Tips/tricks/hacks re putting in contact lenses
November 11, 2024 10:07 AM Subscribe
I'm brand new to contact lenses. Putting them in for the first time isn't going well. I've been trying (read: failing) off and on all day, and I'm sort of losing my shit with impatience and frustration. With that in mind I suppose I could use some empathy and commiserating in addition to practical advice. Thanks
Can you describe the problem a bit more? Is it sticking to your finger and not the eye? Blinking it out before it adheres?
posted by defreckled at 10:29 AM on November 11
posted by defreckled at 10:29 AM on November 11
My lesson when I got contacts was brief but helpful: Put the lens on the pointer finger of your matching hand (right eye, right hand). Put your other arm over your head and pull up on the top lid of the eye. This is so you can be sure to pull at the right angle and keeps your other hand out of the way. It helped me to look up when inserting the lens, too. Don't pull too hard. It helps to sort of tilt the lens in from the bottom, sort of putting right behind the bottom lid and letting it fall back into place before blinking.
I had days where I just couldn't get them in and so I used my glasses. Sitting at home and trying several times is good practice. Forcing them in when you are going to be late for work if you don't leave in 2 minutes is not good. Be sure to carry your case at first so you can switch them out if you get tired.
posted by soelo at 10:37 AM on November 11 [4 favorites]
I had days where I just couldn't get them in and so I used my glasses. Sitting at home and trying several times is good practice. Forcing them in when you are going to be late for work if you don't leave in 2 minutes is not good. Be sure to carry your case at first so you can switch them out if you get tired.
posted by soelo at 10:37 AM on November 11 [4 favorites]
It's tricky, so definitely give yourself some grace. Don't try anymore once you’re frustrated - just give it another day.
If you aren’t already comfortable sticking your fingers in your eyes / touching your cornea, practice that without your contact lens until you can hold your lower eyelid down and touch your cornea with a (wet) finger without blinking.
posted by some chick at 10:38 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
If you aren’t already comfortable sticking your fingers in your eyes / touching your cornea, practice that without your contact lens until you can hold your lower eyelid down and touch your cornea with a (wet) finger without blinking.
posted by some chick at 10:38 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
Putting a single drop of lens solution onto the lens before putting it in your eye really helps with getting a comfortable, secure fit.
posted by monotreme at 10:41 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
posted by monotreme at 10:41 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: In reply to defreckled's question about what specifically is going wrong:
Short answer: everything
I keep closing my eye too early, when the lens isn't adhered to the eye, which often causes the lens to fold in half. A few times they've folded in half under my lower eyelid. With two different lenses now, they've folded in half so many times that they permanently lose their circular shap when unfolded
The lenses fall off the tip of my finger, or fall straight down from eye. In both cases a lens ends up somewhere in the sink or on the basin or floor. Its hard to find a contact lens when you can't see (without the lenses)
I have trouble keeping the lens centered and balanced on the tip of my finger.
I could go on...thanks for your reply
posted by BadgerDoctor at 11:00 AM on November 11
Short answer: everything
I keep closing my eye too early, when the lens isn't adhered to the eye, which often causes the lens to fold in half. A few times they've folded in half under my lower eyelid. With two different lenses now, they've folded in half so many times that they permanently lose their circular shap when unfolded
The lenses fall off the tip of my finger, or fall straight down from eye. In both cases a lens ends up somewhere in the sink or on the basin or floor. Its hard to find a contact lens when you can't see (without the lenses)
I have trouble keeping the lens centered and balanced on the tip of my finger.
I could go on...thanks for your reply
posted by BadgerDoctor at 11:00 AM on November 11
When I first got contacts, the eye doctor had me sit in the office until I could put them in. It took hours from what I recall. I finally got it in. Then they told me I had to take it out and put it back in again. I wanted to cry... But the second time around it got a lot easier.
I have a very strong blink reflex. Not today, but you will eventually get used to putting contacts in. Seconding the advice to put a single drop of solution.
This is just something that's hard. Take a break if you need to. You can do it!
posted by skunk pig at 11:11 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
I have a very strong blink reflex. Not today, but you will eventually get used to putting contacts in. Seconding the advice to put a single drop of solution.
