New Contact Lens Wearer

So exciting!!!  You are now a contact lens wearer!  Whether you are new to wearing contact lenses or trying them again there is some important things to know about in caring for your new lenses and your eyes while wearing them.  Here we lay out a wearing schedule, products you will need and how to care for them.  Of course if you have any questions you can call our office anytime!!!

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Wearing Schedule

 Contact lenses are a medical device and because they sit directly on your eyes you need to start slow and work your way up to wearing your contacts for a full day.  Start with a maximum of 6 hours your first day and increase an hour every day.  Contacts (even the monthly wear lenses) should be removed nightly before going to bed to ensure proper eye health. It is important to give your eyes a rest from contacts so they can have proper oxygen to breathe.


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Contact lens case

Contact lens cases should be cleaned out with a good soap and water at least once a week and emptied and rinsed out and left with lids of to dry daily.  Contact lens cases should be changed out at least once a month.  Proper handling of your contact lenses and cases help reduce bacteria that can lead to harmful eye infections. 

Care of Contacts

Everyone's eyes produce a natural protein and this is why it is important to clean your lenses daily.  Depending on the type of lens you wear you will need to get contact lens solution.  First time wearers are provided with a kit for you to go home with.  At night start by washing and drying your hands and putting your contacts in your contact case.  Put the solution on top of the lenses and secure the case with the lids.  If you have different powers make sure you put the correct lid on the the correct eye.  In the morning when putting your contacts back in your eyes dump the solution that was in your case.

Putting Contacts in and Removing them

When putting your contacts in your eyes make sure your hands and clean and dry.  The contacts will stick to whatever is more moist so if your finger is not dry it will stick to your finger.  Look at the contact to make sure it is not inside out.  If it is correct it will form more of a bowl shape.  If it is inside out it is more flat and the edges wing out.  Open your eye very wide and aim for the middle of your eye.  If you get it in and it is scratchy try moving it around with your finger: if it still hurts remove it: it is probably inside out.  Once the contact is in look side to side to work out any bubbles.  
To remove, open eye wide and with your thumb and pointer finger do a wide pinching motion.  They can rip easily so try and be gentle.

Edges wing out and flat: Inside out: when you blink it will bob up and down and feel very itchy!

Looks more like a bowl: this is the right side up

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Some much needed supplies for all contact lens wearers:

Contact lens cleaner                                                                            Back up pair of glasses                                   Contact lens case and a supply of contacts