Using contact lenses comes down to four skills: putting them in, taking them out, keeping them clean, and knowing when something’s wrong. If you’re new to contacts, the process feels awkward at first, but most people get comfortable within a week or two of practice. Here’s everything you need to know.
Before You Touch Your Lenses
Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them with a lint-free cloth or towel. This is the single most important habit for contact lens safety. Avoid soaps with heavy fragrances or oils, as residue can stick to the lens surface and irritate your eye. Always start with the same eye each time you insert your lenses so you don’t accidentally swap them.
Check That the Lens Isn’t Inside Out
An inside-out lens won’t damage your eye, but it will feel uncomfortable and won’t correct your vision properly. Place the lens on your index fingertip with the edges pointing up and look at its profile from the side. A correctly oriented lens looks like a smooth, rounded bowl. If the edges flare outward, creating a lip or rim, it’s inside out.
Two other ways to check: hold the lens up to a light and look for tiny printed markings near the edge. If the letters or numbers appear reversed, flip the lens. You can also try the “taco test,” gently pinching the lens edges together. If the edges curve inward toward each other, the orientation is correct. If they flare outward or resist folding, the lens is inside out.
How to Put Contacts In
Remove the lens from its case or sealed package using your fingertips, not your fingernails. Place it on the tip of your index finger on your dominant hand. With a finger on your other hand, gently pull your upper eyelid up toward your eyebrow to keep your lashes out of the way. Use the middle finger of your dominant hand to pull your lower eyelid down.
Look straight ahead or slightly upward toward the ceiling. Slowly bring the lens toward your eye and place it gently on the center of your eye. Then look down and blink a few times. The lens will settle into position on its own. Release your eyelids and check that your vision is clear and the lens feels comfortable.
If you find the two-hand method difficult, there’s a simpler one-hand technique: pull your lower eyelid down with your middle finger, look up, and place the lens on the lower white part of your eye. Many people find this easier once they’re past the initial learning curve.
How to Take Contacts Out
Look up while holding your eye open. Using the pads of your thumb and index finger (never your nails), gently pinch the lens from its edges and lift it off your eye. If you’re new to this, a common mistake is making a big sweeping motion to grab the lens. A more reliable technique is to touch your thumb and index finger together first, then press them against the lens and roll your fingertips to grip it.
If the lens doesn’t come off easily, take a few breaths and try again slowly. Keep your fingernails short and smooth to reduce the risk of scratching your eye or tearing the lens. This is especially important with soft lenses, which are thin and delicate.
Cleaning and Storing Your Lenses
Every time you remove your lenses, rub and rinse them with fresh contact lens solution before placing them back in the case. Never “top off” old solution with new solution. This is a common shortcut that significantly reduces disinfection and lets bacteria survive. Empty the case completely, fill it with fresh solution, and drop the lenses in.
After placing your lenses in the case, rinse the case itself with fresh solution (not water), then dry it with a clean tissue and store it upside down with the caps off. This prevents germs from building up in residual moisture. Replace your contact lens case every one to three months. A new case typically comes with each bottle of solution you buy, so there’s no reason to reuse an old one longer than that.
Keep Water Away From Your Lenses
Tap water, pool water, lake water, and shower water all pose real risks to contact lens wearers. Water can harbor a microscopic organism that causes a serious corneal infection that’s difficult to treat and can result in permanent vision damage. Never rinse or store your lenses in tap water, never use homemade solutions, and never wet your lenses with saliva. If you swim, remove your contacts first or wear watertight goggles.
Never Sleep in Your Lenses
Sleeping in contact lenses, even for a nap, increases your risk of a corneal infection six- to eightfold. Your cornea needs oxygen from the air to stay healthy, and a closed eyelid plus a contact lens creates a low-oxygen environment where bacteria thrive. The CDC has documented cases where sleeping in lenses led to permanent eye damage, repeated rounds of antibiotic eye drops, and multiple follow-up appointments. Unless your specific lenses are approved for extended wear and your eye care provider has explicitly cleared you for overnight use, take them out before bed every night.
Follow Your Replacement Schedule
Contact lenses come in three main replacement types, and each has a firm expiration point:
- Daily disposables are worn once and thrown away. They’re made from thinner materials not designed for multiple days. Reusing them dries out your eyes and raises your infection risk.
- Biweekly lenses are worn for up to 14 days, only during waking hours. You clean and store them each night.
- Monthly lenses are replaced 30 days after opening, not after 30 days of actual wear. If you open a pair on the first of the month, they go in the trash on the 30th regardless of how many days you wore them.
Over time, all reusable lenses accumulate protein deposits and become less breathable. Wearing them past their intended lifespan increases your risk for infections and irritation, no matter how well you clean them.
Signs Something Is Wrong
Remove your lenses immediately if you notice any of the following: redness, pain, blurred vision, unusual sensitivity to light, a burning or gritty feeling, excessive tearing, or any discharge. These symptoms can signal a corneal ulcer or infection that, left untreated, can cause serious harm including vision loss.
If you do remove your lenses because of symptoms, don’t throw them away. Store them in their case and bring them to your eye care provider, who may want to examine the lenses to determine what caused the problem.