Making the Switch: Tips for First-Time Contact Lens Wearers

Are you interested in wearing contacts because you’re tired of squinting to see? Have you worn glasses for years but now you’re ready to switch things up? Either way, you might make a great candidate for contacts. However, you’ll first need to have your eyes examined by a reputable vision expert.
 

Once you’re given the green light to proceed, the optometrist will help you select the right type of lens. After all, there are several types of contact lenses, each with unique advantages. These include:
 

• Soft Lenses – Made of soft and flexible plastics or hydrogels, soft lenses make it easy for oxygen to pass through to the cornea. For that reason, they’re incredibly comfortable.
   

• Rigid Gas-Permeable Lenses – Compared to soft lenses, these contacts are more durable and resistant to the buildup of deposits. They’re also more affordable and typically produce crisper vision. However, they’re not as comfortable as soft lenses.
   

• Extended Wear Lenses – You can wear these contacts for an extended period. Depending on your eyes and on the brand, that’s anywhere from several nights to 30 days.
   

• Disposable Lenses – Also referred to as “replacement schedule lenses,” they’re worn just once before tossing them out. In other words, you would use a new pair of contacts every day.

Helpful Tips

Regardless of what your doctor recommends, here are some helpful tips to make the transition to contacts easy.

Report Issues

No matter how long you’ve worn contacts or the type of problem you experience, contact your doctor immediately if you think something’s wrong. Most likely, you’re just adjusting to wearing contacts, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Wash Your Hands

Before handling your contacts, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Otherwise, you could pass contaminants from your hands to your eyes. That will also remove any substances like dust, grease, and dirt that could irritate your eyes. Then, dry your hands with a lint-free towel.

Practice Makes Perfect

Spend time practicing inserting your contacts and removing them. Preferably, do this in front of a mirror and over a flat surface covered with a soft cloth. So, if you drop a contact, you can find it quickly and not worry about damaging it.

Follow a Routine

As a new contact lens wearer, establish a routine. Along with washing your hands, always start with the same eye. After all, the lenses will have different prescriptions. For one thing, that’ll prevent you from putting the contacts in the wrong eye. For another, it’ll prevent you from putting both contacts in the same eye.

Handling the Contacts

When inserting and removing your contact lenses, use the tip of a finger. Especially if you have long fingernails and wear soft lenses, that’ll prevent you from accidentally tearing the contact lens.

Use Quality Solution

Always store the lenses in quality contact solution rather than water. Unlike water that harbors germs and bacteria, contact solution is sterile. Even when rinsing your contacts, always use solution, not water.

Frequently Inspect the Lenses

As a good rule of thumb, inspect your contacts once a week for any scratches, tears, or other damage. However, also pay attention to how they feel in your eyes. If you experience any irritation or suspect that something’s wrong, check them immediately instead of putting them in your eyes.

A Trusted Source for Quality Eyewear

When you’re ready to switch to contact lenses, schedule an appointment with Hunter Family Vision. We specialize in all types of eyewear, including contacts. For convenience, we have two locations in Kansas. You can reach our Leawood clinic at 913-681-8555 or our Prairie Village clinic at 913-381-2323. We are ready to assist you today.