Contact Lenses in Savage MN | How to Remove Contact Lenses Without Pinching
If it’s your first time using contacts, you may be squeamish about the thought of taking them in or out. You’re not alone. Many people are afraid of contact lenses, unsure how to put them in or take them out without pinching their eyes. But there’s no need to worry! There are plenty of ways to remove your contacts without pinching yourself. At Insight Vision Care, we prioritize the health of our patient’s eyes. If you want help placing or removing contact lenses, you can always schedule an eye exam with an expert eye doctor on our team for step by step instructions, and advice on how to maintain proper eye care. If you’d like to find Contact Lenses in Savage MN, contact Insight Vision Care today.
Removing contacts can be a stressful experience. Without the proper technique, you risk scratching your eye or damaging the lens- that’s why it’s so important to find a method that works for you. Becoming comfortable with your contact lenses is the first step in keeping your eyes healthy and safe. Here, we’ll discuss the different ways you can remove your contacts without pinching yourself. At Insight Vision Care, we take eye health seriously. If you have trouble putting in or removing your contact lenses, schedule an appointment with one of our expert eye doctors for step-by-step instructions on how to properly care for them.
The Pinching Method
For most contact users, the most comfortable way to remove contacts is using the pinch method. The process involves taking your non dominant hand to pull down the lower eyelid while your eye is open, and then taking your dominant hand and gently pulling the edges of the contact towards the center of your eye. This pressure will remove the suction hold your contact has on your eye, and allow you to remove the lens without much fuss.
The Swipe Method
Before removing your contact lenses, you should always take a moment to properly wash your hands with soap and warm water. Be especially careful with your fingertips and under your fingernails- dust, grime, and germs can accumulate here and easily make their way to your eyes if you’re not careful. While your eyelashes and eyelids do a god job of keeping most containments out of your eyes, they won’t do much against your fingers pressed directly against them.
You’ll also want to prepare yourself by having your contracts tray ready with solution to prevent your contacts from drying out, and your glasses nearby so that you can still comfortably see even with your contacts removed. Having both of these steps ready now reduces the chance of damaging your contacts, and makes it easier to take them out. You’ll also want to have at least a small mirror nearby for easy access- so that you can easily see what you’re doing and how close your fingers are to your eyes.
Start by holding your eyelids open using the middle fingers on both your hands. Use your dominant hand to pull down the lower lid, with your pointer finger ready to remove the lens. Once your eyelids are ready, you can look upwards towards the ceiling. Now you should gently place your pointer finger on the bottom of the contact lens, slowly sliding it off the iris and cornea to the outer edge of your eye. At this point, you should feel a slight bump in the contact as it peels away from the surface of your eye. Now you should be able to use both your index and thumb on your dominant hand to grab the contact at this raised point- taking the edges of the lens and pressing them towards this raised point to get a firmer grasp. Once you get a good enough grip on the contact, you can remove it from your eye and place it in the contact solution, then repeat the process with your other contact.
Benefits of using the Sliding Method
While many people use the pinching method for removing contacts without injury or harm, there are some downsides to using this method. The sliding method has the most risk for damage on the white part of the eye, where the lens is moved to before removal. With the pinching method, however, contact lens wearers pinch directly on the cornea. Because of this, if anything goes wrong damage or scratching will be caused to the cornea, pupil, or iris instead of the white area of the eye. This delicate tissue is more susceptible to damage, so it’s important to know how to remove your contact lenses properly. Using the sliding method also reduces the risk of damaging your cornea or getting an infection by reducing direct contact with this sensitive part of your eye.
At Insight Vision Care, we would be happy to help you and your family with all your vision needs. Whether it’s comprehensive eye exams, eye surgery, treatment plans, eyewear, or a different need, Insight Vision Care is always here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to get your questions about eye care answered.