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This information is designed to help you with your new soft contact lenses. It covers both wearing and caring for soft contact lenses and gives a set of guidelines for beginners.

Contact lenses are small, delicate and easily broken. It is worth taking special care of them. The major cause of lens decay occurs because lenses are not kept clean. The second major cause is careless handling. So before handling your lenses make sure your hands are clean and dry and that your finger nails are not jagged (ideally they should be kept short). When handling the lenses it is helpful to avoid completely folding the lens as this can cause stress in the material, which can lead to tearing of the lens.

General Hygiene

The most important thing to remember with contact lenses is that they are foreign bodies as far as your eyes are concerned. They are also the perfect vessels for bacteria and other bugs to infect your eye, if they are not kept scrupulously clean. Therefore lens cleanliness and hygiene are vital.

Before you handle your lenses or touch your eyes you must always wash your hands with un-perfumed soap and rinse them thoroughly. Dry them on a lint-free clean towel. Nails should be kept clean and short, with no sharp or jagged edges as this could damage the lens or your eyes. Hand creams should be avoided and lenses should not be contaminated with perfume or hairspray.

Your lens case should also be kept spotlessly clean, and replaced every month. You should rinse your case thoroughly every morning after inserting your lenses, and left to air-dry.

Putting in Your Lenses

Set up an area, (we suggest your bathroom), for keeping your solutions and lens case. When you are putting your lenses in and taking them out, make sure you have lots of light and possibly a magnifying mirror to help you out. Lay a clean towel in front of you in case you drop the lens, or do it over a clean sink with the plug in.

These instructions explain how to insert the right lens using the right index finger- however there is no 'best finger' or method for putting your lenses in, use the one you feel most comfortable/dextrous with. To insert the right lens:

• Remove the right lens from the case either by tipping it into the palm of the hand or picking it out with the fleshy part of your fingertip. Place the wet lens onto your dry right index fingertip. Check the lens edge for dust and edge shape. The diagrams below will help you determine if the lens is inside out.
• Look straight ahead into the mirror and hold the right upper lid eyelashes firmly against the brow with the first finger of the left hand. Using the middle finger of the right hand, pull the lower lids down. Make sure you have quite a firm grip on your lids as your eyes will naturally want to close reflexively when the lens touches the eye.
• Watching with the LEFT eye in the mirror, bring the lens towards the right eye. Place the lens gently over the cornea, so that all the edges of the lens are in contact with the eye. Remove the finger from the lens, check in the mirror that the lens is in place and then release the lids.
• Blink gently a few times. Always get one lens in properly before starting to insert the other. If you can't see, check that you have got the lens in and that it has not inadvertently lifted off on the end of your finger. If the lens does not go in first time, wash with saline solution and start again.
• If the lens feels a little scratchy after a few blinks, you may have got a speck of lint or dust under it. Place you finger on the lens and push it off the cornea onto the white part of your eye, and push it back again. This often dislodges small particles. If this doesn't help, remove the lens, rinse it and start again.

The procedure grows easier with practice but success depends on holding the lids properly to inhibit the reflex blinking of the eyes, and doing it without too much hesitation. It will get easier with practice!

Removing the Lenses

The simplest method of removal is to pinch the lens off the eye using the index finger and thumb. Remember, it is just as important to wash your hands before removing the lenses as it is for putting them in: Make sure your lens case has fresh solution in it before you start.

• Look in the mirror and drop your chin so that you are effectively looking up at the mirror. Place your first finger on the contact lens and slide it down onto the white of the eye.
• Pinch the lens off the eye carefully with your thumb and forefinger, taking care not to squeeze the lens too hard. If the lens surfaces stick together, place it in the solution in the case, it will soon unfold by itself.
• If it doesn't come out first time, have a few blinks to recentre the lens on your cornea and start again.

Recentring a Decentred Lens

It is not very likely that your soft lenses will slip during normal wear. If one does, recentring is a simple matter.

All you have to do is pull the lid back, put your finger on the lens and slide it back towards the middle. If it is folded, it will come out of the eye. Very rarely the lens will tear or get folded and lodge right at the top under the lid. If this happens look as far down as you can and pull the top lid up as far as you can. Pushing with the lid, attempt to move the lens down. If it does not come, leave it and it will work its way out. You could also try squirting a little saline or multipurpose solution under the top lid to wash it out.

If you can't get it out don't worry too much, you are unlikely to harm your eye by sleeping with a decentred lens in, but see your practioner the following day if you are worried. Remember, a lens cannot get 'lost' behind the eyes, it's simply not possible!

Looking After Your Lenses

If you are not wearing daily disposable lenses you will need to look after your lenses after removing them:

• After you have removed the right lens, place it in the centre of your clean palm. Put a few drops of solution on the lens, and rub it gently on your palm with one finger, for around 20 seconds.
• Then rinse the lens with saline or multipurpose solution, whilst gently rubbing it. Place the lens in the right side of the lens case, which should be filled with fresh solution, and replace the lid.
• Follow the same drill for the left lens.
• If you cannot see to clean the lenses once you have taken them out, take out both lenses and put them in the case in some saline, then put your glasses on so that you can clean each lens in turn before putting them away properly in the case.
• We may occasionally prescribe a periodic protein cleaner to help prevent (not cure) the build up of deposits on your lenses. A sign that you could benefit from such a cleaner is that your lenses will become more uncomfortable and dry feeling towards the end of your lenses replacement period, and vision may become slightly blurred or hazy. In the event of build-up make an appointment with your practioner for a diagnosis.

General Points to Remember:

• Always follow a sensible routine, ideally at the same workstation. When inserting and removing your lenses, get into the habit of inserting/removing the right eye first, (or the left if you prefer), so you don't get them mixed up.
• Never take lenses out in poorly lit conditions.
• Always put the plug in where sinks are involved!
• Carry a spare case with you at all times.
• All red-eye reactions should be reported to your practitioner. Always remove the lenses and telephone your practitioner.
• Do not use medicated eye drops with your lenses unless approved by your practioner.

Wearing Times

As your eyes are not accustomed to having a lens in, they will take time to adapt to contact lenses. Start with a maximum of 4-5 hours on the first day, and then increase this by an hour or two every day. You can eventually build a maximum wearing time of 12-14+ hours (depending on the oxygen permeability of your specific lenses).

We will want to see you quite regularly initially, to ensure you are getting on with the lenses, that they fit well and are the optimal prescription, that you are handling them properly and that they are not adversely doing any harm to your eyes. Sometimes during the first few weeks of fitting, when your prescription is still being finalised, we may change certain parameters of the lenses and order you new ones, in order to achieve optimum vision and comfort.

What Sort Of Problems Could Arise?

• Misty or Hazy Vision, particularly towards the end of the lens wearing time. If this occurs make a note of when it happens ( e.g. indoors, when driving etc) and when it clears again. Make an appointment with the practice to get advice.
• Red eyes after wearing lenses. This could be a normal reaction but is usually a sign that you are over wearing the lenses or that your eyes are dry. Make an appointment for a check up.
• Red eyes before you put the lenses in. Combined with yellow mucus, this could be an eye infection and should be treated by your doctor. You should consult your Optometrist before resuming lens wear and throw away the current lenses ( usually), solution and case.
• White spot on the cornea and redness. This is likely to be a corneal ulcer and you should see your optometrist on the same day for advice. You may need referral to a doctor for treatment. If you can't get to your optometrist, go to the nearest eye casualty. Stop lens wear immediately.
• Frequent red eye reactions. This could be caused by an allergy or a toxic reaction to your solution. Consult your Optometrist.

Serious Potential Problems:

• Corneal infection - Severe corneal ulcers caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or acanthamoeba. This can result from licking your lenses, storing your lenses in tap water, not washing your hands before touching your lenses, and sleeping in your lenses. The symptoms include extreme sharp pain, redness, watering, sensitivity to light, and blurring of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms you should come in to the practice immediately or preferably go to Eye Casualty.
• Serious corneal abrasion - This can result from careless insertion/ removal of the lens, from a foreign body caught between your eyes and the lens, or from inserting a lens that has not had a peroxide-based cleaning solution rinsed off/ neutralised properly. The eye will feel scratchy and sore, probably quite red and watery too. You should remove the lens and come into the practice as soon as possible.

It is important to stress that these problems can occur with any type of lens, but are rare. Figures from eye hospitals suggest that the incidence of serious damage to the eye from contact lenses is about 1 in 100,000. Obviously it pays to be careful and if you are worried about any suspicious symptoms consults your practitioner urgently.

8 Golden Rules:

• NEVER sleep in your lenses ( unless we says it's ok!)
• NEVER lick your lenses! Yuk!
• NEVER let your lenses get in contact with tap water!
• ALWAYS wash your hands before inserting and removing your lenses!
• NEVER swim in your lenses without a mask or goggles! Even then it's best to use dailies if possible.
• ALWAYS keep your lens case pristinely clean and replace it every month!
• ALWAYS clean and care for your lenses as advised by your practioner!
• NEVER wear your lenses if your eyes feel sore or are very red!

So that you get the very best from your new rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGP's), this manual has been prepared to give advice on inserting and removing your lenses, looking after them, and other useful tips and reminders.

General Hygiene

The most important thing to remember with contact lenses is that they are foreign bodies as far as your eyes are concerned. They are also the perfect vessels for bacteria and other bugs to infect your eye, if they are not kept scrupulously clean. Therefore lens cleanliness and hygiene are vital.

Before you handle your lenses or touch your eyes you must always wash your hands with un-perfumed soap and rinse them thoroughly. Dry them on a lint-free clean towel. Nails should be kept clean and short, with no sharp or jagged edges as this could damage the lens or your eyes. Hand creams should be avoided and lenses should not be contaminated with perfume or hairspray.

Your lens case should also be kept spotlessly clean, and replaced AT LEAST every 3 months. You should rinse your case thoroughly every morning after inserting your lenses, and left to air-dry.

Putting in Your Lenses

Set up an area, (we suggest your bathroom), for keeping your solutions and lens case. When you are putting your lenses in and taking them out, make sure you have lots of light and possibly a magnifying mirror to help you out. Lay a clean towel in front of you in case you drop the lens, or do it over a clean sink with the plug in.

These instructions explain how to insert the right lens using the right index finger- however there is no ' best finger' or method for putting your lenses in, use the one you feel most comfortable/ dextrous with. To insert the right lens:

• Scoop the lens out of the case with your finger, being careful not to scratch it on the side of the case. Place it bowl-side-up on the tip of your right, dry index finger. The lens should be wet from the soaking solution and will stick to your finger.
• Look straight into the mirror and use the first and second fingers of your left hand to hold the right upper lid firmly up and inhibit the blink. Watching in the mirror lift the lens up in front of your face and use your middle finger of your right hand to pull down the lower lid.
• The lens should now be about an inch from your eye, with both eyelids held clear. Move the lens towards the cornea, and look at a spot in the mirror just below the lens. Put the lens gently on the middle of your eye, without releasing your lids.
• Then gently release bottom and then the top lid, and blink gently.
• If it doesn’t go in first time- rinse it with wetting solution and start again. If the lens feels very scratchy or uncomfortable, take it out, rinse it and start again.

The procedure grows easier with practice but success depends on holding the lids properly, inhibiting the reflex blinking of the eyes, and doing it without too much hesitation. It will get easier with practice!

Before you start on the other eye, ensure that the first lens is in place by covering the left eye and seeing if you can see through the lens. If the lens has decentred, locate it and recentre it (see relevant section). Now follow the same procedure to put in the other lens.

Removing The Lenses

There are 3 main methods of lens removal and your practitioner should have taught you the most suitable one for you. Remember it is just as important to wash your hand before removing the lenses as it is for putting them in!

