INTRODUCTION TO SOFT CONTACT LENSES
Congratulations on your decision to correct your vision with contact lenses! Enjoy the difference in the way you look, also experience better peripheral vision and freedom from glasses for leisure and sports. To be successful in wearing contact lenses you must be motivated!! It will be your responsibility to remove your contact lenses nightly and clean them, or dispose of them after a given amount of time. You are responsible for taking care of them after you leave this office. Please follow all directions carefully. DON’T change or try a new contact lens product without checking with this office first. Some products may discolor your contacts or even harm your eyes.
~You only have one pair of eyes. Take special care of them.~
Phrase to remember; "Feels good, Looks good, Sees good" 1. "Feels good" - As long as your contact lenses feel good, wear them. If they hurt, burn, itch, or feel uncomfortable in any way, DO NOT WEAR YOUR LENSES - call our office. 2. "Looks good" - As long as your eye and contact lenses look O.K. you can wear them. Your eyes should not be red or discolored in any way. If your eyes don’t look white and healthy or your contact lenses have any defects (deposits or tears), DO NOT WEAR YOUR LENSES. 3. "Sees good" -Your vision should be clear. It should not be cloudy or fluctuating. If for any reason you can not see clearly with your lenses DO NOT WEAR THEM. Call our office. Contact lenses are medical devices. Therefore, follow-up exams are required to ensure your success, comfort and health. Please don’t ever hesitate to contact this office if you have questions or problems concerning your contact lenses or your eye health.
Inside-out Contact Lenses
Before inserting a contact lens into your eye, make sure that the contact lens is not inverted or inside-out. It will not harm your eye if this happens, but your vision may not be as clear, the lens will move on your eye more and your comfort may be less than normal. If you are not sure it is in the correct position you can use one of two methods: • THE EDGE OR "BOWL" METHOD. Place the contact lens on your
index finger and inspect the edges of the lens. It should look more like a bowl. The edges will be pointing straight up. If the contact is inside-out, the edges will be flared out forming a lip around the lens. If this is the case gently press on the lens to invert it. Inspect it again to be sure the lens looks more like a bowl before inserting in your eye.
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THE FOLD OR "TACO" METHOD. Place the lens on your index finger. With your other hand, gently pinch the contact between your thumb and index finger. A correct lens will fold like a taco and the edges
will not flare out. An inside-out lens will resist folding and the edges will flare out forming a lip. If this is the case gently press on the lens to invert it. Perform the "taco" test again to be sure that the lens is not inverted.
PROPER WAY TO INSERT SOFT LENSES
With a little bit of practice, inserting your contact lenses will become second nature. • Before handling your contacts ALWAYS wash and rinse hands thoroughly and dry with a clean lint-free towel. • Position a mirror so that it is straight in front of you. • Remove your RIGHT lens out of your contact lens case. Always begin with your right lens, so that you don’t get the lenses mixed up. Rinse lens with solution to remove any lint or debris. Inspect your lens to be certain it is not inside-out. TO INSERT THE LENSES: 1. Dry your index finger on a lint-free towel. Place the contact lens on the tip of your index finger. 2. With your middle finger, pull down on your right lower lid and look straight ahead. 3. Reach over your head and use the fingers of the other hand to lift the upper eyelid. 4. While looking in the mirror, place the contact lens directly on the center of your eye. 5. Slowly look down and then release your lower lid. The contact lens will center itself on the cornea. 6. Close your eye and gently press on your upper lid to get rid of any air bubbles. 7. Repeat the procedure for the left contact lens. If you can not get the lens on the first try, DON’T GET DISCOURAGED. It takes practice, and you will get better as time passes.
REMOVAL OF SOFT LENSES (PINCH LENS METHOD)
• • Before handling your contact lenses ALWAYS wash and rinse hands thoroughly and dry them with a clean lint-free towel. Always remove your right lens first. This will help you not to mix up the lenses in the future.
TO REMOVE: 1. With your middle finger, pull down on your right lower eyelid (you may also want to hold your top lid with your other hand).
2. While looking up, slide your contact lens downward using your index finger. Remove your contact, using your index finger and thumb. 3. Place lens in your contact lens case with solution. 4. Repeat the procedure for the left contact lens. DON’T GET FRUSTRATED IF YOU CAN NOT REMOVE THE LENS ON THE FIRST TRY. YOU HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED IN OUR OFFICE THAT YOU CAN REMOVE THE LENS. IT JUST TAKES PRACTICE.
