How to Properly Put on Contacts – A Detailed Guide
Learning how to properly put on contacts can make lens insertion faster, more comfortable, and less stressful. The essential steps are simple: wash and dry your hands, check the lens, hold both eyelids securely, place the lens gently on the eye, and confirm that your vision feels clear and comfortable.
New contact lens wearers often struggle with blinking, keeping the lens on their fingertip, or deciding whether it is inside out. These problems usually become easier with practice. However, pain, persistent redness, or blurred vision should never be treated as a normal part of learning.
Key Takeaways
- Wash your hands and dry them completely before touching a contact lens.
- Start with the same eye each time so you do not mix up the lenses.
- Check that the lens forms a smooth bowl and has no tears, particles, or irregular edges.
- Hold both eyelids close to the lashes to control blinking.
- Never rinse or wet contact lenses with tap water or saliva.
- Remove the lens if it causes pain, persistent discomfort, redness, or unclear vision.
Before Putting In Your Contact Lenses
Good preparation reduces contamination and makes insertion easier. Set up in a clean, well-lit area with a mirror and a clear surface. Avoid working directly over an open sink or drain, where a dropped lens can be lost or exposed to water.
Wash and Dry Your Hands
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, rinse them, and dry them with a clean, lint-free towel. Hands that remain wet can transfer water and microorganisms to the lens. Oils, creams, and fibers may also make the lens difficult to handle.
Keep your fingernails away from the lens. Handle it with the soft pads of your fingers rather than with your nails, tweezers, or improvised tools.
Start With the Same Eye
Always begin with the right eye or always begin with the left. A consistent routine helps prevent mixing up lenses when the two eyes have different powers, designs, or other parameters.
Check the Packaging or Lens Case
When opening a fresh blister pack, make sure it is sealed and undamaged and that the lens is floating in its packaging solution. Do not use a lens from a dry, leaking, torn, or previously opened package.
A fresh daily disposable lens normally does not need to be rinsed before insertion. Reusable lenses should be handled according to their care instructions. When rinsing is required, use only a compatible contact lens solution—never water or saliva.
Different care products do not perform identical functions. Our guide to contact lens solution ingredients explains the differences between multipurpose solution, saline, and hydrogen peroxide systems.
How to Tell if a Contact Lens Is Inside Out
Place the contact lens on the tip of a clean, dry index finger and view it from the side. A correctly oriented soft lens should resemble a smooth bowl, with its edges pointing mostly upward.
If the edges flare outward like a shallow plate, the lens may be inside out. Turn it over gently and inspect it again. Some lenses also have small orientation markings that appear in the correct order when the lens is positioned properly.
Before insertion, examine the lens for:
- Tears, chips, or irregular edges
- Dust, eyelashes, makeup, or visible deposits
- Cloudiness or discoloration
- A folded or distorted shape
- An unusually dry surface
Discard a damaged daily disposable lens. Clean and inspect a reusable lens according to its care instructions, but do not wear it if damage remains visible.
How to Properly Put On Contacts in 7 Steps
Learning how to properly put on contacts becomes easier when you use the same sequence every time. The following technique works for many soft contact lens wearers, although you should always follow the handling instructions supplied for your specific lenses.
Step 1: Place the Lens on Your Index Finger
Balance the lens on the dry tip of your index finger. The lens should sit near the center of the fingertip and form an even bowl. A wet fingertip can make the lens stick to your skin instead of transferring to the eye.
Step 2: Hold the Upper Eyelid
Use your free hand to hold the upper eyelid close to the lash line. Lift it firmly enough to prevent blinking, but do not press hard on the eye.
Step 3: Pull Down the Lower Eyelid
Use the middle finger of the hand holding the lens to pull down the lower eyelid. Keep both eyelids controlled throughout insertion. Holding only the lower lid often allows the upper lid to close as the lens approaches.