Method 1- The Blink Method

• Stare into the mirror and open your eyes really wide.
• Place your finger on the outer corner of your eyelids, whilst opening your eyes as wide as possible and quickly pull outwards, trying to keep the lids on the surface of they eye.
• The lens edges will get caught between the eyelids and one quick blink will usually pop it out, either onto a clean cloth or, with a bit of practice, onto your free hand.

Method 2 - The Two Finger / Tiddly Wink Method

• Using the forefinger of each hand, put one on the middle of the top lid and one on the middle of the bottom lid (close to the lashes).
• Move the lids apart to free the lens and then press with the fingers to hold the edge of the lids against the eye.
• Push the lids together so that the lens flips out or just push the top lid down to force the lens to flip out over the bottom lid.

Method 3 – The Suction Holder Method

• First make sure that the lens is centred on your cornea.
• The sucker is held by the thumb and index finger and touched gently on the centre of the lens whilst holding back the lids. The lens comes away with the suction cup.
• Suction holders work best if the end is wetted with rinsing solution. Remember to keep the sucker clean! Don’t lick it!

Recentring a Decentred Lens

If your lens slips out of position, especially in the first few weeks or by rubbing your eye without thinking, recentring is simple, even if you are not sure where the lens has slipped.

If you know where the lens is:

• Look straight in to the mirror and turn your whole head towards the side where the lens had lodged, whilst staring into the mirror the whole time, e.g. if the lens in under the lower lid, tilt your head down whilst still looking in the mirror.
• Your eyes will now be looking up and the lens will become exposed. Now pull the lid back at the point where the lens is lodged and use the lid margin as a pusher to push the lens back into the eye’s centre.
• The most difficult lens to recentre is the one stuck in the inner corner, nearest the nose. There is no eyelid there to help push, so you have to fully turn your head so you are looking away from the lens, and lay your index finger against the inner corner. When you next look towards the lens it is forced to recentre.

If you do not know where the lens is:

• Shut the eye concerned keeping the other eye open. Roll your eyes down and use your thumb and three fingers to try and feel for the lens through your eyelid. Gently press your fingertips onto you eyelids as far out to the edges as you can.
• Now slowly bring them together and this should pinch up your eyelids and pull them away from the centre of your eye. The lens should be trapped in the middle.
• If this fails, look down and feel through the upper lid for a lens lodged at the very top of the eye, and gently nudge it downwards.
• Finally, if you cannot find it, is it actually in your eye? If it is lost up at the top you can leave it there, even when asleep, until you can get to your practitioner the next day.

Looking After Your Lenses

After putting in your lenses in the morning, rinse the lens case out with tap water and let it air-dry on a clean tissue. It’s then ready for you to put your lens away when you take it out. Your practitioner will recommend to you the best solution for you. The main types are: 1) multipurpose solutions (e.g. Menicare+ or Total), where one solution is used for cleaning, rinsing and storing, and 2) two step solutions (e.g. Boston) where you use a separate cleaner and storage/rinsing solution.

To clean your lenses:

• Place the lens in the palm of your hand, with the inside of the lens facing up, like a little bowl.
• Place a drop of cleaning solution OR your multipurpose solution on the lens and rub it gently with one finger for around 20 seconds.
• If you are using a separate cleaner, rinse this off thoroughly with saline before storing the lens in soaking solution in the correct side of your lens container. If you are using a multipurpose solution, rinse the lens a little with the same solution an store it in the same solution again.

Progent Cleaning

If you have plasma-coated lenses or your lenses are tending to get a filmy build up on them, Progent cleaner may be recommended:

• - Place lenses in the lid of the special Progent case, and pour Solution A and Solution B into the case. Place the lid of the case and shake for 20 seconds.
• - Leave the cleaner to work for 30 minutes.
• - Rinse well with saline or Menicare+, then store overnight in fresh Menicare+ before wearing. This part is vital in order to revitalise the lens surface after Progent.
• - Your practioner will advise how often you need to carry out Progent cleaning.

