Contact lens insertion and removal

Care of your soft contact lenses.

Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing your lenses. Take care not to catch the lens or your eye with your finger nails, try to keep them short.

Work over a clean flat surface.

Use saline solution to rinse your lenses and your case; do not rinse them with tap water as this can cause eye infections.

To minimize the possibility of mixing your lenses up it is a good idea to get into the habit of always inserting and removing the same lens first.
Do not shower, bath or sleep in your lenses.

It is not recommended to swim in your contact lenses. Prescription swimming goggles are available. This should be discussed with your contact lens practitioner as other options may be available.

Remove the lens from the storage case and ensure it is not damaged, particularly checking edges for any damage.

Ensure the lens is not inside out. When it is the correct way round the lens is shaped like a cup. If it is inside out it is shaped like a saucer with the edges facing out.

The lenses may be rinsed in sterile saline or multi-purpose solution.
Prior to inserting them into your eyes place the contact lens onto the tip of your index finger of your dominant hand. Pull the lower lid down with the middle finger. Draw the upper eyelid up with the fingers of the other hand. While firmly holding the eyelids, gently place the lens on the eye.

Try to keep both eyes open when inserting your lenses and try not to blink. When the lens is on your eye, close your eyes slowly and blink several times.

If you wear two lenses repeat for the second lens.

Soft contact lens removal.

When removing your lenses you should follow the same routine each time to prevent mixing up your lenses.

Keep your chin down and look upwards. Pull your lower lid down gently with your middle finger. Slide your content lens down onto the white of your eye and gently pinch the front surface with your thumb and index finger, never with your fingernails.

If the contact lens is a daily disposable contact lens it should be disposed of immediately upon removal of the contact lens from the eye.

However, if the contact lens is not a daily disposable contact lens after you remove the lens from the eye it must be cleaned before it is put into the storage case in order to remove the microbes and deposits that built up on the lens during the day. 

Soft contact lens cleaning.

Place the lens into the palm of your hand and put two or three drops of the multi-purpose solution onto the lens.

Rub the lens gently but firmly with the little finger of the other hand approximately 30 seconds. Turn the lens over and rub the other side.  After rubbing the lens it is essential to rinse it with saline solution or multi-purpose solution in order to remove the loosened debris.

Fill the storage case with fresh multi-purpose solution, place the lens into the correct side of the storage case. The soaking solution must be changed on a daily basis. If you wear a lens in your other eye, repeat for the second eye.

Leave your contact lenses to soak overnight in the closed case or for a minimum of four hours.

Contact lens case hygiene.

Eye infections can occur due to poor lens case cleaning.

On insertion of your lenses you must discard the solution from your case. Rinse the case with saline solution or multi-purpose solution and leave to air dry. The contact lens case should be replaced with a new one every month.

You may have been advised to use a different method to insert and remove your lens. If so, please follow the instructions from your contact lens practitioner.

Care of your rigid gas permeable contact lenses

Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing your lenses.

Take care not to catch the lens or your eye with your fingernails, try to keep them short.

Work over a clean flat surface or put in the plug if you are working over a wash basin

Rigid permeable gas contact lens insertion 

Remove the lens from the storage case add one drop of the conditioning solution. Gently rub the solution over the lens so that both sides of the lens are covered.  Place the lens onto the index finger of your dominant hand and ensure the lens is not deposited or damaged, particularly checking the edges for nicks.

Hold your bottom eyelid down with the middle finger of your dominant hand and lift the top eyelid up with your other hand. Maintain a firm hold of the top eyelid to prevent blinking. Keep looking straight at the lens and bring the lens towards your eye. If you keep your eye looking straight at the lens then the lens will be positioned towards the centre of your eye.  Let go of your bottom eyelid first and then gently close your top eyelid. Blink slowly and gently until the lens begins to feel comfortable.

If you wear two lenses repeat for the second lens.

Rigid permeable gas contact lens removal 

Method one 

Look straight ahead and press the edge of your lower eyelid against the eyeball beneath the contact lens. Lift your top eyelid above the contact lens and then push it down over the eyeball until the eye is shut. The lens should be pushed out and be resting between the eyelashes.

Method two

Look straight ahead and open your eye as wide as possible. Place your finger at the outer corner of your eye and pull your eyelids tight over towards your ear, blink the lens should come out.

Rigid permeable gas contact lens cleaning

Place the lens on the palm of your hand and put two or three drops of the cleaner onto the lens. Rub the lens gently, but firmly, for approximately 30 seconds with the little finger of your other hand. After rubbing the lens, it is essential to rinse it with saline solution in order to remove the loosened debris and any remaining cleaner. Rinse the cleaning solution off the lens by rubbing the lens between the thumb and the forefinger with saline.

Fill the storage case with conditioning solution and place the lens into the correct side of the case. This conditioning solution must be changed on a daily basis. If you wear a lens in the other eye repeat for the second eye. Leave the lenses to soak overnight in the case.

You must always use the care system recommended to you by your contact lens practitioner. 

Rigid permeable gas contact lens case hygiene 

On insertion of the lenses you must discard the solution from your case. Rinse the case with saline and leave the case to air dry. The contact lens case should be replaced with a new one at least every 3 months.

Re-centering a displaced lens 

If a lens moves onto the white of your eye you will need to locate it and re-centre it onto the cornea.

Pull down the lower eyelid, if the lens has lodged below the cornea, place one or two fingers onto the lower eyelid margin to gently push the lens back onto the cornea.

If the lens was not below the cornea then it is either under the top eyelid or it has fallen out. Remember a contact lens cannot go behind the eye

Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing your contact lenses.