This is just something that's hard. Take a break if you need to. You can do it!
posted by skunk pig at 11:11 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
I could use some empathy and commiserating in addition to practical advice.
>Don't try anymore once you’re frustrated - just give it another day.
I'm not a contacts wearer, but I am a clumsy person who gets frustrated at things when I can't make them work.
My best tip for this is to yell really loud (not even words just a good inchoate throat noise to purge myself), then get up and completely change environment. For me this is usually taking the dogs out in the yard for a few minutes. Letting the air hit my face, playing with the boys, picking up one to snuggle a bit. I feel very confident snuggling a dog, I'd challenge anyone else to snuggle my dog as good as me. And then once I'm fully sedate, I go back in and give the thing one more try.
If it doesn't work, then the cycle repeats. But more often than not, going back to the frustrating fail-thing immediately after I give myself a good break doing something I love is enough to completely reset.
posted by phunniemee at 11:12 AM on November 11 [2 favorites]
>Don't try anymore once you’re frustrated - just give it another day.
I'm not a contacts wearer, but I am a clumsy person who gets frustrated at things when I can't make them work.
My best tip for this is to yell really loud (not even words just a good inchoate throat noise to purge myself), then get up and completely change environment. For me this is usually taking the dogs out in the yard for a few minutes. Letting the air hit my face, playing with the boys, picking up one to snuggle a bit. I feel very confident snuggling a dog, I'd challenge anyone else to snuggle my dog as good as me. And then once I'm fully sedate, I go back in and give the thing one more try.
If it doesn't work, then the cycle repeats. But more often than not, going back to the frustrating fail-thing immediately after I give myself a good break doing something I love is enough to completely reset.
posted by phunniemee at 11:12 AM on November 11 [2 favorites]
The reflex to close your eye when something gets too close is an extremely strong one. As some chick said above, practise touching your eye with a clean finger until you get past that initial reflex for the eye to close. Then you'll find everything much easier.
posted by essexjan at 11:30 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 11:30 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
This is a hard skill to learn and I'd echo the stuff sefsl says.
To this, I'd add that, once you do get them basically in, I generally find I can make them settle in and feel more comfortable if I wet the tips of my index fingers and press them against my eyelids gently while my eyes are closed. It provides a cooling sensation that is maybe mostly mental, but seems to help me. I then sort of wiggle my eyes behind the lids as though I am looking all around. When I open them after that, I'm usually good.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:32 AM on November 11
To this, I'd add that, once you do get them basically in, I generally find I can make them settle in and feel more comfortable if I wet the tips of my index fingers and press them against my eyelids gently while my eyes are closed. It provides a cooling sensation that is maybe mostly mental, but seems to help me. I then sort of wiggle my eyes behind the lids as though I am looking all around. When I open them after that, I'm usually good.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:32 AM on November 11
I was in the doctor's office for hours the first time I had to put them in and they kept insisting that I place them directly onto my iris/pupil. As soon as I got home, I found that if I pull my bottom eyelid down and look up, I was able to place the contact onto the white of my eye and it was 99.5% of the time roll into place when I blinked.
The nice thing about this technique is that it gives you time to push the air bubble out of the contact once you place it on your eye. The white of the eye is not nearly as sensitive as the iris and you can mess with things a bit more over there. Try practicing looking up and touching the white of your eye without a contact. Looking up also helps with the blink reflex because you don't see a giant finger coming right into your eye.
Also, the contact is falling off of your finger frequently, it may be that your hands are too wet. Try to keep the finger that will hold the contact dry.
posted by defreckled at 11:41 AM on November 11 [13 favorites]
The nice thing about this technique is that it gives you time to push the air bubble out of the contact once you place it on your eye. The white of the eye is not nearly as sensitive as the iris and you can mess with things a bit more over there. Try practicing looking up and touching the white of your eye without a contact. Looking up also helps with the blink reflex because you don't see a giant finger coming right into your eye.
