Many people who recently started wearing contact lenses, or even some experienced users, have useful questions about using contacts.
Here are a few quick tips to help you with daily contact lens concerns:
- Is my contact lens inside out?
Sometimes it is hard to determine if soft contact lenses have flipped inside out. The trick is to put the lens on your finger so that a cup is formed. Then hold the lens up straight in front of your eyes, so you’re gazing at the side of the cup.
The distinction can be subtle, but before placing a contact lens on your eye, ensure it looks like half a ball. If the lens forms a half-ball shape, then it’s the correct position.
If you’re wearing a lens color lens, another technique is to place the lens on your fingertip and then look down at it. The end of a colored lens should look very blue; that won’t be the case if the contact lenses is inverted.
- Applying your contact lenses
Always clean your hands completely before wearing your contact lenses. Avoid cleansers that are scented or include lanolin and moisturizing lotions, which can adhere to your lenses.
And always start with the same eye to avoid mixing up which lens goes on which eye. Other basic rules for contact lens application include:
Gently sway your lens case, including the storage solution, to release the contact lens. Take the lens out of its case and into the palm of your hand. Clean the lens entirely with the appropriate contact lens solution.
Place the contact lens on the top of your index finger, which should be dry. Simultaneously pull up your upper eyelid and down on your lower eyelid. Place the lens on your eye while looking upward or forward, whichever you find more comfortable. Smoothly close your eye, move your eyes in a complete circle to help the lens settle, and then blink your eyes.
- Removing your contact lenses
Always wash your hands before removing your contact lenses. Not to remove your lense infront of the sink as there might be a chance it falls down. You can also cover the drain where the contact lens might unexpectedly fall.
To remove contact lenses, look upward or sideways while you pull down on your lower eyelid. With a finger, carefully move the lens onto the white of your eye. Now, gently press the lens with your index finger and thumb and hoist it off the eye.
When you are wearing a lens, try not to apply glitter eye shadows to irritate your eyes. Even eyeliner and mascara can bring tears to your eyes if you are wearing a lens. So try to use light makeup on the eyes.
- Eye makeup and contact lenses
Removing makeup in your eye is irritating. But it’s even worse if you are wearing contact lenses because they can adhere to or reach behind your lenses rather than cleaning right out. Use only non-allergenic makeup.
Use cream eye shadow instead of powder one. But creams can aggravate your eyes more if they do get into your eyes. Choose water-based makeup rather than oil-based.
To remove eye makeup:
- Wash and dry your hands.
- Remove your contacts first, being cautious not to put any makeup on them.
- Use your eye makeup remover.
- Contact lenses and UV radiation
Researchers have combined ultraviolet (UV) light to the development of cataracts. That’s the reason some contact lenses now comprise a UV-blocking agent. You can’t tell if a contact lens has a UV blocker just by looking at it — the blocking agent is obviously not disturbing vision. The contact lens packaging will stipulate if the product has a UV blocker, or you can ask your eye doctor.
Wear large sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection to shield your eyes and the sensitive skin around them from UV damage. UV-blocking contacts only give limited supplemental protection for your eyes from the sun’s deadly UV rays.