Contact lens types
There are two types of contact lenses: hard and soft. The hard contact lenses are made of dimensionally stable plastics and are slightly smaller than the soft ones. Since they retain their shape, a little more time is needed to get used to the eye until they have adapted to the cornea.
They are suitable for daily wearing over longer periods of time than so-called half-yearly full-yearly lenses. Especially special forms of ametropia, such as astigmatism, can be easily corrected with the hard contact lenses. It is important to have your contact lenses fitted by your ophthalmologist or optician, not to exceed the wearing period according to the manufacturer and to have a check-up once a year by your doctor.
The classic – deformable soft contact lenses adapt flexibly to the cornea and allow the eye to get used to the new visual aid more quickly. They have a high degree of spontaneous tolerance and are comfortable to wear, which is why they are particularly suitable for contact lens beginners. Due to their slightly larger contact surface, they slip less often than hard contact lenses. As this type of contact lens is slightly less oxygen permeable than hard ones, it is particularly suitable for wearing alternately with glasses. Here too, the maximum wearing time must not be exceeded.
Insert contact lenses
The insertion of your contact lenses should be hygienic and painless. This requires the right technique and some practice. You should wash your hands thoroughly before inserting your lenses.
If you have long fingernails or problems during insertion, the use of insertion aids is recommended. It is best to always start with the same eye, e.g. right. For beginners it is advisable to use a mirror, sufficient light and if necessary a cloth in the sink (in case the contact lens falls off).
Remove the contact lens for your right eye with your right index finger from its container and place it on the tip of your index finger. Make sure that the edge of the contact lens is rounded and lies on your finger like a bowl.If the edges bulge outwardly downwards, the contact lens must be turned over once. If it is inserted the wrong way round, an unpleasant foreign body sensation is created in the eye.
While the lens is placed on your fingertip, use the middle finger of the same (right) hand to pull down the lower lid of your right eye. With the middle finger of the left hand, you now pull the upper eyelid upwards. This will increase the surface area of your eye, which will help you to insert the lens more easily.
Guide the lens slowly towards your eye and look at the center of the lens. Place the lens carefully on your eye and close your eyelids. Looking down and blinking can help the lens to be in the right position.
After blinking several times, the lens should no longer be noticeable. If you do feel a foreign object, it is better to remove the lens carefully. There can be several reasons for this: The lens may have been inserted the wrong way round or there may be tiny particles of dirt on the contact lens.
Clean it again or turn the contact lens upside down if necessary and reinsert it. If you still feel uncomfortable wearing your contact lens, ask your optician or eye care professional for advice. Make sure your fingers are dry when removing your contact lenses so that the lens can be removed more easily.
Use your fingers to enlarge the eyelid of your eye by pulling the upper eyelid apart with the index finger of your left hand and the thumb of your left finger to pull the lower eyelid apart. Thumb and index finger of the right hand form a pair of pliers, carefully squeeze the contact lens together and remove it from the eye. Both procedures – insertion and removal – are repeated for the other eye.
