HOW TO INSERT AND REMOVE SOFT CONTACT LENSES?

I've only ever worn the hard or gas-permeable kind but I remember my sister trying to wear soft ones. She had enormous problems trying to insert them and described it as "like trying to put a piece of wrinkly cling film in your eye" and eventually gave up trying and reverted to full time specs.

I wore them for years and finally cracked the secret of putting them in. Put it on the very tip of your finger, almost tipping off it and then open your eye with your other fingers and voila!

I wore soft contacts for over 40 years until I had cateracts done
I found them the easiest of easy to put in / take out …similar to luckylegs scoop it onto end of middle finger, open lids with other hand, pop it in the middle, that s it, nothing more, nothing less. I never used mirrors or anything
I have three grown grandkids in soft lenses , again they ve never had a problem, their only problem is remembering to take them out after a ‘night out’ 🍸🍷

Dead easy as others say.
Middle finger right hand, move lower lid with left hand and pop on.
I simply pinch them straight off, but you can slide down and pinch off. Takes seconds and I can do it without a mirror, although I did use one to start with 10 years ago.

My optician recommended a drop of solution on the lens to encourage it to stick straight on.

I do the same as posters above. When my DH started to wear soft contact lenses about 5 years ago, the optician got him to insert and remove them a few times during his appointment. This gave him confidence to be able to manage them at home.

My optician was very patient with me and gave me plenty of help and time to practice, until I was confident. I’m sure yours would do the same if you go back and explain your problem.

I put a drop of solution on my finger and clean/lubricate my eye before using the middle finger and pop in method.
Blink a few times to settle the lens.
Your optician should show you how to tell which way the lens should go in as it's uncomfortable if they've flipped inside out.
I pinch and slide to take them out.

My lens consultant said not to scoop the lens from the container but to tip the contents into your open clean palm (always wash hands before touching lenses). Then pick up lens with inserting finger.
This way means less likelihood of damaging the lens.

I too have worn hard and now gas permeable lenses since I was in my 20s. I tried the soft as people kept telling me mine were old fashioned. I couldn't get on with them. I kept losing them trying to put them in. So I went back to gas permeable which my optician said are better for eyes anyway as they allow more oxygen in.

It took me about a week to master it and never looked back. (Excuse the pun 🤭).

Thanks for the replies so far.
I found getting them out really awful.
So is it possible to slide down and over the bottom lid? How does pinching the lens work in more detail, please?

I wore gas permeable lenses for over 40 years with no problems. I decided to give soft lenses a try when I needed varifocals but couldn't get the hang of them. I think it's easier to learn something new rather than relearn something. I couldn't get used to a floppy slippery lens sliding down my fingers. I just wear glasses all the time now.

Kate1949 My optician always told me gas permeable lenses are much better for eye health so long as you clean them meticulously. Also with a prescription of nearly -10 they gave me superb vision.

Bukkie

I wore gas permeable lenses for over 40 years with no problems. I decided to give soft lenses a try when I needed varifocals but couldn't get the hang of them. I think it's easier to learn something new rather than relearn something. I couldn't get used to a floppy slippery lens sliding down my fingers. I just wear glasses all the time now.

Exactly my experience Bukkie .
I wonder if you, like me, also don’t see as well with the varifocals, and the gas permeables somehow worked better with my astigmatism. Looking back I would have done things differently.

I tried toric lenses and could get them in easily but really struggled getting them out.

Yes Bukkie and no pithering about with pinching them trying to get them out.

It’s a long time since I used contact lenses but I seem to remember sliding them sideways to the outer edge of my eye. It’s something that comes with practice and don’t panic!

I had the same hesitation at first, but it gets easier with a little practice. Wash and dry your hands, then hold your eyelids open firmly so you don't blink while placing the lens gently on your eye. For removal, look upwards, slide the lens down onto the white part of your eye, and gently pinch it out with your fingertips. If touching your eye makes you too nervous, ask an optician to demonstrate the technique and help you build confidence.

But a little of the solution you store the lenses in on your finger, balance the lense on it, pull down your lower lid with the forefinger of the opposite hand and insert lense. Blink. Check that the lense is actually in front of your iris and hasn't scooted up under your upper eyelid.

Lean over a table while you do this, as it is easier to find the lense if you drop it. If you prefer to stand at the hand wash basin, make sure the plug is in the plug-hole before you begin.

After a week or so it becomes second nature.

Luckylegs

I wore them for years and finally cracked the secret of putting them in. Put it on the very tip of your finger, almost tipping off it and then open your eye with your other fingers and voila!

That is the method I used as well and it is very effective.

To take them off I just held my eyes apart with the fingers of one hand and did a light pinching movement across the eye with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand.