Method 2 Hold the upper lashes/lid with the hand not holding the lens. Hold the lower lid with the
middle finger of the preferred hand and look up. Place the lens on the lower white part of
your eye. Look down to center the lens on the eye and slowly release the lower lid. Blink a
few times to ensure that the lens is centered, free of trapped air, and comfortable. Follow the
same procedure for the left eye.
Clean Case
After removing your lenses from the case, rinse your case well with contact lens solution or saline and allow
the case to air dry. The storage case should be cleaned every week with liquid detergent and warm water.
Replace your case every 3 months. A dirty contact lens case can contaminate your contact lenses with bacteria/
germs, which can be transferred to your eye.
Removing, Storing, and Cleaning Your Lens
Removal
Wash and dry hands thoroughly. Pull down the lower lid with the middle finger of your preferred hand.
With the tip of your index finger of the preferred hand, lightly touch the bottom edge of the lens. While
looking up, slide the lens down onto the white part of your eye. Then gently pinch the lens off the white
part of your eye using your thumb and index finger.
Removal Tips For Toric Lens Wearers
To decrease the chance of tearing a lens, use re-wetting drops prior to removal and gently rotate the lens
on your eye and pinch it off. The following day, rotate the lens in the opposite direction and then pinch
off the lens. This avoids pinching the lens in the same area at every removal.
If A Lens Sticks Together
Place the lens in the palm of your hand and soak it thoroughly with solution. Gently roll the lens with
your index finger in the palm of your hand in a back and forth motion. If gently rubbing does not sepa-rate
the lens edges, soak it in solution until it resumes normal shape.
Adding a drop of lubricant to the eye prior to lens removal will hydrate the lens and prevent it from stick-ing
together.
Soft Contact Lens Care
Three steps to proper contact lens care must be followed every time the lenses are removed from your eye.
Cleaning: After removing the lens, place a few drops of cleaner in the palm of your hand and in the bowl
of the lens. Gentle but firmly rub the lens for 20-30 seconds between your palm and the index finger of
the opposite hand. Rub in a plus-sign or straight line motion. Take care to avoid contact between your fin-gernails
and the lens. Rinse the lens with rinsing solution and place the lens in the storage case. Repeat
with left lens. Cleaning lenses removes mucus and oils that may have collected during the day.
Rinsing: Place the lens in the opposite palm. Cup your hand and fill the palm with a pool of rinsing solution until
the lens is immersed. Rub the lens using the same motion in the cleaning step. Turn the lens over and repeat
until all cleaner is removed.
Soaking and Disinfection: After cleaning and rinsing your lenses, place them in the storage case. Make
sure the lens is completely covered with storage solution. Change solution daily. The lenses must be stored a
minimum of 4-6 hours before being worn. Storing the lenses in the multipurpose solution removes protein
build-up and disinfects the lenses.
Additional Information
Re-wetting Drops: Drops can be used as desired while you are wearing the lenses to hydrate the lenses
and reduce dryness and “foggy” vision.
Hydration: Soft lenses must always be in hydrated (wet) form. If the lens is dropped and allowed to dehydrate
(dry), it will not be ruined. It will become brittle and could break easily when handled. Place the lens back into
the storage case with solution for a minimum of 4-6 hours to allow the lens to disinfect and return to a
soft, flexible state. Inspect for defects before wearing. If the lens is uncomfortable call our department.
Water: Never use water, including distilled or mineral water, with soft contact lenses for any purpose.
Fresh water or tap water contains impurities which could cause eye infections.
Part-Time Wear: Lenses should be cleaned and placed in fresh disinfecting solution every week and
should also be disinfected 24 hours prior to lens wear. Lenses can be stored in some solutions for 30 days
safely, but should be disinfected before wearing.
Pain, Discomfort, Redness, Blurring of Vision: If pain, discomfort, or redness occurs, remove lenses, clean,
rinse, inspect and put back on the eye. If blurring occurs, this may be due to drying of the lenses and
should clear up after blinking several times while moving the eyes back and forth. Instilling re-wetting drops
will also help. Check to be sure the lenses are in the proper eyes. You may also try soaking the contact lenses in
your storage solution for 30 minutes and replace on eye. If symptoms persist, remove lenses and call our
department for an appointment.
Eye Drops: Eye drops, other than re-wetting drops, must not be used when lenses are being worn. Dis-cuss
use of other drops with your doctor.
Spectacles: Have a current pair of glasses to wear when taking a break from contact lens wear. Glasses are
needed if you have an eye infection or tear a lens.
Sports Wear: Soft lenses may be worn for sporting and athletic activities since these lenses rarely dislodge
from the eye.
Swimming: Soft lenses should not be worn for swimming or other water sports unless watertight goggles
are worn. Soft lenses may become contaminated with microorganisms or chlorine and can cause an
eye infection. Lenses can also adhere to the eye after swimming. Do not remove the lenses if they appear
tight on the eye. Instead use several re-wetting drops or saline to loosen the lens. If the lenses do not move freely after
30 minutes, call the Cole Eye Institute contact lens department for assistance. It’s important to clean and
disinfect the lenses upon removal.
Cosmetics: Cosmetics, creams and oils for the hands and face should be used only after the lenses have
been inserted. When trapped under the lens, cosmetics can cause discomfort. Ideally it is best to use hair
spray prior to inserting contact lenses. However, if you use hair spray with lenses in, close your eyes,
spray, and then walk out of the “cloud” of spray before opening eyes because hair spray can coat the lenses.
Contact Lenses and Sleep: Do not sleep with your lenses on the eye. If you forget, check upon waking to
see if the lenses move freely on the eye. If the lenses move on the eye, remove the lenses for at least sever-al
hours. If the lenses do not move, wait 5-10 minutes for your eyes to rewet by tears or place re-wetting
drops in the eye. Once the lenses move freely, remove from eyes.
Extended Wear: Do not wear your contact lenses as extended wear (overnight) unless approved by your
doctor. Extended wear lenses can be successful only with good care, careful cleaning, proper disinfection
and frequent exams. Every morning ask yourself 3 questions: Do my eyes look good? Do my eyes feel
good? Am I seeing clearly? If the answer to any of these questions is no, contact your doctor for an ex-amination.
Pain, red eyes and blurry vision should not be habitual with extended wear lenses. In the
morning, use re-wetting drops to rinse your eyes free of debris and to improve lens comfort. The lenses
may dehydrate during sleep. Use extended wear lenses for no more than 1 week without removal. Upon
removal, the lenses should be cleaned or thrown away if they are disposable. Lenses should not be worn
for one night after one week of continuous wear to provide the eyes with a full night’s “rest.”
For Women Only: Some women’s eyes become uncomfortable with contact lens wear during menstrual
periods, pregnancy, menopause or while taking oral contraceptives. Fluid retention produced by hormonal
changes in the body may cause the cornea to swell and change shape, resulting in an ill-fitting lens. For these
reasons, if a woman goes on or off birth control pills or becomes pregnant, she should advise her optometrist.
Eye Exams: Contact lenses are a prescription device and must be monitored on a regular basis. Annual eye
exams are necessary to monitor eye health and condition of contact lenses. Improper use and inadequate
care of contact lenses can cause irritation, infections, and corneal injury.
Click here to make an appointment now. Or call 216/444-2020 or 1/800-223-2273 Ext. 42020 to schedule an appointment with a Cole Eye Institute ophthalmologist.
[Back]
