How to Wear Contact Lenses (Step-by-Step Guide)

New to contact lenses? With a little practice, putting them in and out becomes second nature. Follow this step-by-step guide for safe, comfortable wear.

Before You Begin

• Wash your hands thoroughly with mild, fragrance-free soap.
• Dry hands with a clean, lint-free towel.
• Trim and file your fingernails to avoid scratching the lens or your eye.
• Always start with the same eye (e.g. always right first) to avoid mixing lenses.

How do I put in contact lenses?

Start with clean, dry hands. Scoop a lens onto your fingertip, check it's the right way out (it should look like a bowl, not a saucer), hold your eyelids open, look up, and gently place it on your eye. Close slowly and blink to centre it. Always wash and dry your hands first, and never use tap water or saliva on your lenses, use fresh lens solution only.

1. Open the lens case and gently scoop the lens out with your fingertip.
2. Check the lens shape, it should look like a small bowl. If the edges flare outward, it's inside-out. Flip it.
3. Place the lens on the tip of your index finger.
4. Use your other hand to hold your upper eyelid open.
5. Use the middle finger of your inserting hand to pull down your lower eyelid.
6. Look up, then gently place the lens on the white of your lower eye.
7. Close your eye slowly and blink, the lens will center itself.

How do I take out contact lenses?

Wash your hands again, look up, and pull down your lower eyelid. Slide the lens down to the white of your eye with a clean, dry fingertip, then pinch it lightly between thumb and index finger and lift it off. Place it in fresh solution, or dispose of it if it's a daily lens.

1. Wash hands again.
2. Look up and pull down your lower eyelid.
3. With a clean, dry fingertip, gently slide the lens to the lower white of your eye.
4. Pinch the lens lightly between thumb and index finger and lift it off.
5. Place in fresh lens solution (or dispose, if a daily lens).

How do I clean and store my lenses?

Always use fresh multipurpose solution, never top up old solution, and never use tap water or saliva on your lenses. Store lenses in a clean case and replace the case every 3 months.

• Never use tap water or saliva on your lenses.
• Always use fresh multipurpose solution, never top up old solution.
• Replace your lens case every 3 months.
• Do not wear lenses while sleeping, swimming, or showering.
• Stop wear immediately if you experience pain, redness, or blurred vision, and see an eye doctor.

Tips for first-time wearers?

Take it slow. Practice in front of a mirror in good lighting, start with short wear times and build up, and if a lens feels uncomfortable, take it out, it may be inside-out or have debris on it.

• Practice in front of a mirror in good lighting.
• Start with short wear times (2-4 hours) and build up.
• If a lens feels uncomfortable, take it out, it may be inside-out or have debris.

Want to order lenses with power? See the Eye Power Guide or read our FAQ. Need help? Contact our team, we're happy to walk you through your first wear.