Also, the contact is falling off of your finger frequently, it may be that your hands are too wet. Try to keep the finger that will hold the contact dry.
posted by defreckled at 11:41 AM on November 11 [13 favorites]
There's an older AskMeFi thread here about the same issue - lots of good advice!
When I started wearing them it was so hard. I remember spending like an hour in the bathroom with a friend's mom who wore them, with her trying to show me how to do it. It does take some time to get comfortable with the process!
posted by phlox at 11:44 AM on November 11
When I started wearing them it was so hard. I remember spending like an hour in the bathroom with a friend's mom who wore them, with her trying to show me how to do it. It does take some time to get comfortable with the process!
posted by phlox at 11:44 AM on November 11
Putting in contacts is kinda like riding a bike. It seems like it should be easy and lots of people can do it. However, its hard to learn and it takes a lot of practice to figure out how to get your body to move the way you want it to. Keep trying and be patient, and you'll figure out what works for you!
For me, I do something like method #2 in this video, but look up and place the contact on the white of the eye, below my cornea. YouTube Link
posted by bruinfan at 12:13 PM on November 11
For me, I do something like method #2 in this video, but look up and place the contact on the white of the eye, below my cornea. YouTube Link
posted by bruinfan at 12:13 PM on November 11
I put the contact lens on my fingertip and then put a small drop of solution on the lens, so that when it goes onto my eye the liquid is pushed out and there are no air bubbles. It sounds like the lens is drying out on your fingertip and then folding under your eyelid because it is dry — a little drop of solution really makes all the difference for me.
posted by blacktshirtandjeans at 12:22 PM on November 11 [2 favorites]
posted by blacktshirtandjeans at 12:22 PM on November 11 [2 favorites]
My tips:
- I use my middle finger. I have found that to be much easier for me for some reason. (I also find it easier to take out with my thumb and middle finger)
- you don’t have to land it centred on your pupil. It might be easier if you try and target to the side of your eye and then move your eyeball towards it after
- once you “land” the lens on the eye, wiggle it slightly under your finger so you get the air bubbles out and get it centred on your eye
- keep some solution nearby to rewet it if needed. Wet lenses adhere better.
posted by like_neon at 12:57 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
- I use my middle finger. I have found that to be much easier for me for some reason. (I also find it easier to take out with my thumb and middle finger)
- you don’t have to land it centred on your pupil. It might be easier if you try and target to the side of your eye and then move your eyeball towards it after
- once you “land” the lens on the eye, wiggle it slightly under your finger so you get the air bubbles out and get it centred on your eye
- keep some solution nearby to rewet it if needed. Wet lenses adhere better.
posted by like_neon at 12:57 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
In my experience the most important thing is the balance of moisture. The finger you use to apply the lens needs to be completely dry. The lens itself should be wet. And your eye cannot be dry. If your eye is dry, you can usually fix the problem with some blinking, or by using the lens as a medium to apply some saline. If the lens is dry, use some solution to rinse it off. If your finger is wet, it will stick to your finger instead of your eye. If you fail to apply the lens you have to re-dry your finger and re-wet the lens before trying again. You need to work quickly. If you take too much time, the wetness from the lens will seep onto your finger so you'll have to re-dry and try again.
The technique I use for finger drying is to briefly rub it against the dry (clean!) wrist/inner forearm region of the opposite arm. Using a towel or tissue paper or something like that can be problematic because even a tiny speck of fluff or dust that gets on the lens will cause discomfort and you'll have to take it out, wash it, and reapply.
To be clear, when I say "finger", I am only talking about the small part of your fingertip that the lens is touching. That is the only part you need to worry about.
posted by zixyer at 1:01 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
The technique I use for finger drying is to briefly rub it against the dry (clean!) wrist/inner forearm region of the opposite arm. Using a towel or tissue paper or something like that can be problematic because even a tiny speck of fluff or dust that gets on the lens will cause discomfort and you'll have to take it out, wash it, and reapply.
To be clear, when I say "finger", I am only talking about the small part of your fingertip that the lens is touching. That is the only part you need to worry about.
posted by zixyer at 1:01 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I would always put a drop or more (I don't remember how many, but there was an optimal amount) of solution in the lens on my fingertip. Then have a finger from each hand holding both the upper and lower eyelids open*, and let the lens kind of cup the eyeball - the idea was for the eye to make contact with the liquid first, and then with the magic of surface tension or something it made the lens stick better to the eye. Once I felt the liquid and lens were touching the eye, I'd roll the eye a bit to help the lens get seated well over the bulge of the cornea.
I remember it took a bit of time to get used to not just immediately blinking when the lens got near the eye, or immediately when it touched it. But I got to the point where I could hold my eyelids open for quite a while without needing to blink, and where I could seat the lens and hold off on blinking for as long as I needed. I also learned the best place to be looking while I was inserting the lens - where you look changes where the cornea is - and, as mentioned in other comments, it also got easier to move the lens around a bit if needed while it was still on the finger.
One example setup, for the left lens: contact lens sitting on left index finger; left middle finger pulling down bottom eyelid; right middle finger holding up top eyelid. It's funny - all these years later, the movement is still automatic.
However you do it: You'll figure it out in the end. Take a break when you get frustrated. It's just a new motor skill - it's normal for it to take some time.
posted by trig at 1:03 PM on November 11
I remember it took a bit of time to get used to not just immediately blinking when the lens got near the eye, or immediately when it touched it. But I got to the point where I could hold my eyelids open for quite a while without needing to blink, and where I could seat the lens and hold off on blinking for as long as I needed. I also learned the best place to be looking while I was inserting the lens - where you look changes where the cornea is - and, as mentioned in other comments, it also got easier to move the lens around a bit if needed while it was still on the finger.
One example setup, for the left lens: contact lens sitting on left index finger; left middle finger pulling down bottom eyelid; right middle finger holding up top eyelid. It's funny - all these years later, the movement is still automatic.
However you do it: You'll figure it out in the end. Take a break when you get frustrated. It's just a new motor skill - it's normal for it to take some time.
posted by trig at 1:03 PM on November 11
One more thing, regarding holding your eyelids open. I find it easiest to just gently hold the bottom eyelid open with the middle finger of the same hand that I'm using to apply the lens. I don't reach over my head and hold the top eyelid open with the other hand, that just seems to complicate things. But try both ways and see which is easier.
posted by zixyer at 1:12 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
posted by zixyer at 1:12 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
If you have long fingernails, cut them. At least until you get comfortable.
At lot of your struggle right now is self-amplifying - the lens dries out, your eye gets itchy, etc so don’t be surprised if your procedure reduces a lot with practice.
If your lenses are dailies, I think you should sacrifice a few pairs while you practice. Modern lenses can get really crunchy and creased if they dry out and crumpled up … a fresh pair will be a lot more forgiving.
It’s been decades for me, but I also had the long frustrating practice in the office and then a lot of failure at home. I used the two-handed method with the lens on the pad of my right hand and the middle finger on the right lowering my bottom lid and using my left hand to lift my upper lid by the lashes, and leaning really close to a mirror.
Now? I am not sure whether I do the lower-lid-lowering at all - I am overthinking it now trying to reenact what I did this morning but definitely the other hand and the mirror are utterly superfluous.
posted by janell at 1:18 PM on November 11
At lot of your struggle right now is self-amplifying - the lens dries out, your eye gets itchy, etc so don’t be surprised if your procedure reduces a lot with practice.
If your lenses are dailies, I think you should sacrifice a few pairs while you practice. Modern lenses can get really crunchy and creased if they dry out and crumpled up … a fresh pair will be a lot more forgiving.
It’s been decades for me, but I also had the long frustrating practice in the office and then a lot of failure at home. I used the two-handed method with the lens on the pad of my right hand and the middle finger on the right lowering my bottom lid and using my left hand to lift my upper lid by the lashes, and leaning really close to a mirror.
