N.F. Burnett Hodd
Soft Contact Lenses – Instruction Manual
This booklet 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:
- 1. 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.
- 2. 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.
- 3. 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.
- 4. 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.
- 5. 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.
- 1. 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.
- 2. 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.
- 3. 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:
- 1. 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.
- 2. 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.
- 3. Follow the same drill for the left lens.
- 4. 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:
- 1. 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.
- 2. Never take lenses out in poorly lit conditions.
- 3. Always put the plug in where sinks are involved!
- 4. Carry a spare case with you at all times.
- 5. All red-eye reactions should be reported to your practitioner. Always remove the lenses and telephone your practitioner.
- 6. 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!