3 Ways to Put in Your Contact Lenses For Beginners

With fragile, sensitive eyes, we naturally want to keep fingers away from them. It makes sense that putting in contact lenses feels counterintuitive, even a little frightening.

But, like with most skills, practice is the key to success. We promise that putting in your contacts can feel as natural as slipping on a pair of glasses—and be just as safe. 

To help you with the learning curve, we’ve composed a guide to putting in contacts for beginners. 

Putting in contact lenses takes a bit of practice to get right. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right the first few times!

Method 1: Applying Front On

This is the most common method, applied front on. If you’re not put off by touching your eyes, this is the one for you. It’s also probably the technique your optician showed you. And it’s a pretty straightforward one. The followings are how this method works.   

1. Wash and dry your hands
2. Remove the lens from the blister pack or lens case.
3. Check the lens is the right way round (you're looking for a bowl shape)
4. Place the lens on the tip of your finger
5. Hook your hand over your head and pull the top of your eyelid and eyelashes up, maximizing white eye space. Use the middle finger holding the lens to pull down the bottom of your eyelid.
6. Look in the mirror and insert the lens from your finger onto the eye.
7. Look around to get rid of any air bubbles.

Method 2: Side Application

This is perfect for those that are a little squeamish. It does require a bit of maneuvering, so it’s best to practice a few times. The followings are how this method works.  

1. Wash and dry your hands
2. Remove the lens from the blister pack
3. Check the lens is the right way round (you're looking for a bowl shape)
4. Place the lens on the tip of your finger
5. Set up your body so your dominant hand is closest to the mirror. The lens will go in the eye furthest away from the mirror.
6. Hook your hand over your head and pull the top of your eyelid and eyelashes up, maximizing white eye space. Look over your nose and into the mirror. Tilting your head slightly towards it.
7. Use the middle finger holding the lens to pull down the bottom of your eyelid. Look into the mirror and pop the lens from your index finger onto the white part of your eyes. If it feels like the lens is latched, face and looks forward.
8.  Look around to get rid of any air bubbles.

Method 3: Looking up Application

This one is recommended if you are a little nervous about something coming directly toward your eye.

1. Wash and dry your hands
2. Remove the lens from the blister pack
3. Check the lens is the right way round (you're looking for a bowl shape)
4. Place the lens on the tip of your finger
5. Hook your hand over your head and pull the top of your eyelid and eyelashes up, maximizing white eye space. Use the middle finger holding the lens to pull down the bottom of your eyelid.
6. Look up to the ceiling and place the lens on the bottom part of the eye if the lens feels latched on. Let go of your upper eyelid and look down. The lens should find its place naturally.
7. Look around to get rid of any air bubbles.

Final Words

Remember do not to be put off if it doesn’t work the first time. If you’ve tried a few times but still no look, you might notice the lens getting drier. That’s totally normal. What you need to do is to pop it back in the solution to get more moisture before trying again. If you are a dailies wearer, you can use the solution in the blister pack. But it’s not just the lens that needs a break, your eyes do too. If they get in tearing or a little red, take a break and get back to it when you’re ready. It’s not worth it to keep trying when your eyes are irritated.