Now? I am not sure whether I do the lower-lid-lowering at all - I am overthinking it now trying to reenact what I did this morning but definitely the other hand and the mirror are utterly superfluous.
posted by janell at 1:18 PM on November 11
I also had a really hard time at first. I agree with the dry finger, wet lens. I use the pointer of my right hand. I pull the lower lid down with the middle finger of my left hand and look up. I have one toric lens which is often not quite in the right place so I have to blink a bunch of times to get it in position. I also sometimes close my eyes and move that eye around to help it in place.
posted by Nolechick11 at 1:25 PM on November 11
posted by Nolechick11 at 1:25 PM on November 11
I had such a hard time the first time I tried I just gave up!
Nearly twenty years later, I still don't find it particularly easy, but one thing that helped in the interim was...going through a lengthy period where I wore eye shadow and mascara to work. No lie. It helped damp down my blink reflex, which used to be completely hair-trigger. This may or may not be useful to you, but I share it because it's God's own truth.
posted by praemunire at 1:56 PM on November 11
Nearly twenty years later, I still don't find it particularly easy, but one thing that helped in the interim was...going through a lengthy period where I wore eye shadow and mascara to work. No lie. It helped damp down my blink reflex, which used to be completely hair-trigger. This may or may not be useful to you, but I share it because it's God's own truth.
posted by praemunire at 1:56 PM on November 11
One thing that helped me a lot when I first started wearing contacts was not to look at the lens as it's coming toward your eye. Pick a spot straight ahead and fix your gaze on that.
posted by Dolley at 2:25 PM on November 11 [2 favorites]
posted by Dolley at 2:25 PM on November 11 [2 favorites]
So I'm a very occasional contact wearer - like, maybe six times a year now that I'm not doing martial arts - and I accept that I suck at it. I give myself a literal hour to get them in. I will never be a daily wearer, but I never planned to be - it's 100% a utility reason for me. Your problems sound a lot like mine.
The wetness and dry hand balance is key, as is having extra solution to rewet or clean out the lens holder on try three. Another thing is to have lint free towels or paper towels around for drying your hands. I've found that looking straight ahead at my eye in the mirror actually helps me. Lower eyelid down, angle it up, plant. Try to avoid tipping in though -- the angle you're approaching your eye may be off. Then I make a goal of pressing firmly against my goddamn cornea
and tapping it in and I hate that but that's why I also pretend it's a crazy cyberpunk contact and that I gotta do it to communicate with my team.
posted by cobaltnine at 5:12 PM on November 11
The wetness and dry hand balance is key, as is having extra solution to rewet or clean out the lens holder on try three. Another thing is to have lint free towels or paper towels around for drying your hands. I've found that looking straight ahead at my eye in the mirror actually helps me. Lower eyelid down, angle it up, plant. Try to avoid tipping in though -- the angle you're approaching your eye may be off. Then I make a goal of pressing firmly against my goddamn cornea
and tapping it in and I hate that but that's why I also pretend it's a crazy cyberpunk contact and that I gotta do it to communicate with my team.
posted by cobaltnine at 5:12 PM on November 11
I've worn contacts for years and it took me quite a while to get into a routine, but I got there in the end so don't give up! My routine is:
1. Always always always follow the routine. I'm a bit paranoid about getting the lenses mixed up and the routine is how I know I haven't done that.
2. Start with the lens holder open on the bench in front of the mirror (the more light the better) and the solution bottle open beside it. Try to lean over the bench a little so, if I drop a lens it lands on the bench, not the floor.
3. Starting with the right eye, take the lens from the holder with my left index finger and confirm it isn't 'inside out' by looking across it as it sits on the tip of my finger - if it looks like a shallow bowl with the edges facing up, it's OK. If the edges don't face upward, it's inside out.
4. Put one drop (no more) of solution in the lens, holding the lens facing up so it catches the drop. Too much will make the lens collapse, so I empty it and start again.
5. With my right hand thumb and index finger, hold the top and bottom lids of my right eye open. I have small eye openings or something, so have to stretch them open quite a bit to make sure the lens doesn't contact them on the way in.
6. Looking straight at the mirror so that the cornea is centred, push the lens gently onto the eyeball then kind of roll my finger off the lens. If the lens keeps sticking to the end of my finger, dry the finger and try again.
