I have noticed an increasing number of Halloween lovers who have posted about saving the cost of an eye exam, by simply ordering a set of nonprescription lenses and popping them in. In some cases, there are follow-up posts begging for instructions on how to get the things in and out.

I firmly believe that even nonprescription contact lenses are medical devices, use of which should involve consultation of those in the field. I also realize that many haunters are stubborn and cheap. [You know who you are. Take a bow.]

This page is an attempt to help those who would otherwise not seek professional advice. If you insist on saving a buck by skipping professional care, at least take a few minutes to read this page.

WARNING: I am not any kind of eye doctor. I'm just a long-time user passing along some things I have learned.

NOTE: This web page is oriented towards soft lenses using technology in the 1990s and early 2000s. Technology marches on and things may get better. Specifically, this page does not apply to any form of hard lenses.

• Mindset
• "A clean lens is a comfortable lens."
• Learn what works for you
• The Preparations: Shopping
  • Lens case
  • Saline solution
  • Multipurpose solution (Cleaner)
  • Lubricant solution
  • Enzyme Cleaner
  • Hand Soap
• The Rituals
  • Wash Your Hands
  • Examination
  • Cleaning the lens
  • Right side out
  • Inserting
  • Wearing
  • Wear time
  • Lubrication
  • Removing
• Problem solving
• Assorted tips

• Related Pages

(Wash your hands, and then...)
Wash new cases thoroughly with multipurpose solution before putting them to use.

WARNING: Soft contact lenses contain a large amount of water as part of their plastic composition. Never let them dry out! Keep them covered with solution at all times!

Multipurpose solution (Cleaner)

In the past, contact lens care involved lots more hassle and bother, with different solutions for cleaning lenses, storing them, disinfecting them, wetting them, etc. Multipurpose solution does all that in a single bottle.

• Look for a product specifically designed for use with "soft" lenses.
• The bottle should list that it is useful for the following: cleaning, wetting, and disinfecting. It is a bonus if the bottle claims to remove protein deposits.
• Avoid products that contain thimerosal, just in case you are allergic to it.
• Read the label and decide.
• Once you find a brand that works well for you, stick with it.

My eyes respond well to the house brand at Sav-On. It also claims to remove protein deposits.

Daily cleaning of lenses gets rid of most of the junk, but over time, a little at a time, protein deposits build up. And as they build up, the lenses become uncomfortable.

Some modern multipurpose solutions claim to prevent protein buildup with regular use. I'm not sure if I believe this claim. Or perhaps I don't believe that they can completely block protein buildup. So I use multipurpose solutions that removes protein and an enzyme cleaner, too.

• Look for a brand that says it works on soft contact lenses. It may also be usable on hard lenses, which is OK, but not for you.

This is the Sav-On house brand. In the package you get two plastic cups and individually wrapped pills. Clean a lens; put it in the cup; add saline to the mark; drop in a pill. In the morning, remove the lens and clean it again.

This is easy to do and provides good results. The package suggests use once a week. Since my multipurpose solution claims to remove protein, I only use the enzyme soak once a month.

Use water and hand soap, rinse your hands thoroughly with fresh water to make sure all the soap is off.

Dry your hands using a lint-free cloth.

Then, if you are going to touch a lens, squirt your fingers first with multipurpose solution.

My Sav-On house brand says...

• Step 1.
  • Apply at least three drops of Multi-Purpose Solution to each lens surface. Rub each side gently for at least 10 seconds.
• Step 2.
  • After you clean your lens, rinse both lens surfaces with a sufficient amount of Multi-Purpose Solution to remove all debris.
• Step 3.
  • Fill the lens case with Multi-Purpose Solution. Place the lens in the case ensuring that the lens is completely immersed in the solution. Secure the cap on the lens case.
  • To insure proper disinfection, allow the lens to remain in the Multi-Purpose Solution in your unopened lens care case for a minimum of four hours.
  • You may store your lenses in the unopened case until ready to wear, up to a maximum of 30 days. If your lenses are stored for a longer period of time, they must be cleaned and disinfected with fresh solution every 30 days and prior to wear.

I like to put the lens over the tip of my index finger, like a thimble.

Then I drop the fluid in the palm of the other hand, and rub the finger in the puddle of solution. After 10 seconds, I turn the lens inside-out, put it back on the finger, and rub in the puddle some more.

The first few times you try this may be frustrating. The lens is floppy, like it is made of Jello, and thin as Saran wrap.
Examine the lens carefully, for rips, tears, and dirt. Always check your lenses before putting them in.

Pay special attention at first to what a new, and presumably good, lens looks like. Be suspicious of any changes in the appearance of your lenses.

• Seated - This is the best way for beginners.

  (Wash your hands, and then...)
  Sit at a clean table with the lens case in front of you.

  Open one side of the case and remove the lens. Position it on the tip of your outstretched finger, right side out, like a tiny cup standing on your fingertip.

  Lean over, facing down. Keep both eyes open.

  Position the lens underneath the eye is corresponds to. Stare down into the center of the lens with that eye. (Let the other eye go out of focus.)

  Bring the lens up into your eye. Or, lower your face into the lens. But keep staring into the center.
  

