How to Put In Contacts: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Whether you’re brand new to contacts or just need a refresher, putting them in doesn’t have to feel stressful. With the right technique and a little practice, you’ll slip them in (and out) like a pro. Here’s everything you need to know.

Before You Start: Wash Your Hands

Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your lenses or your eyes. Dry them with a lint-free towel. Fibers from paper towels or terry cloth can transfer to your lenses and irritate your eyes.

How to Put In Contact Lenses

Step 1: Prepare your lens. 

Open your case or lens package and place the lens on the tip of your index finger. Hold it up to the light and check that it forms a smooth bowl shape. If the edges flare outward, the lens is inside out. Flip it and try again.

Step 2: Pull your eyelids open. 

Using your non-dominant hand, pull your upper eyelid up. Then use the middle finger of your dominant hand to pull your lower eyelid down. Keep both eyes open and look straight ahead or slightly upward.

Step 3: Place the lens on your eye. 

Gently press the lens onto your eye. Don’t blink yet. Hold still for a second to let it settle.

Step 4: Blink slowly. 

Release your eyelids and blink a few times gently. The lens will center itself on your cornea. If it feels uncomfortable or blurry, it may be off-center. Close your eye, roll it gently, and blink again.

Step 5: Repeat on the other eye. 

Always start with the same eye each time so you never mix up your lenses (especially important if you have different prescriptions per eye).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Touching your eye directly with your fingernail. Keep your nails short or use the pad of your finger
• Skipping the inside-out check. A flipped lens will feel uncomfortable and may move around
• Rinse lenses with tap water. Always use contact solution; tap water can harbor harmful bacteria
• Wearing lenses longer than recommended. Follow your eye doctor’s schedule strictly

How to Remove Contact Lenses

Knowing how to remove contact lenses is just as important as putting them in. To take them out, wash your hands first, then look up and pull your lower eyelid down. Use your index finger to slide the lens to the white part of your eye, then gently pinch it out with your thumb and index finger. Never drag a dry lens across your eye. If it feels stuck, add a few drops of rewetting drops first to loosen it.

Tips for First-Timers

• Give yourself time. Your first few attempts may take 10–15 minutes. That’s completely normal.
• Use a mirror at eye level. Looking down into a mirror gives you a better angle than looking straight ahead.
• Stay calm. Blinking reflexes are natural. Take breaks if you get frustrated and try again fresh.
• Ask your eye doctor. Most optometrists will walk you through insertion and removal at your fitting appointment. Take advantage of that!

Contacts open up a whole new level of freedom compared to glasses, and once you get the hang of it, the process takes just seconds. Stick with it, be patient with yourself, and before long, it’ll feel completely automatic.