Contacts for Beginners

For many first-time wearers, getting used to soft contact lenses takes only a few days, although the experience varies from person to person. You might notice the lenses in your eyes at first while also learning how to insert and remove them, but modern soft lenses generally don't require a long or deliberately gradual adjustment period. Rigid lenses can take considerably longer to feel natural, with adaptation sometimes extending over several weeks.

Some mild lens awareness at the beginning can be part of the adjustment process, but persistent pain, redness, worsening discomfort, or blurred vision shouldn't simply be treated as something you need to get used to. Remove your contacts and speak with an eye care professional when these symptoms occur, since they can indicate a problem with the fit, your eyes, or the way the lenses are being worn. Following the recommended wearing schedule while you adjust can also help protect your eye health.

A consistent care routine helps keep your contact lenses clean and reduces the chance of eye infections. Once you learn the basic steps, they can easily become part of your morning and evening routine.

1. Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your contacts, then dry them completely with a clean, lint-free towel.
2. Insert and remove your lenses according to the instructions from your eye care professional.
3. Keep your contacts away from tap water, bottled water, saliva, and other non-sterile liquids. Remove them before swimming or showering.
4. Clean and disinfect reusable lenses with the recommended contact lens solution after each use. Rub and rinse them as directed before placing them in storage.
5. Fill your lens case with fresh solution every time rather than adding new solution to what is already there.
6. Clean your storage case with contact lens solution, allow it to air-dry upside down, and replace the case at least every three months.
7. Follow your prescribed replacement schedule and avoid wearing lenses longer than recommended.

Soft contact lenses are often a practical starting point for beginners because their flexible material generally makes them easier to adjust to and more comfortable during the first few days of wear. Daily disposable lenses can simplify things further since you use a fresh pair each day and don't need to clean or store them overnight. Reusable soft lenses can also work well, though you'll need to follow a regular cleaning, disinfecting, and replacement routine.

Rigid gas permeable lenses can provide sharp vision and are durable, but they typically take longer to get used to and involve a more involved care routine. There isn't one contact lens type that's best for every beginner, since your prescription, eye shape, comfort, lifestyle, and wearing habits all affect which option suits you. A proper eye exam and contact lens fitting can determine which lens material, wear schedule, and replacement schedule are appropriate for your eyes.

Learning to wear contacts also means building a few new hygiene and care habits. Avoiding these common mistakes can help reduce irritation and lower your risk of eye infection.

Handling contacts without washing your hands

Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them completely before touching your lenses or eyes.

Sleeping in lenses or letting them come into contact with water

Remove your contacts before sleeping, showering, or swimming unless your eye care professional has specifically approved overnight wear. Water can expose lenses to microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections.

Wearing lenses longer than recommended

Follow the prescribed replacement schedule instead of extending the life of a pair. Reusing lenses past their intended schedule can increase the chance of discomfort and other eye problems.

Using old solution or skipping proper cleaning

Reusable lenses should be cleaned and disinfected as directed and stored in fresh solution each time. Avoid topping off old solution in the case.

Putting in and taking out contact lenses can feel tricky at first, but the process usually becomes easier with practice. Using clean hands and following the same steps each time can help reduce contamination and make handling your lenses more comfortable.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then dry them completely with a clean, lint-free towel before touching your lenses.
2. Check the lens for dirt, damage, or an inside-out shape before placing it on your fingertip.
3. Hold your eyelids open and gently place the lens onto your eye, following the insertion technique shown by your eye care professional.
4. Blink a few times after insertion and make sure the lens feels comfortable and your vision is clear. Remove the lens and contact your eye care professional if you experience persistent pain, redness, or unusual irritation.
5. Wash and dry your hands again before removing your contacts.
6. Look upward, gently slide the lens toward the lower white part of your eye, and carefully pinch it between your fingertips to remove it.
7. Discard single use contact lenses after removal. Clean, disinfect, and store reusable lenses in fresh contact lens solution according to your prescribed care routine.
8. Keep your lenses away from tap water and saliva during both insertion and removal.

Reusable contact lenses should be stored in fresh disinfecting solution every time you remove them. Never reuse old solution or top it off with fresh liquid, since mixing the two can reduce how effectively the lenses are disinfected. You should also keep your contacts and storage case away from tap water and use only the lens care products recommended for your specific lenses.

Your contact lens case needs regular care too. After removing your lenses, empty the case, rub and rinse it with fresh contact lens solution, and leave it open to air-dry upside down with the caps off. Replace the case at least every three months, or sooner when advised by your eye care professional, because cases can become contaminated over time.

Your eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions can look similar, but they aren't interchangeable. Contact lenses sit directly on your eyes, so their prescription includes fitting information that isn't normally needed for glasses.

Eyeglass prescriptions

An eyeglass prescription records the optical correction needed for lenses positioned a short distance in front of your eyes. It commonly includes values for nearsightedness or farsightedness and, when applicable, astigmatism, but it doesn't contain the measurements needed to fit a contact lens directly on your eye.

Contact lens prescriptions

For Rx contacts, a prescription is finalized after a contact lens fitting and includes corrective power along with fitting details such as base curve and, when appropriate, lens diameter. Because lens position and fit affect how contacts perform on your eyes, you shouldn't assume the numbers on your glasses prescription can be used to order contact lenses.

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Healthy Habits: Keeping Water Away from Contact Lenses. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/healthy-habits-keeping-water-away-from-contact-lenses.html. Published May 27, 2025. Accessed August 13, 2026.

Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/prevention/index.html. Published May 27, 2025. Accessed August 13, 2026.

Types of Contact Lenses. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/contact-lenses/types-contact-lenses. Published January 16, 2018. Accessed August 13, 2026.