Step 4: Look Toward the Mirror
Look straight toward the mirror or slightly upward, depending on which position feels more natural. Keep your head steady and bring the lens toward the eye slowly rather than moving the eye toward your finger.
Step 5: Place the Lens Gently on the Eye
Touch the lens gently to the center of the eye. Some wearers find it easier to look slightly upward and place the lens on the lower white area before allowing it to move into position. Either approach should be gentle and should follow the technique demonstrated during your lens fitting.
Step 6: Release the Eyelids Slowly
Once the lens is on the eye, look slowly from side to side. Release the lower eyelid first and then the upper eyelid. Close the eye gently for a moment without squeezing it shut.
Step 7: Blink and Check Your Vision
Blink several times to allow the lens to center. Your vision should become clear, and the lens should feel comfortable. Repeat the process with the other eye.
If the lens remains uncomfortable, do not keep rubbing or pressing it through the eyelid. Remove it and inspect it. Discard a questionable daily lens. Clean and disinfect a reusable lens according to its instructions before attempting insertion again.
Quick Contact Lens Insertion Checklist
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Prepare | Wash and completely dry your hands. |
| 2. Inspect | Check the lens for damage, debris, and correct orientation. |
| 3. Position | Place the lens on the dry tip of your index finger. |
| 4. Hold | Secure the upper and lower eyelids close to the lashes. |
| 5. Insert | Place the lens gently on the eye. |
| 6. Center | Release the eyelids slowly and blink several times. |
| 7. Check | Confirm that vision is clear and the eye feels comfortable. |
How to Properly Put On Contacts Without Blinking
A strong blink reflex is one of the most common reasons beginners struggle with insertion. Trying to force the eye open usually makes the process harder. Instead, focus on controlling the eyelids close to the lash line.
- Keep your hands dry: Dry fingers grip the eyelids more securely.
- Hold the upper lashes: If you hold only the skin above the eye, the upper lid may still close.
- Approach slowly: Sudden movements can trigger blinking.
- Look at one fixed point: This helps keep the eye steady.
- Practice without a lens: With clean hands, practice holding both eyelids open for a few seconds.
- Take a break: Repeated unsuccessful attempts can irritate the eye and increase blinking.
Knowing how to properly put on contacts does not mean the process must work immediately. Take short breaks and return with clean, dry hands rather than repeatedly touching an irritated eye.
Common Contact Lens Insertion Problems
| Problem | Possible cause and solution |
|---|---|
| The lens sticks to your finger | Your fingertip may be too wet. Dry it completely and keep the lens centered on the tip. |
| The lens falls off before reaching the eye | It may be inside out, folded, too wet, or positioned too close to the edge of your finger. |
| You cannot stop blinking | Hold both eyelids closer to the lash line and approach the eye more slowly. |
| The lens moves away from the center | Close the eye gently and blink. If it does not center or remains uncomfortable, remove it. |
| Vision is blurry | The lens may be inside out, dirty, off-center, damaged, or intended for the other eye. |
| The lens stings or burns | Remove it immediately. Check for debris, damage, incorrect solution, or contamination. |
| The lens will not stay on the eye | It may be too dry, inside out, damaged, or incompatible with the eye’s surface at that moment. |
What Should a Contact Lens Feel Like?
A properly positioned soft contact lens should become barely noticeable after insertion. First-time wearers may initially be aware that something is on the eye, but sharp pain, strong burning, persistent scratching, or ongoing blurred vision is not normal.
Remove the lens when discomfort does not settle after blinking. Check whether it is inside out, damaged, dirty, or on the wrong eye. Do not place contact lens cleaning or storage solution directly into the eye unless the product is specifically labeled for that purpose.
For dryness during wear, use only rewetting drops that are compatible with your contact lens type. Stop wearing the lens and seek professional eye care when symptoms include significant pain, persistent redness, discharge, light sensitivity, swelling, or reduced vision.
Are Soft and RGP Lenses Inserted the Same Way?
Soft and rigid gas permeable lenses require the same basic hygiene: clean, dry hands; careful inspection; and no contact with water. However, their handling is not identical.
