Contact Lenses: Key Tips for First-Time Users

Are you excited to try contact lenses for the first time? Once your optometrist has given you the green light, you may have numerous questions about what to anticipate prior to your fitting appointment.

Essential Advice: Start with daily disposable lenses. They eliminate the hassle of a cleaning routine, which can be overwhelming for newcomers. Always ensure your hands are clean before handling your contact lenses, and avoid rinsing them with tap water. Schedule a fitting with your optometrist to verify that the appropriate lens aligns with your prescription and eye health.

Your optometrist has determined that you are an ideal candidate for contact lenses, and it’s completely normal to feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about touching your eyes. Many first-time wearers experience these emotions.

We regularly assist first-time contact lens users. In this guide, you’ll discover vital information to consider before your fitting appointment, how to assess the differences between daily and monthly lenses, and the essential routines that will help keep your eyes healthy and comfortable.

Making the Right Choice: Daily vs. Monthly Contact Lenses

Quick tip: Opt for daily lenses if you are new to contact lenses, wear them occasionally, suffer from allergies, or travel frequently; they provide a fresh lens each day without the need for cleaning. Monthly lenses are more suitable for regular users who are at ease with a nightly cleaning routine and can offer a lower daily cost when properly maintained.

Choosing between these two options may be easier than it appears. Familiarising yourself with the pros and cons can significantly enhance your experience.

Understanding the Benefits of Daily Disposable Lenses

With daily disposable lenses, you start fresh each day with a new pair that you dispose of at night. This eliminates the need for cleaning, storage cases, and solutions, allowing you to forget about when you last wore your current pair.

Who can benefit from daily disposables:

• New wearers seeking an uncomplicated experience
• Individuals who wear lenses sporadically, such as for sports or special events
• Allergy sufferers, as a fresh lens daily helps reduce the accumulation of pollen and other irritants
• Frequent travellers who value convenience
• Anyone wishing to avoid a nightly cleaning routine

The drawback: While daily disposables might appear more expensive initially, when you consider cleaning solutions, cases, and the risk of eye infections due to poor hygiene, the cost difference may not be as significant as you think.

Exploring Monthly Contact Lenses and Their Benefits

Monthly lenses can last up to 30 days. To maintain their comfort and integrity, you must remove, clean, and store them in new solution each night.

Who are monthly lenses ideal for:

• Regular wearers seeking the most economical long-term option
• Individuals comfortable with a nightly cleaning regimen
• Those with prescriptions unavailable in daily disposable formats, including some complex or unique prescriptions

The drawback: Regular nightly cleaning is essential. Neglecting this can result in serious eye infections.

Key Insights About Fortnightly Lenses

Some brands offer a replacement cycle every two weeks. They require the same cleaning as monthly lenses but need to be replaced more often.

Typical advice for new wearers: Start with daily disposables. They eliminate the hassle of cleaning, which many newcomers find intimidating. Once you feel confident with inserting and removing lenses and can identify any discomfort in your eyes, consider transitioning to monthly lenses if cost becomes a significant concern.

Essential Techniques for Contact Lens Insertion for Beginners

Quick tip: Always wash your hands, ensure the lens is oriented properly, hold your eyelids open, look slightly upward, position the lens on the white of your eye just below the iris, then release and blink. Most individuals become comfortable with this procedure within a week, and your optometrist will guide you during your fitting.

At first, inserting a lens may feel strange. Your body instinctively protects your eyes, which might cause you to blink or flinch when something approaches. With practice, this reflex will lessen, and most people adapt within a week.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly. Use soap and water, then dry with a lint-free towel. Any residue on your hands can transfer to the lens and, subsequently, to your eye.
2. Check the lens orientation. Place it on the tip of your index finger. It should appear like a smooth bowl with clean edges. If the edges flare outward, it’s inside out; simply flip it.
3. Hold your eyelids apart. Use the middle finger of the hand holding the lens to pull down the lower lid while using the other hand to hold the upper lid up. This creates a clear path for the lens.
4. Look slightly upward. Place the lens on the white part of your eye, just below the iris.
5. Release and blink. Gently let go of your eyelids and blink several times to allow the lens to settle in place.
6. Repeat for your other eye.

Your optometrist will assist you with this entire process during your fitting. We ensure you can confidently insert and remove your lenses before you leave, which is the main goal of the fitting session.

Effective Methods for Removing Contact Lenses

1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Look upward.
3. Slide the lens down onto the white part of your eye using your index finger.
4. Gently pinch the lens between your thumb and index finger to lift it out.

For daily lenses, properly dispose of them. For monthly lenses, store them in a clean case filled with fresh solution.

If you struggle with removal in the first week or two, consider using a soft contact lens handler or tweezers. These tools can simplify the process while you develop the necessary muscle memory. Most users no longer require these tools after a month, but feel free to use them if they help you.

Important Cleaning and Care Guidelines for Monthly Contact Lenses

Quick tip: Clean each lens with a multipurpose solution for about 20 seconds, rinse, and store it in fresh solution (never top up old solution). Replace your lens case every one to three months. Avoid tap water as it is a leading cause of serious contact lens infections.

If you’re using daily disposables, you can skip this section since cleaning is not necessary.

For monthly or fortnightly lenses:

• After removing each lens, place it in your palm.
• Add a few drops of multipurpose solution.
• Gently rub the lens with your fingertip for about 20 seconds. Even if the solution says “no rub,” rubbing helps remove more deposits.
• Rinse with fresh solution.
• Store in a clean case filled with fresh solution (never top up old solution; always replace it entirely).
• Regularly replace your lens case, every one to three months.

Never use tap water on contact lenses. Tap water may contain microorganisms that can lead to severe eye infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis, a painful and potentially sight-threatening condition. This also means you should avoid swimming or showering with your lenses unless you wear sealed goggles, and do not rinse your lens case with tap water.

