Contact lenses are a convenient and practical alternative to bulky reading glasses and bifocals for vision correction, but they require an adjustment period. According to eye care professionals (ECPs), your eyes may take two weeks to fully adjust to contact lenses.
But if you’ve never used contact lenses before, how do you know if your eyes are adjusting to them appropriately? In this article, you will learn what to expect when wearing contact lenses for the first time and some tips for getting used to them.
What to Expect When Wearing Contact Lenses for the First Time
Today, contact lenses are far more comfortable than options available 20 years ago, but your eyes will still take some time to adjust to contacts. You may experience the following side effects during your first few days of wearing contacts:
- Discomfort – You may feel discomfort when wearing contact lenses for the first time, which is entirely normal. You’ll get used to the feeling of contact lenses on your eyes as you wear contacts more often.
- Watery eyes – Our eyes tear naturally to flush out any debris, such as an eyelash or a speck of dust. Even though contacts are there to help with your vision, your eyes may react as if they’re debris that needs to be flushed out. For this reason, you may get watery eyes during lens wear.
- Dry eyes – Contact lenses can soak up every tear you have, preventing proper lubrication of your eye or the lens. You may have dry eyes when wearing contacts, even if you don’t have dry eye syndrome.
- Blurry vision – Some blurriness is common for first-time lens wearers, and the distortion usually results from dryness due to improper cleaning and storage of contacts. If cleaning your contacts properly doesn’t fix the problem, consult your eye care professional (ECP).
Sometimes, a contact lens may also move on your eye due to the natural fluids in your eye, but don’t fret. Blinking a few times or applying eye drops should quickly correct the problem. A well-fitted lens will also conform to your eye’s shape after a short adjustment period.
Tips for Getting Used to Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are a convenient alternative to glasses for vision correction, but they come with an adjustment period for first-time lens wearers. The good news is you can make the process of adjusting to contact lenses easier by following these tips:
- Be patient – There’s a big learning curve to putting in and taking out contacts, so don’t feel frustrated if it takes you several days to get used to wearing them. Putting in and taking out your contacts will be second nature to you with time and practice.
- Set reminders to remove and clean your contacts – It can be easy to forget to clean your contacts or take them out at night. Therefore, it’s a good idea to set a reminder or an alarm on your phone so that it can remember for you.
- Give your eyes a break – Forcing yourself to wear contacts for long periods isn’t the key to getting used to them faster. If you feel your eyes are irritated, remove your contacts so that your eyes can rest. Make sure to clean your contacts before putting them in again.
- Set aside time to get ready – Give yourself a little more time in the morning to get ready until you’re used to putting on your contact lenses. This way, you won’t feel pressured to put in your contacts quickly to avoid being late for work or other commitments.
Follow your ECP’s instructions – Once your ECP has prescribed the contacts that fit your lifestyle, make sure to follow the replacement schedule they indicate for your lens. Doing so helps lower your risk of developing eye infections due to old contact lenses.
Conclusion
Putting on and removing contact lenses may take some getting used to, but soon you’ll be doing it without a second thought if you follow the tips in this article. Talk to your ECP if you experience significant discomfort with your contact lenses, or contact us to talk about your order. You may need to try a different brand or style! Check out Lens.com to find contact lenses at the best prices online.
