Putting in contact lenses for the first time feels awkward, but the process becomes second nature within a week or two. The key is clean hands, a correctly oriented lens, and a calm, steady approach. Here’s exactly how to do it.
Wash and Dry Your Hands First
Before touching a contact lens, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then dry them with a lint-free towel. Fibers from paper towels or fluffy hand towels can stick to the lens and irritate your eye once it’s in. This step matters every single time, not just the first time. Bacteria on your fingers transfer directly to the lens and then sit against your cornea for hours.
Check That the Lens Isn’t Inside Out
A contact lens looks almost the same on both sides, so it’s easy to miss when it’s flipped. An inside-out lens won’t damage your eye, but it will feel uncomfortable, slide around, and blur your vision. There are three quick ways to check before you put it in.
The Edge Test
Place the lens on the tip of a dry finger with the edges pointing up. If it forms a clean U-shape with the edges pointing straight up, it’s correct. If the edges flare outward and the shape looks more like a shallow saucer, the lens is inside out.
The Taco Test
Gently pinch the lens between your thumb and forefinger near the middle, as if you’re folding it into a taco. If the edges curve smoothly inward like a taco shell, you’re good. If they flare outward, flip the lens.
The Number Check
Many lenses have tiny laser-etched markings (often “123”) near the edge. Hold the lens on your fingertip near a bright light and look for these numbers. If they read normally, the lens is oriented correctly. If they’re reversed, it’s inside out. Not all brands include these markings, so the edge test or taco test may be your only option.
How to Insert the Lens
Place the lens on the tip of your dominant index finger. Make sure the lens is sitting in a small bowl shape, not draped over the side of your finger. A drop of fresh contact lens solution on the lens can help it glide on more smoothly, especially in dry environments.
With the middle or ring finger of your dominant hand (whichever finger isn’t holding the lens), pull your lower eyelid down. With your other hand, hold your upper eyelid open. This is the part that triggers your blink reflex, and it takes practice to override it. Holding the lids firmly with the pads of your fingers, not your nails, gives you more control.
Look straight ahead into a mirror, or if that’s too difficult at first, look slightly upward. Place the lens directly onto the colored part of your eye. Once the lens makes contact, slowly release your lower lid first, then your upper lid. Look down gently to help the lens settle into position, and blink a few times. The lens should center itself on your eye within a second or two.
If the lens folds or sticks to your finger instead of your eye, it’s usually because your finger was too wet. Dry your fingertip again, reposition the lens, and try once more. The lens sticks to whichever surface is wetter, so a dry finger helps it transfer to your eye.
What to Do If the Lens Slides Off-Center
Sometimes a lens shifts onto the white of your eye, especially during insertion. This feels strange but isn’t harmful. Close your eye and gently massage the lid in the direction you want the lens to move. You can also look in the opposite direction of where the lens has drifted while using a finger to nudge it through your closed lid. It will slide back over the cornea. Avoid rubbing your eye aggressively or trying to pinch the lens while it’s on the white of your eye.
How to Remove Your Lenses
Wash and dry your hands again. Look up or straight ahead in a mirror. Using your non-dominant hand, hold your upper and lower eyelids open. With the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand, gently pinch the lower edge of the lens on either side and pull it away from your eye. The pinch should be light. You’re lifting the lens off the surface of your eye, not scraping it. If the lens feels stuck, add a few rewetting drops and blink several times before trying again.
Place each lens in its case immediately after removal. Never set a lens down on a counter or tissue, where it can dry out, tear, or pick up debris.
Cleaning and Storing Your Lenses
If you use a multipurpose solution, rub each lens gently in your palm with a few drops of solution, then place them in the case filled with fresh solution and soak for six to eight hours. Never top off old solution in the case. Pour it out, rinse the case with fresh solution (not water), and refill it completely each time.
Hydrogen peroxide systems are excellent at disinfecting, but they require a neutralizing step. The lens must sit in the special case with a neutralizing disc for the full recommended time, usually six hours. If you skip this step or cut it short, residual hydrogen peroxide will cause intense stinging and burning when the lens touches your eye. If you use this type of system, always follow the timing precisely.
Never Use Tap Water
Tap water, even filtered tap water, contains a microorganism called Acanthamoeba that’s common in the environment and harmless if you drink it, but dangerous if it gets trapped between a contact lens and your eye. These organisms stick to the lens surface and can cause a serious, difficult-to-treat eye infection. The same applies to homemade saline solutions, shower water, and swimming pool water. Only sterile, commercially packaged contact lens solution should touch your lenses or your case.
Tips for Your First Week
Your eyes need time to adjust. Mild awareness of the lens is normal for the first few days, but sharp discomfort, persistent redness, or watery eyes usually mean the lens is inside out, has debris on it, or is damaged. Remove the lens, inspect it, rinse it with solution, and reinsert it.
Start by wearing your lenses for just a few hours and gradually increase your wear time over four to five days. This lets your corneas adapt to reduced oxygen flow. If you’re struggling with the blink reflex, practice holding your eyelids open without a lens a few times to get comfortable with the sensation. Many people find that inserting lenses while looking slightly upward, rather than straight at the lens, reduces the urge to blink.
Keep a backup pair of glasses with you for the first couple of weeks. If a lens tears, falls out, or becomes uncomfortable and you’re away from home, you’ll want an alternative. Replace your lens case at least every three months, as biofilm builds up inside the case over time even with regular cleaning.