Gas permeable contact lenses are rigid lenses made from materials that allow oxygen to penetrate and reach the eye. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, gas permeable lenses are generally more durable and provide better vision results for some wearers. Because the lenses are hard, you cannot grasp the lens and remove it the same way you do soft contacts. By following a few easy steps, you can easily learn to remove your gas permeable lenses.
Step 1
Wash your hands thoroughly. It is very important to have clean hands when you are touching your eyes and handling your contacts. If your hands are not clean, you risk introducing germs and bacteria to your eye that can cause an eye infection.
Step 2
Cover sink drains and other places a lens could fall into and become lost. While you are learning to remove your lenses, it is a good idea to place a small towel down so if you accidentally drop a lens it won't bounce to a hard-to-find area.
Step 3
Stare straight ahead into a mirror and open your eyes as wide as possible.
Step 4
Cup your left hand below your right eye, and place one finger from your right hand next to the outer corner of your right eye.
Step 5
Pull the skin at the corner of your eye back toward your ear with your finger. As you pull back, blink your eye. The lens should pop up into your cupped hand.
Step 6
Repeat steps 3 through 5 to remove your left contact, cupping the right hand and using a finger from the left hand to pull the skin at the outer corner of your eye.
Step 7
Insert rewetting drops if you cannot get a contact lens to pop out. Lenses are more difficult to remove if your eyes are dry. Rewetting drops help to float the lens on the eye surface so removal is easier.
Step 8
Use a contact lens plunger if you still have trouble removing your lenses. Gently press the plunger tip onto the surface of the contact and lift the lens off your eye.
Tips and Warnings
- If you accidentally push your contact onto the white part of your eye, don't panic. You can try sliding it back in place by pushing it with the side of your eyelid or using a contact lens plunger. If you do not catch the lens in your hand when it pops out and you cannot find it, try shining a flashlight over the area. The light will reflect off the lens making it easier to find.
Things You'll Need
- Rewetting drops
- Contact lens plunger
