HANDLING YOUR LENSES -
Cleanliness is an important aspect of contact lens care. Before handling your lenses always wash, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly. Avoid the use of soaps, lotions, creams, or perfumes that leave a residue on your hands. Avoid using medication, deodorants, cosmetics or similar items prior to touching your lenses. When hair spray is used, the eyes must remain closed until the spray has settled. Take great care when handling your lenses. Always avoid touching your lenses with your fingernails or other sharp objects.
- INSERTING YOUR LENSES -
Inserting the lenses the correct way to avoid the possibility of lens mix-ups, always begin with the same lens. Before inserting the lens, rinse well with fresh rinsing solution. To ensure your lenses are inserted the correct way round, the side with the more vivid color needs to be facing out.Remember to start with your right eye. Once the lens has been examined and you are sure it is not inside out, place it on the tip of your forefinger. Place the middle finger of the same hand close to your lower eyelashes and pull down the lower lid. Use the forefinger or middle finger of the other hand to lift the upper lid and place the lens on the eye.
- CENTERING YOUR LENSE -

Usually the lens centers itself automatically on the middle of your eye when you insert it and will very rarely be displaced onto the white of your eye during wear. However, this can occur if insertion and removal are not performed properly. To center a lens close your eyelids & gently massage the lens into place through the closed lid. Gently manipulate the off-centered lens onto the middle of your eye while the eye is opened, using finger pressure on the edge of the upper or lower lid.
- REMOVING YOUR LENSE -

Wash rinse and dry hands thoroughly. Before removal, check that the lens is centered on the cornea by covering one eyeIf vision is blurry the lens is off-center. Re-center the lens before attempting to remove it. Look up and keep both eyes open. Using the middle finger of your dominant hand, gently pull down the lower lid of the first eye, Using the tip of your index finger of the same hand, touch the lens and slide it onto the white of the eye. Gently “pinch” the lens between the index finger &thumb and remove. If the lens cannot be easily moved, apply a few drops of a lubricating solution to the eye, blink a few times, and when the lens moves freely on the eye, remove in the manner described above. Look up; slide the lens down to the white of your eye using your forefinger gently pinch the lens between your thumbs and forefinger and remove the lens. Upon removal, rinse well with rinsing solution and place in the lens storage case filled with fresh storage solution. Always avoid touching your lenses with your fingernails, use only your fingertips.
- FIRST TIME WEARER TIPS -
It is recommended that you visit your eye care specialist first before wearing contacts if you have not worn contacts before it is recommended that you take the lenses out of the saline solution they are stored in upon purchase and soak the lenses in Lens Fluid for a full 24 hours before inserting into your eyes. Inserting the lens for some people can be easy and take just 10 seconds and for others it can take 20 minutes – 1 hour. Eyes watering and some discomfort is normal for the first time. If you have a break from wearing your contacts this can happen again. Discomfort to the eye on first insertion does not include sharpness, scratching or pricking sensations. If this occurs remove immediately and refer the guidelines in the accompanying pamphlet.Your eyes should adjust within 5 mins. In some cases some people see foggily through the lenses – this should only last for about 5-10 mins max. If it lasts longer remove and contact your distributor or eye practitioner.Introduce your eyes slowly to contact wearing - wear only for a couple of hours for the first day then gradually day by day build up the hours of wear time to a maximum of 8 hours per day.Most Optometrists recommend you use a multi purpose Lens fluid - that is a disinfectant and lens protection fluid in one eg. Eye Lite, Renu, Complete, Ao Sept, Omni Care & Opti Free.It is also recommended you continue to use the same brand of lens fluid when you run out as your eyes have become used to the solution that your contacts are kept in. If you are in conditions that will dry your eyes out or if your eyes do not lubricate the lenses enough, or if you will be wearing your contacts for periods longer than 4 hours, it is recommended that you buy eye drops for lens wearers - recommended brands are Refresh or Bran Tears - these brands come in single dose units as opposed to buying a bottle that has a limited life span once opened.Be careful when storing your lenses not to screw your contacts into the lid of the lens case. This is a common problem and is your responsibility.
- CARING FOR YOUR SOFT LENSES -
Each time you remove your contact lenses, you should clean, rinse and disinfect the contact lenses as per the following steps:
1. Remove your lenses and soak them Remove the Right lens & place it in your palm, apply several drops of multipurpose solution to soak the lens.
2. Clean the Lens well Gently rub the lens with your finger in a back and forth motion on both sides of the lens for 10 to 15 seconds.
3. Rinse the Lens Rinse the lens thoroughly with more drops of multipurpose solution before storing the lenses.
4. Store & Disinfect Your Contact Lens Put the cleaned Right lens in the Right compartment of the contact lens container then, fill the compartment with fresh solution & close it tightly with Right lid.
5. Repeat the above steps with your left contact lens. Before wearing your contact lenses again repeat steps 1,2 & 3 before inserting in your eyes.
6. It is strongly recommended to return to your practitioner before replacing your lenses.
7. Never use your saliva, saline solution or tap water to disinfect your soft contact lenses.
8. Never use the solution you store your lenses in again. Always replace the solution after each use. Replace your contact lens container frequently (recommended every 3 months)
- NEVER SHARE YOUR LENSES -
Proper care of your lenses involves cleaning & disinfecting, with appropriate rinsing as necessary. Contact lenses must be cleaned and disinfected each day when on a daily wear schedule, or upon each wear. Always wash, rinse and dry your hands before handling your contact lenses Never re-use the solution in your lens case. Never use solutions that are past their expiry date. Never use saliva, tap water or home made saline solutions or anything other than recommended solutions to rinse your lenses. It is a good practice to once a week if a daily user or once a month if a casual wearer to place each lens in the palm of your hand with a little of the lens solution and give both sides a gentle rub with the center of your finger being careful not to touch the lens with your nail. This removes any buildup of eye bi-products on the lens.
- CARING FOR A DRIED OUT OR DEHYDRATED LENS -
If a soft contact lens is exposed to air while off the eye; it may become dry and brittle and need to be re-hydrated. A dehydrated lens must be handled very carefully. To re-hydrate the lens, place it in its storage case. Soak the lens in a recommended rinsing and storage solution for at least 60 minutes until it returns to a soft state. The lens must be carefully inspected to ensure it is not damaged. It should then be cleaned and disinfected before replacement on the eye. If the lens does not feel comfortable or does not become soft, the lens should be discarded and replaced.
|