Tips for First Time Contact Lens Wearers

If you've recently been fitted for contact lenses for the first time, congratulations! Most people soon learn to love the comfort and convenience associated with wearing a pair of well-fitting contact lenses. Even so, if you're a bit nervous about wearing your new contacts, you're not alone! The optometrists at CV Optometry want you to be successful with your new eyewear and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Always Practice Good Hygiene

To get off to a successful start, always remember that wearing contact lenses and practicing good hygiene go hand in hand. Before touching your contact lenses or your eyes, be sure to wash your hands in hot water, using a mild soap, and thoroughly rinse away any residue. Ideally, use a lint-free towel to dry your hands. Except for your contact lens case, your solution bottle, and the contacts themselves, avoid touching anything else until after your contacts are in your eyes.

When you're ready to take your lenses out, the same hygienic processes should take place. Wash your hands using hot water and soap, then following your optometrist's instructions, remove and clean each lens. Avoid touching any unnecessary objects until your contact lenses are safely tucked away in their case.

Practice, Practice, Practice

If you've never worn contact lenses before, it's normal to be a bit apprehensive about correctly placing them in your eyes for the first time. The best way to become confident about inserting/removing your contacts is to practice regularly until you feel comfortable. Your optometrist should have already given you some tips during your most recent visit, but you can do some additional things at home to make the process a little easier.

Additional Tips

As part of their morning routine, many people apply various moisturizers, creams, etc. to the skin on their face. Even if they wash their hands to remove the residue on their fingers, it's still difficult to get a grasp on slippery eyelids, cheekbones, etc. Ideally, wash your face and hands first, pat them dry, then clean and insert your lenses, before applying facial creams and lotions.

If you're concerned about the lens slipping out of your grasp and going down the sink, place a clean lint-free towel over the entire sink while you're attempting to put in a lens. If it falls on the towel, simply clean it again with lens solution and repeat the insertion process.

Plan Ahead

Even though a well-fitting pair of contact lenses should be comfortable for hours, there are those rare times when you need to temporarily remove a lens. It's always a good idea to carry a spare contact lens case and a travel-size bottle of lens solution when you're going to be away from home, or keep a duplicate set of these items in your office or your locker at school. If you need to remove and reinsert a lens when you're on the go, you'll have everything you need right at your fingertips.

Of course, even when you're away from home, you should wash your hands before reinserting a lens. If you don't have access to hot water and soap, it's best to remove both lenses and wear prescription eyeglasses for the rest of the day.

If You Have More Questions

Preserving your eye health is very important to us. The optometrists at CV Optometry are happy to answer any questions you may have about wearing your new contact lenses. If you're not yet a contact lens wearer and are wondering if they would be a good eyewear solution for you, call or text CV Optometry at (760) 347-6636 to schedule a consultation with one of our professional optometrists!