Beginner's Guide to Contact Lenses
Everything you need to know before your first pair, including lens types, prescriptions, fittings, and first-week expectations.
How to Put In and Take Out Contact Lenses Safely
Step-by-step technique for inserting and removing your lenses correctly at home, plus how to troubleshoot the most common first-time difficulties.
Learning to put in and remove contact lenses feels awkward at first — and that is entirely normal. Almost every contact lens wearer remembers the first few attempts taking longer than expected, but with a little practice the steps quickly become a simple, automatic routine. This guide covers the correct technique for inserting and taking out contact lenses safely at home, along with solutions to the most common first-time difficulties. The focus is on technique and hygiene working together — because getting both right is what protects your eyes and makes lenses comfortable to wear.
Preparing Your Hands and Workspace
Step 01
Wash with mild, unfragranced soap
Avoid hand creams, lotions, or moisturising soaps — these transfer to the lens and cause blurred vision and irritation.
Step 02
Dry completely with a lint-free towel
Never let tap water remain on your hands. Dry thoroughly so no moisture transfers to the lens.
Step 03
Set up in a well-lit area with a mirror
Being able to see your eye clearly makes everything easier, especially when you're first learning.
Step 04
Lean over a clean, flat surface
Work over a folded towel placed over the sink drain. If you drop a lens, it lands safely rather than disappearing down the drain.
Tap water warning
Never use tap water on your contact lenses or let it remain on your hands when handling them. Tap water can carry Acanthamoeba — a microorganism that causes a rare but serious, vision-threatening corneal infection.1
How to Check if Your Lens Is the Right Way Around
Place the lens on the tip of your dry index finger and hold it up to eye level. A correctly oriented lens forms a smooth, even bowl shape with edges pointing straight upward.2 If the edges flare outward like the brim of a hat, the lens is inside out.
Correct — smooth bowl shape
Edges point straight up, forming a neat cup. The lens will seat comfortably on your eye and stay centred when you blink.
Insert this wayInside out — edges flare outward
The edges curve outward like a hat brim. Won't damage your eye, but will feel uncomfortable and give blurred vision. Flip it and try again.
Do not insert
How to Insert Your Contact Lenses
To insert contact lenses safely, keep your eyelids held wide open and bring the lens gently to the centre of your eye without pressing. The moisture of the eye draws the lens in naturally — you do not need to force it.
Step 01
Start with the same eye each time
Most wearers use the right eye first. This prevents mixing up left and right prescriptions, especially if your eyes have different powers.
Step 02
Place the lens on your index fingertip
Ensure the lens is correctly oriented — smooth bowl shape, edges pointing up. Your fingertip should be dry so the lens sits flat and doesn't slide.
Step 03
Pull down your lower eyelid
Use the middle finger of your dominant hand to pull your lower eyelid firmly downward toward your cheekbone.
Step 04
Hold your upper eyelid open
Reach over with your opposite hand and use your index or middle finger to pull your upper eyelid upward, pinning your eyelashes against your brow bone.
Step 05
Place the lens on your eye
Look straight ahead into the mirror, or very slightly upward. Gently bring the lens to the coloured part of your eye — the moisture will draw it in. You do not need to press.
Step 06
Release and blink slowly
Release your upper eyelid first, then your lower eyelid. Look downward briefly, then blink slowly a few times. The lens will naturally centre itself over the cornea.
If the lens does not feel comfortable immediately, blink a few times before concluding anything is wrong. Many lenses settle within a few blinks.
How to Remove Your Contact Lenses
To remove contact lenses safely, always slide the lens onto the white of your eye before gently pinching it between your fingertips. Moving the lens off the sensitive cornea first makes the process much more comfortable.
Step 01
Wash and dry your hands
Apply the same hygiene routine as for insertion. This means mild soap, a lint-free towel, and completely dry hands.
Step 02
Pull down your lower eyelid
Look straight ahead. Use the middle finger of your dominant hand to pull your lower eyelid down.
Step 03
Touch the lower edge of the lens
Place the pad of your index finger gently on the lower edge of the lens, not the centre, which sits over the more sensitive cornea.
Step 04
Look up and slide the lens down
Look upward toward the ceiling and slide the lens down onto the white of your eye. This area is far less sensitive than the cornea.
Step 05
Pinch the lens away
Gently pinch the lens between the pads of your thumb and index finger. This breaks the suction and lifts the lens cleanly away from the eye.
Step 06
Discard or clean the lens
Discard daily disposable lenses immediately. If you wear reusable lenses, place the lens in your clean palm and begin your cleaning routine.
Never use fingernails or tools
Never use fingernails, tweezers, or any tool to assist removal. This significantly increases the risk of scratching the surface of your eye.1 If a lens feels dry or stuck, apply a few drops of preservative-free rewetting drops, close your eye, and massage the lid gently for 30 seconds before trying again.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If something feels wrong when you insert or remove a lens, stop, reassess, and fix the underlying issue. Never push through discomfort.
Lens feels scratchy after insertion
Most likely inside out, or there is a small piece of lint trapped underneath. Remove, inspect, rinse with saline or multipurpose solution, check the orientation, and reinsert.
Lens feels dry or stuck during removal
Do not force it. Apply a few drops of preservative-free rewetting drops, close your eye, and massage your eyelid gently for 30 seconds. The lens will rehydrate and loosen.
Blinking before the lens reaches your eye
The most common first-time difficulty. Try pulling your upper and lower lids wider apart, and approach the eye from slightly below rather than straight ahead. This reduces the blink reflex.
Lens keeps folding on your fingertip
Your fingertip is likely too wet. Gently pat it on a dry, lint-free towel and try again. The lens needs enough friction to stay flat and stable during insertion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn how to put in contact lenses?
Most new wearers become comfortable inserting and removing contact lenses within the first week of daily practice. The first attempts in your optometrist's clinic may take several minutes. This is normal and expected. Within two weeks, the process typically takes under 30 seconds for most people.
Can I sleep in my daily disposable contact lenses?
No. Daily disposable contact lenses are approved for single-day wear only and must always be removed before sleep. Sleeping in any lens that has not been specifically approved for overnight wear significantly increases the risk of oxygen deprivation and serious eye infection. If you are interested in lenses that can be worn overnight, ask your optometrist specifically about extended-wear silicone hydrogel options.
Can a contact lens get lost behind my eye?
No. A contact lens cannot get lost behind your eye. A thin, transparent membrane called the conjunctiva lines the inside of your eyelids and connects to the white of your eye, forming a closed barrier that nothing can pass through.2 If a lens slides under your upper eyelid, close your eye and gently massage the lid or apply rewetting drops and blink to bring it back into view.
Should I insert my contact lenses before or after applying makeup?
Always insert your contact lenses before applying makeup or any skincare product. This prevents oils, primers, powders, and makeup particles from transferring from your fingertips onto the lens surface.2 At the end of the day, remove your lenses before washing off your makeup.
Contact lens suitability, replacement schedules, and wear times must always be confirmed by your optometrist based on your individual prescription and eye health.
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