General Points to Remember:

• Always follow a sensible routine, ideally at the same workstation. When inserting and removing your lenses, get into the habit of inserting/removing the right eye first, (or the left if you prefer), so you don’t get them mixed up.
• Never take lenses out in poorly lit conditions.
• Always put the plug in where sinks are involved!
• Never take the lenses out in the wind or whilst in a swimming pool.
• Carry a spare case with you at all times.

Wearing Times:

As your eyes are not accustomed to having a lens in, they will take time to adapt to contact lenses. Start with a maximum of 3 hours on the first day, and then increase this by an hour every day. You can eventually build a maximum wearing time of 15+ hours (depending on the oxygen permeability of your specific lenses).

It is quite important that you do put them in every day initially, as each day you don’t put them in will be a step back in the desensitisation process. If for any reason your wearing schedule is disrupted (for example due to a lost lens, or if you get a cold or an eye infection), the general rule is that for every day you have not worn your lenses, reduce your wearing time by one hour and build up again.

We will want to see you quite regularly initially, to ensure you are getting on with the lenses, that they fit well and are the optimal prescription, that you are handling them properly and that they are not adversely doing any harm to your eyes. Sometimes during the first few weeks of fitting, when your prescription is still being finalised, we may change certain parameters of the lenses and order you new ones, in order to achieve optimum vision and comfort.

What Sort Of Problems Could Arise?

• Misty or Hazy Vision - , particularly towards the end of the lens wearing time. If this occurs make a note of when it happens (e.g. indoors, when driving etc) and when it clears again. Make an appointment with the practice to get advice.
• Red eyes after wearing lenses - This could be a normal reaction but is usually a sign that you are over wearing the lenses or that your eyes are dry. Make an appointment for a check up.
• Red eyes before you put the lenses in - Combined with yellow mucus, this could be an eye infection and should be treated by your doctor. You should consult your Optometrist before resuming lens wear and throw away the current lenses (usually), solution and case.
• White spot on the cornea and redness - This is likely to be a corneal ulcer and you should see your optometrist on the same day for advice. You may need referral to a doctor for treatment. If you can’t get to your optometrist, go to the nearest eye casualty. Stop lens wear immediately.
• Frequent red eye reactions - This could be caused by an allergy or a toxic reaction to your solution. Consult your Optometrist.

Serious Potential Problems:

• Corneal infection - Severe corneal ulcers caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or acanthamoeba. This can result from licking your lenses, storing your lenses in tap water, not washing your hands before touching your lenses, and sleeping in your lenses. The symptoms include extreme sharp pain, redness, watering, sensitivity to light, and blurring of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms you should come in to the practice immediately or preferably go to Eye Casualty.
• Serious corneal abrasion - This can result from careless insertion/removal of the lens, from a foreign body caught between your eyes and the lens, or from inserting a lens that has not had a peroxide-based cleaning solution rinsed off/neutralised properly. The eye will feel scratchy and sore, probably quite red and watery too. You should remove the lens and come into the practice as soon as possible.

It is important to stress that these problems can occur with any type of lens, but are rare. Figures from eye hospitals suggest that the incidence of serious damage to the eye from contact lenses is about 1 in 100,000. Obviously it pays to be careful and if you are worried about any suspicious symptoms consults your practitioner urgently.

8 Golden Rules:

• NEVER sleep in your lenses (unless we says it’s ok!)
• NEVER lick your lenses! Yuk!
• NEVER let your lenses get in contact with tap water!
• ALWAYS wash your hands before inserting and removing your lenses!
• NEVER swim in your lenses without a mask or goggles!
• ALWAYS keep your lens case pristinely clean and replace it every month!
• ALWAYS clean and care for your lenses as advised by your practioner!
• NEVER wear your lenses if your eyes feel sore or are very red!

Wearing Time

As your eyes are not accustomed to having a lens in, they will take time to adapt to contact lenses. Start with a maximum of 4-5 hours on the first day, and then increase this by an hour or two every day. You can eventually build a maximum wearing time of 12-14+ hours (depending on the oxygen permeability of your specific lenses).

