How to Clean Contact Lenses

Author: Shaune Wallace / Source: wikiHow

Contact lenses are a convenient way to correct your vision without having to wear glasses. When you wear contact lenses, it’s easy to forget that they’re medical devices that must be treated with care. It’s important that you clean your lenses after each wear, as well as any time they fall out or become dirty.

Whether you’re wearing disposable or rigid contacts, you’ll need to remove, rub, and store your contacts properly, as well as follow precautions to keep them clean.

1 Wash and dry your hands using a mild soap. Your hands can introduce bacteria and germs to your lenses, which can cause an infection. Additionally, lotions and substances on your hands can irritate your eyes. Always cleanse your hands in warm water using soap.^[1]
- Use a lint free towel to dry your hands.
2 Open one side of your contact lens case. It’s best to only open one side of your case at a time. This limits your risk of mixing up your contacts.^[2]
- Make a habit of taking out your lenses in the same order each night.
- If you are using an upright case for rigid contacts, unscrew the top and remove the lens holder. Open one side of the lens holder at a time.^[3]
3 Remove one contact lens from your eye with your finger pad. Gently touch the lens and drag it down to the bottom of your eye. Then, pull the lens away from your eye.^[4]
- Some people who wear rigid contacts use a suction cup to remove them. If you use this method, make sure your suction cup is positioned directly over your contact. After each use, rinse your suction…