How to Wear Contact Eye Lenses for the First Time

Wearing contacts for the first time can feel a bit intimidating, placing something directly onto your eye is not exactly second nature for most people. But with the right technique and a little practice, you’ll be slipping those lenses in like a pro. If you’ve ever wondered how to wear contact lenses for the first time, you’re not alone. Millions of people switch from glasses to contacts eye lenses each year for the freedom and comfort they offer.

This blog is going to take you through the very first wear of contact lenses a step at a time, fix some of the biggest newb errors, and give you some insider tips for contact lens on how to make it a heck of a lot less difficult to place contact lenses on for the first time.

Why Wear Contact Lenses?

Let us skip the whys you must wear them and go a little further along with initial wearing of contact lenses.

Contact lenses provide:

• More natural line of sight than spectacles.
• No temperature fogging.
• Can perform body exercise and sport.
• Less intimidating to others who cannot wear spectacles appropriately.
  

But doing research on that very first contact lens experience does involve some new skill on your part. And that is the reason why technique and cleanliness actually do become such a big consideration to keep in mind.

Beginner’s Guide How to Wear Contact Lenses for the First Time

1. Clean and Dry Your Hands Well

Rule number one for inserting contact lenses. Your eyes are open, and your hand is going to infect or hurt them if your hand is dirty or germ-y. Wash hands and dry hands on a lint-free towel using fragrance-free antibacterial soap.

2. Begin with the Same Eye Every Time

Make it a point not to confuse. Select either your right eye or your left eye to be your reference point and adhere to it throughout the day in order not to be confused and rotate the lens.

3. Position the Lens on Your Index Finger

Take the lens out of its blister pack or case and situate it on the tip of your index finger. Inspect the lens to make sure that it is not reverse-sided—a shiny outer half-sphere should be apparent. Uncertain, reverse it if its edges are facing outward like the rimmed bowl.

4. Look for Debris or Tears

Put the lens in front of some good light before inserting it. Inspect it for dust, lint, or tears. If broken, don't insert it. Wipe a teensy-weensy amount of dust off with lens solution if it's there.

5. Hold Your Eye Open Properly

This is probably the most important one to try to do for the first time with contacts. It's simply a matter of holding your top eyelid in the other hand, and you'll need to press down your bottom lid using the middle finger of the other hand. This will open your eye and provide you with a great point of access into your eye. 

6. Place In the Lens

Place your lens over the tip of your index finger. Place your eye straight ahead or a tiny bit one way up, and press your index finger and lens in until it comes in front of your iris. You'll feel like it stays for a second. Blink lots to put it in the dead center spot right on. 

7. Ensure It's Comfortable to Look At

After putting in the lens, your vision will clear immediately in that eye. If it is uncomfortable and scratchy, just blink or very gently rub your eyelid. If this is still uncomfortable, take out the lens, rinse with solution, and try again.

Do the same with the other eye.

Most Common Problems When Inserting Contacts for the First Time

Blinking Too Much

Your reaction is to close your eyes off creeping onto its path. Don't worry—this will occur. Just say creeping onto your eye and only withdrawing short of contact in trying to pacify.

Lens Falling Out

The lens won't seat if it is dried out or warped. Ensure your lens is wetted with fresh solution and your eye is wetted also.

Redness or Irritation

Some pinkness the first few times you insert them is fine, but regular stinging might indicate that your eyes are not being properly cleaned or that you are sensitive to the solution. Have you had it with your eye care practitioner if this persists.

Best Practices for New Contact Lens Wearers

Having already survived the adjustment period for the first wear of contact lenses, adopt these best practice rules that will lead to successful long-term wear and healthy eyes.

1. Use Fresh Solution at All Times

Never reuse contact lens solution. With every storage of your lenses, a fresh supply of multipurpose solution has been tapped into to keep your lenses as fresh and clean as possible.

2. Adhere to the Wearing Schedule

Your eye care provider will also tell you how many hours a day you should wear your lenses. New wearers can begin low—perhaps 4–6 hours a day—and build up to more over a period as your eyes become accustomed to having them on.

3. Never use your lenses except for overnight lenses (and your eye doctor has okayed)

Take them out at night. Sleeping in non overnight lenses will result in some seriously ugly eye problems.

4. Clean Your Case

Clean your contact case with a solution, not water, and change it every 1–3 months. Your case is a petri dish for bacteria that are spread to your lenses.

5. Keep Back-Up Glasses Handy

It is pleasant to wear glasses. Authoritative, but pleasant. Particularly while adjusting to wearing them. If your eyes are fatigued, rest them with glasses.

You'll get yourself crazy and drive yourself crazy with the first several attempts at contact lenses. You'll blink, push the lens out, or attempt a hundred times. Chill out! We all did it the difficult way. It requires practice and patience, but it'll be second nature in the blink of an eye.

Before you know it, one-day wear for contact lenses will become a 60-second bother from a 10-minute nuisance.

What You Will Find That You Are Getting Used To

While you will get used to wearing contact lenses first, pay attention to the following:

• Your best feature and everything looks and feels great with them in.
• It's easy to put in and take out.
• You look just okay for some dryness and redness.
• You're okay at cleaning the lens.
  

If you have been experiencing issues with such things as red eye, misty vision, or stinging, then a trip to your optician is well worth it. Perhaps it is a grade change of lens, material, or wear.

Final Thoughts

It wasn't a learning curve with contact lenses the first time, but it was one well worth taking. Convenience and ease of lenses is do or die to busy people or those who simply won't endure the hassle of glasses.

By following proper hygiene, using the right technique, and practicing daily, you’ll soon master how to put in soft contact lenses and confidently make them part of your routine.

Remember, it’s perfectly normal to feel nervous at first—but just like tying your shoes or driving a car, with time and repetition, it becomes second nature.