We will want to see you quite regularly initially, to ensure you are getting on with the lenses, that they fit well and are the optimal prescription, that you are handling them properly and that they are not adversely doing any harm to your eyes. Sometimes during the first few weeks of fitting, when your prescription is still being finalised, we may change certain parameters of the lenses and order you new ones, in order to achieve optimum vision and comfort.

What Sort Of Problems Could Arise?

• Misty or Hazy Vision - particularly towards the end of the lens wearing time. If this occurs make a note of when it happens (e.g. indoors, when driving etc) and when it clears again. Make an appointment with the practice to get advice.
• Red eyes after wearing lenses - This could be a normal reaction but is usually a sign that you are over wearing the lenses or that your eyes are dry. Make an appointment for a check up.
• Red eyes before you put the lenses in - Combined with yellow mucus, this could be an eye infection and should be treated by your doctor. You should consult your Optometrist before resuming lens wear and throw away the current lenses (usually), solution and case.
• White spot on the cornea and redness - This is likely to be a corneal ulcer and you should see your optometrist on the same day for advice. You may need referral to a doctor for treatment. If you can’t get to your optometrist, go to the nearest eye casualty. Stop lens wear immediately.
• Frequent red eye reactions - This could be caused by an allergy or a toxic reaction to your solution. Consult your Optometrist.

Serious Potential Problems:

• Corneal infection - Severe corneal ulcers caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or acanthamoeba. This can result from licking your lenses, storing your lenses in tap water, not washing your hands before touching your lenses, and sleeping in your lenses. The symptoms include extreme sharp pain, redness, watering, sensitivity to light, and blurring of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms you should come in to the practice immediately or preferably go to Eye Casualty.
• Serious corneal abrasion - This can result from careless insertion/removal of the lens, from a foreign body caught between your eyes and the lens, or from inserting a lens that has not had a peroxide-based cleaning solution rinsed off/neutralised properly. The eye will feel scratchy and sore, probably quite red and watery too. You should remove the lens and come into the practice as soon as possible.

It is important to stress that these problems can occur with any type of lens, but are rare. Figures from eye hospitals suggest that the incidence of serious damage to the eye from contact lenses is about 1 in 100,000. Obviously it pays to be careful and if you are worried about any suspicious symptoms consults your practitioner urgently.

8 Golden Rules:

• NEVER sleep in your lenses (unless we says it’s ok!)
• NEVER lick your lenses! Yuk!
• NEVER let your lenses get in contact with tap water!
• ALWAYS wash your hands before inserting and removing your lenses!
• NEVER swim in your lenses without a mask or goggles! Even then it’s best to use dailies if possible.
• ALWAYS keep your lens case pristinely clean and replace it every month!
• ALWAYS clean and care for your lenses as advised by your practioner!
• NEVER wear your lenses if your eyes feel sore or are very red!

General information:

SoClears are large diameter gas permeable lenses, which rest on both the cornea and the sclera. The rigidity of the material means that your vision is optimised, and the size and unique shape of the lens mean that they are very comfortable and stable.

SoClears are made from an extremely breathable material, so you can be assured that your eye is getting the oxygen it needs to stay healthy and white.

Because SoClears are so unique, the method for inserting and removing them might be a different from the method you are used to. Please read these instructions carefully, and consult your contact lens practitioner if there are any points you need clarification on.

If you have been fitted with SoClear Multifocals, please be aware that your eyes and brain may need to get used to the sensation of having two focus points at once (distance and near). Some people may experience a sort of ‘3D’ or shadowing effect at first when trying to read. Give yourself a week or two to adapt to this; your vision should improve with time.

Your contact lens practitioner will want to see you quite regularly initially, to ensure you are getting on with the lenses, that they fit well and are the optimal prescription, that you are handling them properly and that they are not adversely doing any harm to your eyes. Sometimes during the first few weeks of fitting, when your prescription is still being finalised, certain parameters of the lenses may need to be changed and new lenses ordered, in order to achieve optimum vision and comfort.

