Regardless of whether you wear daily, weekly, monthly, or colored contact lenses, you'll appreciate the fact that removing them requires the same careful process each time - and over time, you'll become more and more adept at it.

In spite of the fact that you might be able to remove your contact lenses on autopilot one day, finding the right method that works for you and your habits can take some time. We put together some tried and tested methods to help you remove your contact lenses, so that you can find what is right for you in the healthiest and most efficient manner.

NB: Prior to even going near your eyes or contact lenses - it is important to practice the following basic hygiene tips:

The first step is to wash your hands with soap and water

Viruses and germs enter the body the easiest through the eyes, so you should avoid touching, scratching, or rubbing your eyes in the day, let alone with unwashed hands. Touching and removing your contact lenses is vital for keeping them in great shape.

The second step is to use a microfiber towel

It's crucial to thoroughly dry your hands since you don't want any moisture or residual residue getting between your contact lenses and your eyes. Consider investing in a microfiber towel because it can withstand repeated washings and lasts longer than cotton, thereby reducing the chance of debris or lint remaining on your fingers. Now that you have dried your hands, you are almost ready to handle and remove your contact lenses!

The third step is to get your contact lenses case ready

Ensure your contact lenses case is clean. Only use professional contact lens cleaner solution in your contact lens case. Water or any other liquid should never be used to rinse contact lenses - and you should never reuse contact lens cleaner. The fresher, the better! Lastly, when removing or inserting your contact lenses, always start with the same eye.

The fourth step - Now you are ready!

It's time to carefully remove your contacts. Here are some tips and techniques you can try. You should never feel pain or discomfort while inserting or removing your contact lenses. Make sure to contact your healthcare provider if you experience this.

The front-on-removal method

This is the most popular technique but it requires quite a bit of confidence to reach for your eyeball. Try the other two techniques listed below if touching your eyeball makes you squirm. Here are the steps:
Face a well-lit mirror over a sink. In that case, if your contact lens falls out, it will land in the sink rather than on the dirty floor. Pull your top eyelid gently open with your non-dominant hand. Your other hand should then be used to remove your contact lens by gently reaching toward your eyeball and pinching your contact lens together with two fingers. Your contact lens should then easily slip onto your finger. You should place your contact lens directly into the contact lens case with fresh contact lens solution. Do the same with the other eye.

The ceiling method

If you have long nails or don't like touching your eyeballs, this technique is for you, because it involves sliding the contact lens instead of pinching it. Here's how to do it: Stand in front of a well-lit mirror over a sink. If your contact lens falls out, it will land in the sink instead of the dirty floor. Pull your top eyelid gently open with your non-dominant hand. Look up at the ceiling. With your other hand, gently pull the contact lens toward your lower lid with your index finger. Pull the lens down until it falls off your eyeball and onto your finger. Do the same for the other eye.

Side-slide method

As your contact lenses are designed to sit perfect on the curvature of your eyeball, this technique utilizes the curvature of your eyeball to help remove them. As with the last two techniques, stand over the sink in front of a well-lit mirror. So, if your contact lens falls out, it will land in the sink instead of on the dirty floor. Pull your top eyelid gently open with your non-dominant hand. With the other hand, gently pull your bottom lid down with your middle finger. Finally, gently slide your contact lens across your eyeball to the corner of your eye using your index finger on that same hand. It should slide across and onto your finger easily.

Warnings

You should remove your contact lenses every night before bed, or as otherwise determined by your healthcare provider, whether you wear disposable, daily, weekly, or monthly lenses. Furthermore, you should avoid overextending the wear time of your contact lenses. For example, daily lenses should be thrown away every day.  Biweekly disposable lenses should be discarded after 14 days, and monthly disposable lenses should be discarded after 30 days.

Your eyesight may be affected for a long time if you fail to remove or dispose of your contact lenses correctly. "Corneal neovascularization" is the most common condition. If you leave your contact lenses in overnight, you may suffer from oxygen deprivation in the eyes. In this case, your blood vessels will enlarge, causing redness to your cornea, tearing, light sensitivity, and if it gets really bad, blurred vision. For further assessment and, if necessary, treatment, you should see your optometrist as soon as possible if you suspect you have this condition.

As long as you take good care of your eyes and your contact lenses, you should not have any problems. It's always a good idea to invest in quality eyedrops and lens solution to keep your eyes and contact lenses clean, comfy, and reliable.

We wish you all the confidence you need to remove your contact lenses with care as you begin this exciting journey towards better, smarter, and simpler eye care. Visit our contact lens store, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.