  It usually helps to put a single drop of lubricant solution in the center of the lens.

  If you tend to blink, use the thumb and index finger of the other hand to hold the eye open.

  If you mess up and drop the lens, it falls on the table; rinse it with multipurpose solution and try again.

• Upright - after you have practice

  (Wash your hands, and then...)
  Put the lens on the tip of your finger. The wetness of the lens should make it stick to your finger if you move slowly. Open both eyes wide, using fingers to help.

  Rotate the finger up, so the lens is sticking to your finger, straight up and down.

  Bring the finger to the eye.

  Keep the eye open all the way, staring at the center of the lens as it gets closer and closer.

  Lay the lens on the surface of the eyeball.
  

  This procedure is more likely to leave an air bubble under the lens. Close your eye and gently stroke the closed lid. Open and close to make sure the lens settles down.

Still having trouble?

Here's a creepy exercise that might help:

• Wash your hands; rinse off any possibility of soap.
• Open your right eye all the way.
• Raise your right hand, point index finger, and touch your right eyeball gently.

Some folks find it helpful to look upwards while pulling down the lower lid.

These are pictures of lenses from CLS Distributing.

The picture on the right is a normal sized effects lens.

The picture on the left is a much larger "scleral" lens that covers much of the white part of the eye.
I have never tries a scleral lens, but I would expect them to be a lot harder to get in, due to their large size. If you are new to contacts, don't start with a scleral. Work your way up! [Sclerals are also more irritating and have shorter wear times.]

Never go to sleep with your contacts in!

One or two drops, straight in the open eye, lubricates, moisturizes, and soothes.

Unfortunately, those who do not wear contact lenses regularly have a well-developed eye defense (blink) mechanism intended to keep out debris. It sometimes keeps out good stuff, too.

When first getting use to drops in the eye, start by keeping the bottle or vial in your pocket. It will be warmed to near body temperature, and be less shocking than cold drops in the eye.

Put your head straight back, so you are looking straight up at the ceiling. It may help at first to just lay down on a bed, staring at the ceiling.

Then, while looking up, get the bottle positioned above you. Do not touch the eye with the dropper. Just hold it an inch or two above the eye, and look at it.

Do one eye at a time, but keep both eyes open.

Stare at the tip of the dropper, as you slowly squeeze the bottle. When the drop falls, it should be a surprise, and catch you with eye open.

Chances are that reflexes will cause you to close your eye ... after the drop is in.

If you still seem to need frequent lobricant doses, your eyes may have become accustomed to artificial lubrication and are not producing enough natural tears. Taper off the lubricant, even if it feels a little uncomfortable.

Clean right away and store in the lens case until next use.

• In storage, lenses should be be in a cup shape; never folded. If your lens folds in half, it might get stuck that way, ruining the lens.
• Cover the lenses with plenty of multipurpose solution. We're not talking a couple of drops, we're talking the lens is floating in a pool of solution.

• Right and Left

  Develop the good habit of always distinguishing left lens from right. Cases are marked with "R", "L", or both. Keep the left lens in the left side of the case; right in right. Always hold the case with the left side to your left.

  Best yet: only open one side and work on one one lens at a time.

  If you wear prescription lenses and get them in the wrong eyes, both eyes are likely to see poorly, sometimes by a great degree. But they probably won't hurt.

  Even if your contacts are nonprescription ("plano"), you should still always distinguish right from left. If you start to come down with an infection in one eye, swapping contacts might spread it to both.

• Have a distinct case for each set of lenses.

  I use a stripe of nail polish on the outside of the case to tell me which set of lenses is inside.
  

• Always carry a case with you

  Whenever you wear contact lenses, you have to be prepared to remove and store them properly at a moment's notice. Perhaps your eyes get tired, and you just want to take the lenses off for a while. Perhaps you get some dust in your eye, and want to remove the lenses.

  The best preparation for this is to always carre a spare lens case with you, with some multipurpose solution in it.

• Never let your lenses dry out

  Modern soft lenses contain a lot of water in the material of the lens. They must be kept moist, or the water inside them can evaporate, ruining the lenses.

• Never use tap water

  Never use tap water to clean, rinse, or soak your lenses. For rinsing, use saline solution. For cleaning and storage use multipurpose solution.

• Carry lubricant solution with you.

• Avoid contamination: don't share.

  Do not share solutions, cleaners, cases, and especially not contacts. You don't want anybody else's germs in your eyes.

• Avoid contamination: don't touch the tip.

  When you remove the cap from a bottle of any solution, do not let anything come into contact with the dispenser tip. Squirt or drop the liquid. Don't touch the tip to anything.

• Never attempt to use a torn, cracked, or otherwise damaged lens.

• If your eyes dry out and you have no lubricant solution handy, use a drop of clean multipurpose solution from the case you carry around with you. Better still, take out the contacts and put them in the case - your eyes might appreciate the rest.

• Reserve fingers.

  While working with contacts, reserve the thumb and index finger of each hand for the contacts. Touch nothing else with these fingers. Use the rest of your hand to deal with water faucets and bottle tops.

• cosmetic contacts
• cosmetic contact makers
• for the Cheap and Stubborn [this page]
• troubleshooting

Thank you for visiting. Your comments are welcome.
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