Many people prefer contact lenses to the alternative of traditional glasses. However, contact lenses can be much more harmful than glasses--if handled incorrectly. It is crucial when dealing with anything involving the eye that you take proper precautions, don't rush and do everything in your power to keep your eyes safe. After all, you only get the one pair.

Wash Your Hands

Wash your hands. This is arguably the single most important step, and yet the step people pay the least attention to. Bacteria from the hand can get in your eye, or on the lens and then in your eye. Dirt, grime and other particles can irritate the eye. It is crucial that you wash your hands thoroughly, and dry them completely.

Use the Sink

Handle your contacts over a plugged sink. This makes it a lot easier on you retrieving your lenses should you drop them. If you're a first-time contact lens user, chances are pretty good that you will drop them. If you drop them, pick them up, wash them heavily in cleaning solution, and try again. Make sure to plug the sink tightly, or risk your lenses going down the drain.

Do the Right Lens

Pour the right contact lens into your palm, letting the excess solution drain through your fingers. You should get in the habit of always starting with the right contact lens--to avoid confusion when putting them on. Place the lens on the tip of your finger, curved side down--so that it looks like a small bowl. Gently raise the lens up to your eye until it slides into place. Pulling down on your lower lid will make the process easier--and some people prefer to spread apart both eyelids for maximum access to the eye. Whichever way works best for you is the way you should go.

Position the Lens

Close your eye with the lens in it and look down. This will help slide the contact lens into place over your eye. If you like, you can look around a little--to help slide it more, but just looking down should be enough. Blink a few times to wet the eye and then close your eye until you feel comfortable. New users will find the sensation of having the lens on their eye to be a little unnerving at first. Try not to confuse this feeling with the sting of having put the lens on wrong. If you do feel any kind of pain, immediately remove the contact lens and wait a while before trying again.

Do the Left Lens

Repeat the same process with the left eye that you used for the right eye. It should be slightly easier now that you can see clearly out of one eye. As soon as both eyes have contact lenses on them, rinse out your lens case with cleaning solution and close it tightly until it's time to take your lenses out and put them back in the case. Make sure to put the cap back on the solution.

Source:

Opti-Free Contact Solution

More Information:

Contact Lens Use