Work over a clean flat surface.

Inserting you scleral lens

Remove the lens from the case and rub with your contact lens cleaning solution. Apply your contact lens cleaning solution (Ote Cleaner), or a recommended alternative, to the front and back surfaces of the lens. Gently rubbing it between your fingers. Rinse the lens well with saline solution until all of the cleaning solution is removed.

• Hold the scleral lens between your thumb and forefinger and fill the lens with lens plus (Ocupure) saline, or an alternative unpreserved saline solution.
• Lean forward so that your face is parallel to the floor and look as far as possible towards your chin to avoid spilling the saline.
• Pull your upper lid up with the index finger of your other hand. Slide the lens under your upper lid making sure to keep looking towards your chin.
• When the lens is under your upper lid physically close your lid over the lens with your other hand and let go of the lens at the same time. While still holding your top lid over the lens.
• You can then pull your lower lid over the lens with your free hand.
• When the lens is in place under both lids look up slowly.

Removing lenses

• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before removing your lenses.
• Look down keeping your chin upwards and lift your upper lid on the side nearest your nose with your index finger so that the lid is above the upper rim of the lens.
• Press downwards and then tighten the lid by drawing your finger towards your temple.
• This action will push the lid underneath the edge of the lens releasing the suction.
• Keep pulling towards your temple to get the lens to come out from your eye and catch it with your other hand.
• Alternatively, do this over a table covered with a towel to prevent the lens falling on the floor. Or you can use a suction holder to remove your contact lens.

Scleral lens cleaning

Rinse the lens with saline once it is removed from your eye. Apply your contact lens cleaning solution (Ote Clean) cleaner, or a recommended alternative, to the front and back surfaces of the lens while gently rubbing it between your fingers.

Rinse the lens again with saline until all of the cleaning solution is removed. Dab the lens dry with a clean, soft tissue. Once the lens is dry store it in the case provided taking care not to get any water or leftover cleaning solution into the case.

Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting your contact lenses. 

Before inserting your contact lenses remove the lens from the storage case and make sure it is not damaged, particularly checking the edges for any signs of damage. Check too that there are no deposits on the lens. 

Mini scleral contact lens insertion

• Rinse your lenses with sterile saline or multi-purpose solution before you insert them.
• Using your preferred hand hold your thumb, index and middle finger together to form a tripod and place the lens on top of this tripod.
• Fill the lens with preservative-free saline (Amidos or AMO Lens Plus saline) and lean forward and look down at the floor. Sometimes it is helpful to place a mirror flat on the counter to look into as you insert the lens. 
• Pull your upper lid up using the middle finger of the other hand, maintain a firm hold of the upper eyelid to prevent blinking.
• Pull down the lower lid using your ring finger of the hand holding the lens.
• Gently place the lens on your eye while firmly holding both eyelids in position. Try to keep both eyes open without blinking.
• It s very important not to push the lens too forcefully onto the eye.
• Once the lens is on your eye check the lens on your eye using a mirror to ensure there are no bubbles underneath.  If there are bubbles present you will need to remove it and reinsert it.
• If you wear a lens in the other eye do the same for the second lens. 
• Alternatively you can place the lens on a DMV device instead of a finger tripod, as shown here. The lens can then be inserted in the same way as if it was on a finger tripod.
• Using your preferred hand rest the mini scleral lens on two fingers the index finger and the middle finger, press closely together.
• Fill the lens with preservative-free saline (Amidos or AMO Lens Plus saline), lean forward and look down at the floor. Sometimes it is helpful to place a mirror flat on the counter to look into as you insert the lens. 
• Use your other hand to hold open the eyelids by pulling down the lower lid with your thumb and pulling up the top lid with your forefinger.
• Gently place the lens onto your eye while firmly holding both lids. Try to keep both eyes open without blinking.
• It is very important not to push the lens too forcefully onto the eye.
• Once the lens is on your eye check the lens using a mirror to ensure there are no air bubbles under the lens. If there are bubbles present you will need to remove the lens and reinsert it.
  If you wear a lens in the other eye repeat for the second lens.
• Throw away the solution from your case, rinse it with saline solution and leave it upside down on a clean surface to air dry.

Mini scleral contact lens removal with a suction holder 

• Draw the upper eyelid up with the fingers of your non-preferred hand,
• Pull the lower lid down with the middle finger of your preferred hand and place the suction holder on the lower third of the mini scleral contact lens.
•  it is imperative that the suction holder is not placed directly onto the surface of the eye.
• Pull gently away from the eye to remove the lens.
• Remove the suction holder from the lens by gently sliding it off the lens
• Never attach the suction holder to the centre of the lens and pull.

Alternative mini scleral contact lens removal method 

• Looking slightly down,  draw the upper eyelid up from where your eyelashes begin with your index finger.
• Hold the eyelid directly against the eyeball so that the eyelid is directly above the upper rim of the lens. 
• Press the edge of your upper eyelid against the eyeball beneath the contact lens to release the suction.
• Then tighten the lid by drawing your finger towards the temple to eject the lens from your eye.  
• Catch it with your other hand, or do this over a table covered with a towel to prevent the lens from falling onto the floor.

Place the lens into the palm of your hand and put two or three drops of the cleaning solution (Ote Cleaner) onto the lens.

Rub the lens all over gently but firmly with the little finger of your other hand for approximately 30 seconds

After rubbing the lens it is essential to rinse it with saline solution or multi-purpose solution.

Fill the storage case with fresh multi-purpose solution and place the lens into the correct side of the storage case.

If you wear a lens in the other eye do the same for the second lens.