To Insert SoClears:

If you have healthy corneas and your lenses are for vision correction only, your lenses can usually be inserted like a normal soft contact lens- wet the lens and place it directly onto your cornea. Do not slide the lens off your cornea at any point.

If a persistent bubble forms, or you have any corneal irregularity (including keratoconus), use the method described below:

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Place a mirror face up on your ‘workstation’, or have it tilted up slightly.
• Place the lens on your index finger (pointer finger) like a bowl, and fill the lens with saline- to the brim, (if you can balance it), or as full as you can! (Tip: Using re-wetting drops to fill the lens helps as bubbles are less likely to form in a more viscous solution)
• Hold your eyelids wide apart, being careful not to let the lens tip off your finger. (Tip: use two or ever three fingers, like a tripod, to keep the lens steady)
• Coming up from underneath, place the lens directly onto your cornea. Make sure the lens is in full contact with your eye before your take your finger away, or it may fall straight out.
• Blink gently. The excess saline may drip a little so have some tissues handy.

To Remove SoClears:

Method 1: The ‘Finger Touch’ Method

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Look straight into the mirror (hung the normal way this time), and hold your eyelids wide open- you need to be able to see your entire iris, or this method wont work.
• Place a DRY finger onto the centre of the lens, and look quickly to one side (it doesn’t matter which way). The movement must be swift and decided, and be careful not to push the lens with your finger- your finger should stay still, only your eye should move.
• This action should break the surface tension of the lens, and it should come away easily on your finger. Putting a few drops of saline/solution in to your eye before attempting to remove the lens may help.

If the finger touch method does not work for you for whatever reason, the following method can be used:

Method 2: The ‘Tiddly Wink’ Method

• Wash and dry your hands
• Looks straight into the mirror, and hold your eyelids wide open.
• Use the top lid to stop the lens from slipping under the lid- use your finger to press the edge of the top lid against the top of the lens, pressing it towards your eye (gently). You are aiming for the rim of the top lid to be in alignment with the top of your iris.
• Use another finger to manoeuvre the bottom rim of the lens away from your eye. Your finger must be right on the rim of the eyelid (too low and your lid will fold out), and the movement of the lid should be DOWN, PUSH IN the UP, nudging the lid margin under the lip of the lens, helping to break the surface tension- the lens should pop out easily.
• Make sure you have a towel or similar placed in front of you the first few times you do this as the lenses tend to ping out and go flying!

If could simply can’t do either of these, the last resort is to use a ‘sucker’ (like a mini plunger for contact lenses). It is best not to have to rely on this method as you cannot guarantee you will have one on you all of the time:

Method 3: The 'Sucker' Method

• Wash and dry your hands
• Looking in the mirror, hold your eyelids wide open. Place the plunger part of the sucker towards the EDGE of the lens, coming in perpendicular to the lens.
• Apply gentle pressure so the sucker ‘sucks on’, then gently lift the edge of the lens away from the eye. (Tip: give the sucker a gentle ‘wiggle’ first will help loosen the lens).
• DO NOT place the sucker on the centre of the lens and pull, as this will NOT break the surface tension and may hurt.

Finally, DON’T PANIC if your lens has slipped off your cornea- it is too large to go under your eyelid, and will usually only slip to the left or the right of your cornea. The easiest way to take the lens out if this happens is with a lens sucker.

If you don’t have a sucker, place your finger on your eyelid adjacent to the displaced lens, and look toward the lens- it should pop into place on your cornea.

If for any reason you just cannot get the lens out, again please don’t panic- if this happens at night, put some re-wetting drops in to your eye (or some saline) and simply sleep with the lens in. Go to your Optometrist in the morning for assessment. This should never happen if you have practiced insertion and removal before you leave your Optometrists practice.

