When it comes to vision correction, contact lenses gives you the freedom to be active and give you that fresh look without the hassle of glasses.

Wherever you look, contact lenses move with your eyes to give you a full peripheral and focused vision.  You don’t get those reflections you get with glasses. Whatever the weather is, you always get clear vision. You don’t get that splash vision when it rains and you don’t get the steamed look when you enter a warm space.

However, if you are considering contact lenses it’s important to understand the responsibility that comes with it. There can be an adjustment period when it comes to trying contacts, from figuring out how to put them to learning when you should and shouldn’t wear your contact lenses. Here is how to master using contacts:

How to Put in Contact Lenses

Step 1: Always wash your hands! Your hands touch so many things throughout the day, picking up dirt, bacteria and other particles that could be harmful for your eyes. When handling contact lenses, you want to ensure your hands are as clean as possible. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to help decrease your chances of getting an eye infection.

Step 2: After washing your hands, dry your hands with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. This helps to prevent any lint particles from the cloth from getting into your eye.

Step 3: Find a clean, flat surface to put your contact case down. Set yourself up in a comfortable standing position. If it’s your first time putting in contact lenses, pick a spot in front of a mirror so you can see exactly what you’re doing.

Step 4: Oftentimes, you may have a different power or measurement for each eye. Make sure you know which contact goes in your left or right eye.

Step 5: Now it’s time to actually put in your contact lenses. Carefully remove one of your contact lenses from the case, and gently transfer it into your dominant hand. Always use your fingertips instead of your nails when handling your contacts to prevent scratching or damaging the lens.

Step 6: Rinse your lenses with saline solution to clean them. Then, using the tip of either your index or middle finger, put the contact on the tip of your finger, checking to make sure the lens is right-side out. If the contact lens looks like a bowl it is right-side out. However, if it resembles a lid, carefully reverse the lens.

Step 7: Using your non-dominant hand, hold your upper eyelid open. Next, using your middle or ring finger of your dominant hand, pull down your lower eyelid. Then carefully put the lens on your eye. Once your lens is on your eye, look up, down and side to side. Then gently blink a few times to settle your lenses into the correct position. Your lenses should feel very comfortable, almost as if there is nothing on your eye. If you feel any discomfort or experience blurred vision, take your lenses out and try putting them back in.

Step 8: Repeat on the other eye!

Are you ready to give contacts a shot? After you get your eye exam and get fitted for contacts, ask us about the brands and different options available for contact lenses.