7. Slowly release the eyelids, making sure not to catch the edge of the lens while doing that.
8. Close the eye and press gently on the eyelid. Not sure if this actually helps or just makes me feel better, to be honest. But it works.
9. Repeat the above with the left eye, using exactly the same hand/fingers as the right eye.
Note that I'm left-handed, which may affect which order I do things or which hand I use. I also have Toric lenses, so had to learn to accept my vision would be not great for a few minutes while they adjusted to the correct orientation. I do tend to carefully rub or press on my eyes during this process, although I doubt it does anything physical to help.
One of the really important things that a few others have mentioned - if the lens is too dry, it will never stick to your eye. If your hand is too wet, it will stick firmly to your finger. If you get at all flustered in the process, put the lens back in the holder so you can relax for a minute and get your composure back. Take your time - there's no point in rushing, but you will get much much quicker once you get the hang of it and I can now put them in without a mirror if I need to (except I feel uncomfortable not following my routine because that's how I roll).
You've got this! If you keep struggling, go back to the optometrist and ask for help. But I'm sure you'll figure out a routine that works for you with a bit of patience. The freedom you get from contacts vs glasses is with the effort - trust me!
posted by dg at 10:24 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
1. Always always always follow the routine. I'm a bit paranoid about getting the lenses mixed up and the routine is how I know I haven't done that.
2. Start with the lens holder open on the bench in front of the mirror (the more light the better) and the solution bottle open beside it. Try to lean over the bench a little so, if I drop a lens it lands on the bench, not the floor.
3. Starting with the right eye, take the lens from the holder with my left index finger and confirm it isn't 'inside out' by looking across it as it sits on the tip of my finger - if it looks like a shallow bowl with the edges facing up, it's OK. If the edges don't face upward, it's inside out.
4. Put one drop (no more) of solution in the lens, holding the lens facing up so it catches the drop. Too much will make the lens collapse, so I empty it and start again.
5. With my right hand thumb and index finger, hold the top and bottom lids of my right eye open. I have small eye openings or something, so have to stretch them open quite a bit to make sure the lens doesn't contact them on the way in.
6. Looking straight at the mirror so that the cornea is centred, push the lens gently onto the eyeball then kind of roll my finger off the lens. If the lens keeps sticking to the end of my finger, dry the finger and try again.
7. Slowly release the eyelids, making sure not to catch the edge of the lens while doing that.
8. Close the eye and press gently on the eyelid. Not sure if this actually helps or just makes me feel better, to be honest. But it works.
9. Repeat the above with the left eye, using exactly the same hand/fingers as the right eye.
Note that I'm left-handed, which may affect which order I do things or which hand I use. I also have Toric lenses, so had to learn to accept my vision would be not great for a few minutes while they adjusted to the correct orientation. I do tend to carefully rub or press on my eyes during this process, although I doubt it does anything physical to help.
One of the really important things that a few others have mentioned - if the lens is too dry, it will never stick to your eye. If your hand is too wet, it will stick firmly to your finger. If you get at all flustered in the process, put the lens back in the holder so you can relax for a minute and get your composure back. Take your time - there's no point in rushing, but you will get much much quicker once you get the hang of it and I can now put them in without a mirror if I need to (except I feel uncomfortable not following my routine because that's how I roll).
You've got this! If you keep struggling, go back to the optometrist and ask for help. But I'm sure you'll figure out a routine that works for you with a bit of patience. The freedom you get from contacts vs glasses is with the effort - trust me!
posted by dg at 10:24 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
I wore them for many, many years. Follow the advice above but also: when doing all this, concentrate on rotating your eyeball DOWN. Maybe more further down than seems right.
Your eyeball should be pointing in a 90 degree angle from your skull, like looking straight forward. This can feel a little weird to do when bending over and inserting the contact. I found the only times I would have trouble (rarely, but it seems like I would go on a streak of trouble, then back to long periods with no issue) was when I was not being present and thoughtful about this.
posted by SoberHighland at 6:20 AM on November 12
Your eyeball should be pointing in a 90 degree angle from your skull, like looking straight forward. This can feel a little weird to do when bending over and inserting the contact. I found the only times I would have trouble (rarely, but it seems like I would go on a streak of trouble, then back to long periods with no issue) was when I was not being present and thoughtful about this.
posted by SoberHighland at 6:20 AM on November 12
Metafilter taught me to use my middle finger to insert the lens onto my eyeball.
