Perhaps you are a lifelong glasses wearer who recently switched to contact lenses or needed to correct your vision for the first time and chose lenses. You’ll enjoy a plethora of benefits, including increased comfort during physical activities, full peripheral vision, and no weather-related issues, such as raindrop marks that interfere with your sight. The following are  few tips for first-time wearers to ensure maximum comfort. 

What Should You Know if You're New to Contact Lenses? 

1. Always Handle Contacts With Clean Hands

Wash your hands thoroughly for 10–20 seconds using an antibacterial soap before putting your contacts in or taking them out. Handling the lenses with unwashed hands introduces bacteria to your eyes that can result in infections. Common lens-related infections include keratitis, an infection of the cornea. 

Rinse the vision products with contact or saline solution to ensure they are clean and particle-free before putting them in your eyes. Contact solution disinfects and cleans, whereas saline solution simply rinses them. 

2. Remember to Relax

Take a few deep breaths before putting your contact lenses in, and remember that most people blink during initial placement attempts. Have patience instead of engaging in negative self-talk, and follow the proper insertion technique. Use your non-dominant middle finger to open your upper eyelid gently and your dominant middle finger to open your bottom lid. Place the lens in your eye using your dominant pointer finger. Look straight ahead or into a magnifying mirror during placement, whichever is more comfortable. 

Follow the same process for removal, except you will use your index finger and thumb to pinch the bottom of the contact gently. Add drops to your eyes first if you’ve been in a dry environment, such as an air-conditioned house, to help the lenses detach. 

3. Replace Them According to Manufacturer Recommendations

Use fresh contacts as per the manufacturer's instructions. If you ordered “dailies” from your eye doctor, throw them out after one day of wear. If your contacts are designed to last two weeks or a month, do not wear them longer, as they can sustain tiny tears and harbor bacteria that result in discomfort and eye infections, respectively. 

4. Don’t Shower or Swim With the Lenses 

Always remove your lenses before showering or swimming. Contacts absorb water, which can cause them to feel tight and uncomfortable in your eyes, as well as trap bacteria and viruses. If you must wear your lenses while swimming, invest in a quality pair of goggles to protect them and your eyes. 

Purchase new contact lenses from Russellville Eye Clinic PA, the ophthalmology and optometry center offering various vision services to residents throughout Russellville, AR. Whether you need a routine eye exam, new lenses, or specialized services, such as diabetic laser treatment, you can count on this seven-time “Best of the Best, Readers Choice Awards” winner. Call (479) 968-­7302 to make an appointment, or learn more about eye care services online.