have any tips or easy procedures to insert contact lenses?

I would believe removing the lenses would be just as difficult as well, if i am having this problem.

Answer 1

I'm 16 and I just started on them about a month ago. It took me around 3 days to get the hang of it and by a week, I was confident. You see, it doesn't take that long! It is normal for your eyes to be like that since they need to get used to being touched (it's your blink reflex).

When you're putting them on, look in a mirror and hold your eyelid open then line up the lens with the eye. After that, try looking away and slowly bring the contact to the eye. I personally find it easier if I looked ahead but everyone's different and you will need to perform trial and error and figure out the best way. If done correctly, the lens should automatically move to the centre and stay there. Just blink a few times to get rid of any air bubbles.

I know you can do it and good luck with them! :)

Answer 2

You're going to have to be able to hold your eyelids open wide and firmly.  Make sure your fingers are dry and your contact is moist.  Use a mirror to line up the contact in front of your eye.  Then look as far as you can towards your nose and gently put the contact on the white part of your eye.  Sometimes it helps if you don't see it coming right at your eye.  Be gentle, but push it on hard enough to get out bubbles that may get under the contact.  Slowly look towards the contact and it should go on your cornea.  Look around in all directions slowly and then slowly release your eyelids and slowly close your eye.  I know I just said slowly a lot, but if you do things too quickly at first, it can pop the contact out.

If you're having problems just holding your eye open, maybe practice without the contact a little bit.  Practice opening your eye as much as possible and holding it firmly with your fingers.  Practice touching the side of your eye (the white part) with your finger.  

Remember to make sure your hands are very clean for all of this.  Like others have said, it will get easier as you keep practicing.

Answer 3

There are a few video's on youtube that may help you.  It won't let me post the links.

Answer 4

I think a lot of it is mind over matter, so that you are mentally inviting the contact into your eye so you can see without glasses.

I had a hard time with it at first as well and I have now worn contacts for 25 years.

I had to just keep practicing and after a while, I got the hang of it and you will as well.

Answer 5

just relax..it takes time and practice. after awhile you'll be a pro!

Answer 6

with a lens on my index fingertip, I put the middle finger on the lower eye lid lowering it and the lens goes right in.  after awhile you won't even flinch when the lens touches the eyeball.  taking the lens out isn't bad, just use thumb and index finger and pinch the lower portion of the lens.  after while you won't even feel the difference if the lenses are in or out.