I also found it helpful when learning to look down on a mirror instead of straight at it. Doing this also limits where a lens will typically fall (down onto the mirror).
It can be helpful to determine if it is relatively easier for you to put on your right contact or left contact first.
If funds and supplies permit, start with a fresh pair of contacts tomorrow. Regardless, it sounds like you need to take a break for the rest of the day.
I will say in my experience the 2 week lenses were initially easier to put on than the dailies, because they are thicker. However, towards the end of the two week period, the dailies were sometimes relatively easier to put on since they weren’t stretched out. So that’s a convoluted way to say that consider asking your doctor about switching lens types if you continue to get stuck.
posted by oceano at 11:09 AM on November 12
I also found it helpful when learning to look down on a mirror instead of straight at it. Doing this also limits where a lens will typically fall (down onto the mirror).
It can be helpful to determine if it is relatively easier for you to put on your right contact or left contact first.
If funds and supplies permit, start with a fresh pair of contacts tomorrow. Regardless, it sounds like you need to take a break for the rest of the day.
I will say in my experience the 2 week lenses were initially easier to put on than the dailies, because they are thicker. However, towards the end of the two week period, the dailies were sometimes relatively easier to put on since they weren’t stretched out. So that’s a convoluted way to say that consider asking your doctor about switching lens types if you continue to get stuck.
posted by oceano at 11:09 AM on November 12
This thread is full of great technique recommendations, so just some personal experience: The very very first time I wore contacts, the optometrist did it for me, and then took them out, then had me do it, and by some fluke I managed to get them in and out and they sent me on my way.
But the first time I had to do it alone was a DISASTER. I kept blinking and catching the contact halfway in and folding it or knocking it off my finger. And I kept trying for so long that my eyes dried out (from all the holding them open and flinching/jerking/dropping the damn thing at the last moment) which meant that even when I managed to get close it wouldn't stay. And then I was taking so long to work up the nerve to get my finger that close to my eye that the contact started to shrivel and I had to dunk it in the case again (I didn't know about the drop on the lens trick). This was before YouTube. I had no access to instructional videos or even a poorly illustrated pamphlet. I kept repeating the optometrist's instructions in my head, which wound up being a refrain of why can't I do this they said it would be so easy why can't I do this they said -- until I was hunched in front of the mirror, in tears, hating myself for not being able to do this simple thing.
I don't remember how long or how many tries or days it took. I recognize now that there were a bunch of times when I should have just given myself permission to stop trying. I think the first time I managed to get the right lens in was because the frustrated crying lubricated my eye just enough to get the lens to stick, but then I couldn't get the left one in, and then I had to take the right one out. Then there was the time I managed to get one in but then started blinking furiously, so much that the lens folded and fell out of my eye.
The advice I would have given my younger self would be: Make a list of the methods suggested here. Set yourself a timer, and dedicate that timer window to trying one method. Take note of what seems to be helping or not, but when the timer is up, you're done trying. You did not fail, you just completed a single practice run. Go do something nice for yourself, whether that's having a snack or walking around the block or reading something or listening to a bit of a podcast. Let your eyes return to baseline (don't keep trying when they're all dried out like I did). Let yourself think about whether you want to try again today or just call it a day and try again tomorrow.
It does take practice, and nthing that you are retraining a bunch of very strong reflexes, which makes this whole learning process a massive PITA, but you can do it.
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? at 11:55 AM on November 12
But the first time I had to do it alone was a DISASTER. I kept blinking and catching the contact halfway in and folding it or knocking it off my finger. And I kept trying for so long that my eyes dried out (from all the holding them open and flinching/jerking/dropping the damn thing at the last moment) which meant that even when I managed to get close it wouldn't stay. And then I was taking so long to work up the nerve to get my finger that close to my eye that the contact started to shrivel and I had to dunk it in the case again (I didn't know about the drop on the lens trick). This was before YouTube. I had no access to instructional videos or even a poorly illustrated pamphlet. I kept repeating the optometrist's instructions in my head, which wound up being a refrain of why can't I do this they said it would be so easy why can't I do this they said -- until I was hunched in front of the mirror, in tears, hating myself for not being able to do this simple thing.
