Guides for Wearing Contact Lenses for the First Time

How to put in contact lenses for the first time? Wearing glasses can mean a lot of conveniences, so it’s easy to get accustomed to using them to improve your vision. However, there will be instances when using contact lenses can offer more advantages than wearing eyeglasses. You can try disposable lenses like Precision1 Dailies in the starting.

Contact lenses are better options when you have to attend an event and want to look your best. Additionally, you can participate in more sports and activities without being afraid that you will drop and break your glasses.

More importantly, contact lenses sit directly on your eyes. Because of this, your peripheral vision will be unobstructed, giving you a better line of sight wherever you look.

Due to these reasons, there will be situations when you may want or need to buy contact lenses in Dubai for temporary and possibly, even permanent use.

Guides for Wearing Contact Lenses for the First Time

Transitioning From Glasses to Contacts

Swapping your glasses for contact lenses, whether temporarily or permanently, will take some getting used to. Putting these on and wearing them for the first time may even be a bit scary; after all, you are placing a foreign object directly onto your eyes.

Since you will be Wearing Contact Lenses for the First Time, you will likely feel some discomfort, as well. And this can cause you to feel more nervous about putting them on.

If you’ve decided to switch from glasses to contact lenses and want the whole transition to be successful and stress-free, follow these tips:

1. Dispel your false beliefs:

It is normal to feel nervous when you are wearing contact lenses for the first time. You may worry about the contacts getting stuck or lost in your eyes.

Regardless of where you read or heard these things, remember that these are myths. There is a protective membrane behind your eyes so it is impossible for any lenses to get lost or stuck there.

And even if a lens does get stuck, you can loosen and remove it by following your eye doctor’s instructions.

Keep in mind that worrying needlessly won’t do you any good. This won’t help you enjoy the freedom you’ll get from seeing clearly without eyeglasses. Once you start wearing contact lenses, relax, don’t stress over the small things, and focus on the positive side of having them.

2. Learn how to put on your contacts correctly:

Another thing that you may worry about when wearing contact lenses for the first time is putting them on. This is a hurdle that you can overcome by following your eye doctor’s instructions.

You can also keep these steps in mind to ensure you are putting your contact lenses on properly:

● Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the lenses.

● Put a lens on carefully on a finger. Check if it is inside–out or in the right position by looking at its shape; if it forms a U shape on your fingertip, you are holding it correctly.

● Using your other hand, pull your upper eyelid up and your bottom eyelid down to avoid blinking. Look upward as you move the lens toward your eye.

● Gently place the lens in your eye. Next, release your eyelids and close your eye so that the lens can settle.

● Repeat the same process for putting the lens on your other eye.

If you didn’t check the lens before placing it and you put it inside-out, you will feel uncomfortable. Remove it, turn it around, and make sure it forms the U shape before placing it on again.

3. Handle your lenses carefully:

Knowing how to handle your contacts properly can help you prevent eye infection and avoid damaging the lenses.

When putting on your lenses, always wash your hands thoroughly. Use soap but avoid oily and fragrance-heavy ones since the chemicals can stick to the contacts, end up in your eyes, and irritate them.

Additionally, always dry your hands completely before putting the lenses in to reduce the chance of spreading germs to and infecting your eye.

Also, do not touch your lenses with your fingernails. This is because germs and dirt love hiding under your nails. If these are transferred to the lenses, you are putting something dirty and infected in your eyes, which can cause an issue or condition.

Lastly, if you have sharp fingernails, you may want to cut and file these regularly to avoid accidentally damaging your lens.

4. Keep your contact lenses hydrated:

If you want to feel comfortable while wearing contacts, keep them moist. This means using your eye drops as prescribed by your optometrist.

Keep in mind that if your lenses are dry, they can irritate your eyes and may even scratch them. As such, hydrate your eyes regularly using the recommended eye drops, especially when staring at a monitor or watching TV for a long time.

Make sure you keep your contacts hydrated when you are not using them, as well. After cleaning them, store them properly in their case full of solution.   

Consider bringing the case and contact lens solution wherever you go so that you can store and hydrate your contacts whenever you remove them for a short time.  

5. Keep your contact lenses clean:

Aside from keeping your contacts hydrated, you also need to clean them regularly.

Follow your eye doctor’s recommendation for washing and cleaning your lenses. If you were told to use a multipurpose contact solution, use this type of product only.

Keep in mind that different contact lenses require different cleaning solutions. If you use a product that your eye doctor did not recommend, you will end up damaging your contacts.

Additionally, to ensure your contacts are thoroughly clean and bacteria-free, always use a fresh solution when rinsing the lenses and their case.

6. Follow your doctor’s prescribed wearing and replacement schedule

To keep your eyes healthy and get the most from your contacts, stick to the wearing and replacement schedule your eye doctor gives you.

Make sure you wear your lenses only for the length of time that your eye doctor prescribes. Additionally, replace your contacts on schedule; if you are told to change them every three months, do so.  Do not stretch out the life of your lenses even for a few days since this will be more harmful than helpful.

Lastly, never sleep while wearing your contacts unless your doctor prescribes the continuous wear of your lenses.

As a final tip, always conduct self-checks when putting on and wearing your contacts. Be on the lookout for any signs of discomfort and redness in your eyes.

Also, check if your vision is blurry after putting on your contact lenses. If it is, take them out and put them on again. If your vision remains unchanged, see your eye doctor immediately.

Your eye doctor will guide and help you as you swap your eyeglasses to contacts. As such, you don’t have to feel afraid or worried when you make the switch.

Author bio: Firas Saab is the Training Manager at Al Jaber Optical in Dubai, the leading optical and eyewear company in the UAE that offers a comprehensive range of eyewear and optical services. Firas is an enthusiastic trainer with more than a decade in the retail and optical industry and has recently acquired HND in Business and Management in addition to his Optical qualifications.