SoClear Cleaning Routine:

• On removal place the lens bowl side up in the palm of your hand with one or two drops of daily contact lens cleaner (e.g. MiraFlow).
• Give both sides of the lens a few rubs using a finger of the opposite hand. This will remove any surface deposits.
• Rinse the lens well with your recommended solution, or saline, to remove the daily contact lens cleaner.
• Whilst not in use store the lens in a closed clean contact lens case submerged in your recommended solution.
• To insert the lens place a few drops of preservative-free Saline (e.g. Lens Plus) into the lens bowl as described above.

Wearing Times:

Whether you are new to contact lens or an ‘old pro’, it is advisable to take it slowly when you first take home your new SoClear lenses. Over wearing the lenses too early can actually reduce your wearing time over the following few days. Your eyes need time to get used to what is essentially a large piece of plastic in them!

For you first few days, wear your SoClears in the evenings for 4-5 hours max, to get your eyes used to the lenses. Over the following days, you can increase this wearing time gradually by an hour or two each day. If your eyes start to feel like they’ve ‘had enough’ or become a bit red, remove the lenses and try again the following day.

Because SoClears are so breathable, there is no real ‘maximum wearing time’ (although you should never sleep in them!). Some people may be able to wear their SoClears for 18 hours without a hitch; some may need to take them out earlier. Everyone has different tolerance levels- listen to your eyes, if they feel sore or dry, or are beginning to look a little red, they are telling you they have had enough for the day.

Other Important Information:

• Always follow a sensible routine, ideally at the same workstation. When inserting and removing your lenses, get into the habit of inserting/removing the right eye first, (or the left if you prefer), so you don’t get them mixed up.
• Never take lenses out in poorly lit conditions.
• Always put the plug in where sinks are involved!
• Never take the lenses out in the wind or whilst in a swimming pool.
• Carry a spare case with you at all times.

What Sort Of Problems Could Arise?

• Misty or Hazy Vision - particularly towards the end of the lens wearing time. If this occurs make a note of when it happens (e.g. indoors, when driving etc) and when/if it clears again. Make an appointment with your practitioner to get advice.
• Red eyes after wearing lenses - This could be a normal reaction but is usually a sign that you are over wearing the lenses or that your eyes are dry. Make an appointment for a check up.
• Red eyes before you put the lenses in - Combined with yellow mucus, this could be an eye infection and should be treated by your doctor. You should consult your Optometrist before resuming lens wear and throw away open solution and case.
• White spot on the cornea and redness - This is likely to be a corneal ulcer and you should see your optometrist on the same day for advice. You may need referral to a doctor for treatment. If you can’t get to your optometrist, go to the nearest eye casualty. Stop lens wear immediately.
• Frequent red eye reactions - This could be caused by an allergy or a toxic reaction to your solution. Consult your Optometrist.

Serious Potential Problems:

• Corneal infection Severe corneal ulcers caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or acanthamoeba. This can result from licking your lenses, storing your lenses in tap water, not washing your hands before touching your lenses, and sleeping in your lenses. The symptoms include extreme sharp pain, redness, watering, sensitivity to light, and blurring of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms you should come in to the practice immediately or preferably go to Eye Casualty.
• Serious corneal abrasion This can result from careless insertion/removal of the lens, from a foreign body caught between your eyes and the lens, or from inserting a lens that has not had a peroxide-based cleaning solution rinsed off/neutralised properly. The eye will feel scratchy and sore, probably quite red and watery too. You should remove the lens and come into the practice as soon as possible. It is important to stress that these problems can occur with any type of lens, but are rare. Figures from eye hospitals suggest that the incidence of serious damage to the eye from contact lenses is about 1 in 100,000. Obviously it pays to be careful and if you are worried about any suspicious symptoms consults your practitioner urgently.

8 Golden Rules:

• NEVER sleep in your SoClears
• NEVER lick your SoClears! Yuk!
• NEVER let your lenses get in contact with tap water!
• ALWAYS wash your hands before inserting and removing your SoClears!
• NEVER swim in your lenses without a mask or goggles!
• ALWAYS keep your lens case pristinely clean and replace it every month!
• ALWAYS clean and care for your SoClears as advised by your practioner!
• NEVER wear your lenses if your eyes feel sore or are very red!