This precaution is not overly cautious. We encounter numerous cases of contact lens-related infections each year, primarily due to patients taking shortcuts with water. Adhering to this guideline will help you avoid similar problems.

Frequently Prescribed Contact Lenses

Every prescription and eye condition is unique. During your fitting, your optometrist will recommend the most suitable lens tailored to your specific needs. Here are some lenses we frequently fit and stock, along with their ideal uses.

Top Daily Disposable Lens Options

• Dailies Total 1: Utilises water gradient technology for a lens surface that is nearly entirely water. This is a popular choice for patients experiencing mild dry eye.
• Acuvue Oasys 1 Day: Offers excellent oxygen transmission and built-in UV protection, making it a preferred option for those spending time outdoors or in bright environments.
• Precision 1: Incorporates Alcon’s SmartSurface technology to create a thin moisture layer across the lens for all-day comfort.
• Miru 1Day Flatpack: Features the world’s thinnest contact lens packaging. The lens sits on a flat pack, ensuring it’s oriented correctly when picked up, removing guesswork for new wearers.

Popular Monthly Contact Lens Selections

• Biofinity: A well-known monthly lens with high oxygen permeability, available in a wide prescription range, including complex prescriptions.
• Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde: Utilises SmartShield surface technology to resist protein and lipid deposits that can cause discomfort as the month progresses. Ideal for those whose current monthlies become uncomfortable over time.

Strategies for Addressing Dry Eyes or Sensitivity

Wearing contact lenses can contribute to dry eye, and experiencing dry eye can make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable. If you already have dry eye symptoms, your fitting discussion should focus on which type of lens will suit you best and whether to combine them with any supportive treatments.

Feel free to raise any concerns with us during your fitting. Contact lens wear and dry eye can coexist, but the strategy must be tailored specifically to your condition.

When Should You Contact Your Optometrist?

Quick tip: If you experience pain, persistent redness, sudden blurriness, discharge, a lingering sensation of “something in my eye” after removal, or newfound light sensitivity — reach out to us immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to subside. Prompt care can prevent serious complications.

Some issues can wait until your next appointment, while others cannot. Contact us (or any optometrist) if you notice:

• Pain that persists after removing the lens; pain indicates that something is wrong.
• Redness that lasts for more than a few hours.
• Sudden blurred vision while wearing lenses.
• Discharge or excessive tearing.
• A sensation of something stuck in your eye after removal.
• New light sensitivity that was not present before.

Any of these symptoms could indicate an infection, lens damage, or a corneal issue. Do not hesitate to seek assistance, and avoid assuming the problem will resolve on its own. Early intervention can prevent genuinely serious complications.

Frequently Asked Questions About Contact Lenses

How long does it usually take to adjust to contact lenses?

Most new wearers become comfortable with inserting and removing their lenses within a week. Physical comfort, meaning not feeling the lens in your eye, typically settles within the first two to three days. If you continue to experience difficulty with insertion after two weeks, schedule a follow-up appointment. Sometimes, a different lens material or a handling tool can significantly improve your experience.

Is it safe to sleep while wearing contact lenses?

No, unless they are specifically prescribed for overnight wear. Regular daily and monthly lenses are designed for daytime use only. Sleeping in standard lenses restricts oxygen flow to your cornea and significantly increases the risk of infection. If you need to wear lenses overnight, consult your optometrist about specially designed extended wear lenses.

What should I do if a contact lens feels stuck in my eye?

It’s impossible for a lens to slip behind your eye. It usually shifts to the side or folds up. Wash your hands, apply a few drops of preservative-free lubricant, and gently massage your closed eyelid until the lens shifts back to the centre for removal. If it doesn’t come out after 10 to 15 minutes, stop trying and contact your optometrist.

Can I wear contact lenses if I have dry eyes?

Often, yes, but the choice of lens is more critical for individuals with dry eyes compared to those without. Daily disposables with high water content tend to be more comfortable for dry eye patients than older monthly materials. Implementing a dry eye management routine (heat therapy, lid hygiene, supplements) can enhance comfort while wearing lenses. Your optometrist will select the appropriate lens based on your tear film during your fitting.

What are the typical costs of contact lenses in Australia?

Prices vary based on the brand, lens technology, and whether you’re purchasing 30 or 90 packs. Daily disposables fall into one price range, while monthlies belong to another, and specialty lenses (such as toric for astigmatism or multifocal for presbyopia) tend to be more expensive due to their complex optics. Current pricing for each type is available on its product page. We also offer discounted rates for ongoing subscriptions, so be sure to ask us during your fitting.

Do I need to consult an optometrist to buy contact lenses?

Yes. In Australia, contact lenses are classified as medical devices and require a valid prescription from a registered optometrist or ophthalmologist. Even if you have been wearing lenses for years, your prescription must be current. We assess the fit, corneal health, and prescription accuracy during each review.

When This Guide May Not Be Suitable for You

• If you are under 16 years old — fitting contact lenses for children requires a separate discussion with parents or guardians. Please book a consultation.
• If you have not had a recent eye exam — obtain your prescription and corneal health check first. Lenses should come after, not before.
• If you wish to wear cosmetic lenses without a prescription. Avoid purchasing unregulated lenses online — this is illegal in Australia and can lead to serious corneal injury.

Are You Ready to Start Your Contact Lens Journey?

Book your contact lens fitting at our Central Coast practice, and we will assist you in finding the perfect lens tailored to your eyes, prescription, and lifestyle. You will leave your fitting confident in your ability to insert, remove, and care for your lenses.

Discover Contact Lenses at Eyes By Design · Schedule Your Contact Lens Fitting Today