How to tackle your first time wearing contacts!

Wearing contacts for the first time? Here's what you can expect.

Traditional eyeglasses have paved the way for the visually impaired, but contact lenses are quickly gaining popularity.

Contact lenses offer many benefits over glasses. The primary benefits for switching to contacts are one's personal opinion of their appearance, the convenience when wearing sunglasses, the lack of weight and hassle of bulky glasses, and that they won’t fly off your face when exercising.

If you're wearing contacts for the first time, you should know what to expect.

You can find some useful information here!

Getting accustomed to the contact lenses

Contact lenses are a foreign body to your eyes, so let's be real, they will feel weird at first. However, in general, you will be able to wear them comfortably in about a week. Since you can’t wear the contact lenses very long in the first couple days, gradually extend the wearing time based on the instructions of your eye specialist.

Your eyes are incredibly sensitive and need time to get used to contact lenses.

Technology has come a long way since the first contact lens in 1887. These early contacts were made of glass, and are about as painful as they sound. However, thanks to years of research and technological development, today's contact lens materials are much more comfortable to wear and virtually painless.

When you first start wearing contact lenses you need to practice putting them in. You will probably feel the edges of the lenses, but you will soon get used to the feel of them and eventually you won’t even notice.

Handy tip, if you experience irritation while wearing contact lenses, the contact lenses may be inside out or dirty. At the bottom of this blog, we have some tips on how to avoid this. In addition, if the prescription (Base Curve, Diameter, etc.) is incorrect, you will feel uncomfortable, so please be sure to order the prescription prescribed by your eye specialist.

Here are some tips on how to wear contact lenses properly.

Practicing putting them in

It may seem difficult to put in contact lenses, but it doesn't have to be. Once you've done it a few times, it should come pretty naturally to you to both insert and remove them.

Contact lenses must be handled carefully to avoid damaging your eyes or getting unclean. Here are some basic instructions for handling contact lenses correctly.

• Cut your nails, round and smooth. Long fingernails can damage contact lenses.
• Wash your hands and fingers thoroughly with soap and dry with a clean towel.
• Use your index finger to remove the contact lenses from the lens case. Always handle them gently as they tear easily.
• Check that the contact lens is not reversed. It'll be inside-out if the edge is flaring outward.
• Check the contact lens for any abnormalities before wearing it. Stop using that contact lens if they are scratched, damaged, deformed, or stained.
• Hold open the eye where the contact lens will be placed using your other hand's thumb and index finger.
• Look straight ahead and insert the contact lens into the correct position gently and slowly.
• Allow the contact lens to rest in your eye, then blink slowly a few times to let it settle.
• Put your contact lenses in before applying your makeup. If you’ve got makeup residue on your fingers, then touch your contacts, you’ll transfer it to the lenses, and stain them. Likewise, when removing makeup, take off your contact lenses before cleansing because cleansers may go into your eyes and stick to your contact lenses.
• There are various types of contact lenses, such as daily, fortnightly, and monthly, but the wearable time depends on the condition of the individual's eyes, so please follow the wearing schedule and wearing time instructed by your eye specialist.
• Depending on the type of contact lens, a storage/cleaning solution and a lens case for storage may be required. Please read the instruction manual carefully and use it correctly. Also, if necessary, consult your eye specialist.
• Do not clean contact lenses with tap water. Components contained in tap water may cause lens deformation and discoloration, and if the tap water contains microorganisms or bacteria, there is a risk of developing eye disorders.
• If the contact lens comes off your finger or comes out of your eye when you're blinking, use some solution to clean the contact lens before inserting it again.

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Wear your contacts as instructed.

Everyone's eyecare status is different, so you should wear contact lenses as directed by your eye specialist. There are daily disposable contact lenses, and fortnightly or monthly contact lenses that require proper cleaning every day. In addition, some specific contact lenses can be worn overnight.

Your eye specialist prescribes the best contact lenses for your eyes. Keep your eyes healthy by wearing them correctly and handling them properly for your eyes' health.

Never wear contact lenses that have passed their expiration date. The replacement period is not the total number of days actually used, but the number of days that have passed since the blister pack was opened, and it’s necessary to replace it with a new pack.

Long-term contact lens wear has potentially harmful side effects, such as:

Red eyes: Prolonged contact lens wear may lower oxygen levels in the eyes. Your eyes become irritated and red from this.

Corneal abrasions: These may result from dry eyes or irritations from prolonged contact lens wear.

Corneal ulcers: These are open sores on your corneas which occur when abrasions get infected with bacteria. If left untreated, corneal ulcers can require sight-saving corneal transplants.

Every day, you should remove your contacts to give your eyes a rest. Additionally, pay close attention to the instructions that are always included with your contact lens box.

Some Important Tips if You're Wearing Contacts for the First Time

• Follow the daily wearing time instructed by your eye specialist.
• Follow the handling instructions for contact lenses and care products and use them correctly.
• Don't forget to change lenses on the replacement date. (A contact lens replacement management app, a calendar record on a cell phone, a diary record, etc are great tools to keep on track.)
• Even if you don't have any abnormalities on your eyes, get regular checkups. The contact lenses may not fit your eyes or you may have eye problems, even if you don't have any subjective symptoms.

When you wear contact lenses for the first time, you may feel uneasy about putting them in your eyes and getting used to wearing them.

But once you get used to it, a more convenient life than eyeglasses awaits!

By wearing your contact lenses correctly and following the basics of daily handling, keep your eyes healthy and have a better life every day!