I don't remember how long or how many tries or days it took. I recognize now that there were a bunch of times when I should have just given myself permission to stop trying. I think the first time I managed to get the right lens in was because the frustrated crying lubricated my eye just enough to get the lens to stick, but then I couldn't get the left one in, and then I had to take the right one out. Then there was the time I managed to get one in but then started blinking furiously, so much that the lens folded and fell out of my eye.
The advice I would have given my younger self would be: Make a list of the methods suggested here. Set yourself a timer, and dedicate that timer window to trying one method. Take note of what seems to be helping or not, but when the timer is up, you're done trying. You did not fail, you just completed a single practice run. Go do something nice for yourself, whether that's having a snack or walking around the block or reading something or listening to a bit of a podcast. Let your eyes return to baseline (don't keep trying when they're all dried out like I did). Let yourself think about whether you want to try again today or just call it a day and try again tomorrow.
It does take practice, and nthing that you are retraining a bunch of very strong reflexes, which makes this whole learning process a massive PITA, but you can do it.
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? at 11:55 AM on November 12
Just commenting to confirm that learning to put contacts in is really really hard. I learned how to do it when I was ~12-13 and I recall spending at least 30 min in the morning trying to get the darn things in. I can now do it (mumble years later) without a mirror in one go in about 10 sec, so I promise it gets better, it’s just a hard skill to learn. Keep trying. All the comments have great technical suggestions. Solidarity!
posted by annie o at 7:22 PM on November 12
posted by annie o at 7:22 PM on November 12
It took me forever to get used to it, but now I can put them in and take them out without a mirror or anything.
My problem was stupid: I thought I had to press the contact lens against the eyeball, then make sure it stayed in place before closing my eyes. But I was wrong.
Now I use the thumb and middle finger of my left hand to hold the top and bottom eyelid out of the way. Then I gently get the contact just close enough to the eyeball so I can feel it "suction" into place. Then without doing anything else, I lower my top eyelid until it covers the lens, then let go of the lower eyelid.
For me it was figuring out that it takes very little pressure to get the contact to go into place. You're not pushing it where it needs to go, rather you are getting close enough for it to adhere on its own.
posted by tacodave at 3:18 PM on November 13 [1 favorite]
My problem was stupid: I thought I had to press the contact lens against the eyeball, then make sure it stayed in place before closing my eyes. But I was wrong.
Now I use the thumb and middle finger of my left hand to hold the top and bottom eyelid out of the way. Then I gently get the contact just close enough to the eyeball so I can feel it "suction" into place. Then without doing anything else, I lower my top eyelid until it covers the lens, then let go of the lower eyelid.
For me it was figuring out that it takes very little pressure to get the contact to go into place. You're not pushing it where it needs to go, rather you are getting close enough for it to adhere on its own.
posted by tacodave at 3:18 PM on November 13 [1 favorite]
Another thing I thought about this morning is that you might try having your whole face pointed DOWN instead of FORWARD. Then gravity can help keep the lens from folding over if you don’t land it squarely on your eye. Might be more awkward with two-handed approaches, but it’s an option.
posted by janell at 7:31 PM on November 13
posted by janell at 7:31 PM on November 13
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- once it’s on your eye ball, gently move it around the eye a bit to get rid of any air bubbles
- before closing your eye, move your eyeball in all directions
-if it feels uncomfortable, try moving it once again on the eyeball and blinking a bit, then moving it back over the pupil area
- after drying your hands make sure there is no towel fluff on it before touching the lens
- try a different brand of contact lens fluid
-finally, normally your optician should have shown you how to do it and gone through the whole process with you. Could be worth going back and asking them for advice.
posted by sefsl at 10:11 AM on November 11 [2 favorites]