Soft lenses are larger and flexible. They often fold or turn inside out, so their shape must be checked before insertion. RGP lenses are smaller and firmer. Their placement, centering, and removal techniques may differ from those used for soft lenses.
RGP lenses do not automatically cause more infections than soft lenses. Risk depends heavily on hygiene, water exposure, wearing habits, lens condition, and following the recommended replacement and care routine.
Use the technique demonstrated for your specific lens type rather than assuming that every contact lens is handled in exactly the same way.
Want a Simple Daily Routine?
Daily disposable lenses provide a fresh pair each day and remove the need for overnight cleaning and storage.How to Remove Contact Lenses
Wash and completely dry your hands before removing a contact lens. Look upward, pull down the lower eyelid, and slide the soft lens gently toward the lower white part of the eye. Use the pads of your thumb and index finger to pinch it lightly and remove it.
Do not use your fingernails. If the lens feels dry or stuck, apply compatible rewetting drops, blink several times, and wait until the lens moves freely before trying again.
Our detailed guide explains how to remove contact lenses, including what to do when a lens is difficult to take out.
Contact Lens Care After Removal
Daily disposable lenses should be discarded after removal. Do not clean, store, or reuse them.
Reusable lenses require the care system recommended for their material. Rub, rinse, disinfect, and store them according to the instructions for the lenses and solution.
- Use fresh disinfecting solution for every storage cycle.
- Never top off old solution with fresh solution.
- Do not rinse lenses or their case with tap water.
- Clean the case with fresh contact lens solution.
- Allow the case to air-dry upside down with the caps off.
- Replace the case at least every three months or as directed.
- Replace lenses according to their approved schedule.
For a complete cleaning and storage routine, read our guide on how to care for contact lenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Properly Put On Contacts for the First Time?
To learn how to properly put on contacts, begin with clean, dry hands. Place the correctly oriented lens on a dry fingertip, hold both eyelids open, place the lens gently on the eye, release the eyelids slowly, and blink several times.
Why Are Contacts So Hard to Put In?
The most common causes are a strong blink reflex, wet fingers, an inside-out lens, incomplete control of the upper eyelid, or anxiety about touching the eye. Consistent practice usually makes insertion easier.
Should You Put a Contact Lens on the Iris or the White Part?
Many wearers place a soft lens directly over the cornea while looking toward the mirror. Others look slightly upward and place it on the lower white part before allowing it to center. Follow the method demonstrated for your specific lenses.
How Can You Stop Blinking While Putting In Contacts?
Hold the upper and lower eyelids close to the lash line with dry fingers. Approach the eye slowly and focus on a fixed point in the mirror. Practice holding the eyelids open before attempting insertion.
Why Does the Lens Keep Sticking to Your Finger?
The fingertip is often too wet. Dry it completely and place the lens near the center of the fingertip. The lens surface should remain moist, but the skin supporting it should be dry.
Can You Put Contacts In With Long Nails?
It is possible, but keep the nails away from the lens and eye. Handle the lens with the pads of your fingers. Long or sharp nails increase the chance of tearing the lens or scratching the eye during insertion and removal.
Why Is Vision Blurry After Putting In a Contact Lens?
The lens may be inside out, off-center, dirty, damaged, or placed on the wrong eye. Remove it if blinking does not clear the vision. Do not continue wearing a lens that causes persistent blur or discomfort.
How to Properly Put On Contacts: Final Checklist
Knowing how to properly put on contacts starts with clean, dry hands and a careful lens inspection. Hold both eyelids securely, place the lens gently on the eye, release the lids slowly, and confirm that the lens feels comfortable and provides clear vision.
Never use water or saliva, do not wear a damaged lens, and avoid repeatedly attempting insertion when the eye has become irritated. Daily disposables should be discarded after use, while reusable lenses require fresh solution and proper disinfection.
Ready to Find Your Contact Lenses?
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