Introduction to Hard Contact Lenses
Congratulations on your decision to correct your vision with contact lenses! Enjoy the difference in the way you look, also experience better peripheral vision and freedom from glasses for leisure and sports. To be successful in wearing contact lenses you must be motivated!! It will be your responsibility to remove your contact lenses nightly and clean them. You are responsible for taking care of them after you leave this office. Please follow all directions carefully. DON’T change or try a new contact lens product without checking with this office first. Some products may discolor your contacts or even harm your eyes. ~You only have one pair of eyes. Take special care of them.~
Phrase to remember; "Feels good, Looks good, Sees good" 4. "Feels good" - As long as your contact lenses feel good, wear them. If they hurt, burn, itch, or feel uncomfortable in any way, DO NOT WEAR YOUR LENSES call our office. 5. "Looks good" - As long as your eye and contact lenses look OK you can wear them. Your eyes should not be red or discolored in any way. If your eyes don’t look white and healthy or your contact lenses have any defects (deposits), DO NOT WEAR YOUR LENSES. 6. "Sees good" -Your vision should be clear. It should not be cloudy or fluctuating. If for any reason you can not see clearly with your lenses DO NOT WEAR THEM. Call our office.
Contact lenses are a medical device. Therefore, follow-up exams are required for you to ensure your success, comfort and health. Please don’t ever hesitate to contact this office if you have questions or problems concerning your contact lenses or your eye health. RECENTERING A RIGID CONTACT LENS If not inserted or removed correctly, a lens may be displaced off center onto the white portion of your eye. Don’t panic. It is physically impossible for the lens to get lost "behind" your eye. • Locate the lens using a mirror or by closing your eye and feeling over the lid with your finger. • Once located, gently massage the lens toward the center, looking in the direction of the lens until it slips back into its proper position. • If unsuccessful, open your eyes and move the eyeball horizontally away from the lens position. The lens should now be at the central region of the lid opening. • Place your left middle finger on the upper lid margin and your right middle finger on the lower lid margin • Gently squeeze the lids so the lens is kept in this central position. • Move your eye straight ahead. The lens should slip back into position on the center of the eye.
REMOVAL OF RIGID GAS PERMEABLE CONTACT LENSES (Pull up & out on lid) Before handling your contact lenses ALWAYS wash and thoroughly rinse your hands and dry them with a clean lint-free towel. Always remove your right lens first, this will help you from mixing up the lenses in the future. Make sure your contact lens is centered before trying to remove it. The lens will come off easier. TO REMOVE: 1. Bend your head down so that it is parallel to a tabletop or countertop. 2. Place your left hand, palm up, beneath the lens that is going to be removed so that the lens is caught as soon as it falls out of the eye. 3. Place your right middle finger at the outer edge of your right eye. Keep both eyes open and look straight ahead at the palm of your left hand. 4. Gently pull up and outward on the outer edge of your right eye. The lens should pop out easily by only applying the pull, but it may be necessary to blink hard a few times while you are pulling on the eyelids. 5. Repeat the procedure for the left contact reversing your hands. Remember, it takes practice to easily remove your lenses and as you gain experience it will become second nature to you. REMOVAL OF RIGID GAS PERMEABLE CONTACT LENSES (Scissors motion on lid) Before handling your contact lenses ALWAYS wash and thoroughly rinse your hands and dry them with a clean lint-free towel. Always remove your right lens first, this will help you from mixing up the lenses in the future. Make sure your contact lens is centered before trying to remove it. The lens will come off easier. TO REMOVE:
1. Bend your head down so that it is parallel to a tabletop or countertop. 2. Place your right index finger at the right upper lid margin and your left index finger at the right lower lid margin. Keep both eyes wide open. 3. Gently in a scissors-type motion bring the fingers together and apart. The lens should easily slip out onto your lashes where you can grab it. 4. Repeat the procedure for the other contact reversing your hands. Remember, it takes practice to easily remove your lenses and as you gain experience it will become second nature to you. INSERTION OF RIGID GAS PERMEABLE CONTACT LENSES Before handling your contact lenses ALWAYS wash and thoroughly rinse your hands and dry them with a clean lint-free towel.
Remove your RIGHT contact lens out of your contact lens storage case.(Always begin with your right lens, that way you will not have to worry about getting the lenses mixed up) Rinse your lens with a rinsing solution to remove any lint or debris that might be present. 1. Place a mirror flat on a tabletop or counter. 2. Place the contact lens on the tip of your right index finger, so that the concave surface is up and place one drop of conditioning or rewetting drop in the center of the lens. 3. Lean over a tabletop or counter and look straight down into the mirror. Keep both eyes wide open. 4. Place the left middle finger at the margin of the upper right eyelid and pin your lashes against your eyebrow. 5. Place the right middle finger at the margin of the lower right eyelid and pull down. 6. Place the lens directly on the center of your eye gently. Remember to look straight ahead into the mirror as the lens moves closer to your eye. 7. Release the lower lid first, then the upper lid and blink. Look straight ahead and blink several times. 8. Repeat the procedure for the left eye reversing your hands.