Contact lenses - where am I going wrong?

[Spudlet]

Currently doing a contact lens trial with Specsavers. They’re amazing, I love not steaming up when I open the oven, or having to polish my glasses every five minutes because they get smeary! BUT I am having issues removing them. Getting them in is fine, I can do it first time almost every time. But the last two nights, when I’ve worn my lenses all day, I’ve had one hell of a job getting them out. I was told when I had the initial consultation that my left eye was a bit dry, so I’ve been putting the drops they recommended in, but I’m still struggling.

The way I was taught to remove them was to place one finger along my lower eyelid, over the lashes. One along the upper lid, over the lashes (so I’m holding my lashes down if that makes sense). Push in and push my fingers together so the lens gets sort of squeezed out, I guess?

Tonight I had to try at least 5 or 6 times on each eye, and put lots of the drops in before they’d budge. The last time it was the same, but only on my left (drier) eye. It was quite scary and left my eyes feeling a bit sore.

Full disclosure, on both occasions I’d accidentally had my lenses in for more than 10 hours - I just wasn’t somewhere where I could remove them. I’d probably gone over by an hour or so each time. Is that likely to be the issue? Or is it technique or maybe the lenses are the wrong kind for me?

I really don’t like wearing glasses all the time so I’ll be gutted if we can’t get these to work ☹️ Any top tips please? I’m going back on Monday for my check up so will ask then too.

I think it’s just a practice thing tbh. You’ll find your own way of doing it.

I lower my eyelid with my middle finger and use the forefinger and thumb if the same hand to pinch it out. But I have been doing g it for over 20 years now!!

an alternative method is try looking one way, putting your finger on the eye at the other and then look towards you finger. The lens will be wiped off.

I put my index finger on top of the lens itself and swipe it towards my inner eye, and the lens lifts itself off onto my fingertip when it hits the edge of my eye.

Getting lenses out of dry eyes is much, much more difficult so deal with that first.

Good luck!

Could you be holding your eye open a bit too tight? Therefore stopping the lens being able to easily come off.
I tend to put my middle finger in my eye, locate the lens and then use my thumb to pincer it out.
From memory it took me quite a while to master it and much longer to put them in! I had to set my alarm half an hour earlier for a couple of weeks!

I have RGPs so not sure if this will work but I cup one hand under my eye (I'm leaning forward) I pull the outer corner of my eye with the other hand and blink, lens just pops out into my supped hand

I wash and dry my hands and literally pinch them off my eye.
Thumb and index finger either side of the lens and out they pop.

Interesting that everyone is pinching them out - that’s the way it says in the leaflet I was given too, but it’s not how the person taught me. I’ll have to ask on Monday. And make sure I give them a good dousing with eye drops before I try in future!

I open my eye wide and just squeeze both sides of the lense with my little fingers. I don't use any other fingers to hold the eye open. I've worn them for over 20 years, practice definitely helps! I've gone from spending ages in front of a mirror to insert and remove them, to now doing it in 2 seconds without a mirror.

I would also try to improve the dryness of your eyes. Heated eye compress used for 10 minutes a day would really help. I use one that has a usb connection that goes to a power pack. Initially my optician would not prescribe contact lenses because of excessive dry eyes. Two weeks of using the heated eye mask and my eyes had improved so much I left with lenses.

Definitely pinch them out, you will get the hang of it with some practice. They are funny things to get used to.

Use some sterile eye drops before attempting to remove them and its much easier

You can try to move it a bit on your eye before you try to remove it. That should help with the stuck feeling. Are you putting the drops in when you are trying to remove them? Try 5 minutes before you want to take them out.

When I wear mine, they are generally extended wear - 12 hours, 14 hours (6am-8/9pm) depending what I'm doing. And monthlies, so they go into liquid.

There are particular lenses they are better for longer - something to do with their permeability - but I was fairly upfront with the length of time, so never tried the shorter wear ones.

The only time I've had an issue is when I got acrylics and my usual technique didn't work.

There are multiple techniques - that probably come more or less recommended, but either i:
A) pull down my lower lid with my ring finger and push up my upper with my index, then use my middle and thumb to pinch it out.
B)slightly less proffered but works with nails - some kind holding the eyelids with one hand, and holding your fingers like a v and kind of pinching it between your finger tips.

I also never do any of this dragging off your iris before plucking it out.

Also ... have you tried chopping onions with contacts....no more tears😀

i would reduce the amount of time you keep them in, to be honest. As a seasoned lens wearer, it’s always harder to take them out if they’ve been in too long. And I pinch them out too.

I open eyelids wide and kind of flip outside of lense very gently with thumb nail. It just lifts off .
Also , It is very much, practice makes perfect.
I mostly , because of work shifts can have mine in for 10 or 12 hours .And sometimes I even forget to take them out until bedtime.
Have been known to wear them òvernight if I'm away for the weekend with friends.
I use Superdrug own make contact eye drops .

It's practice, and finding the method that works for you. This can take a while. Ask your optician to show you different ways. I also think you're leaving them in way too long as a new user. But maybe it's different with soft lenses - I started with hard lenses and you had to build up the tolerance.

This video isn't for the squeamish, but then if you're all contact lenses wearers this is all stuff you're used to. It contains lots of great advice.

I second this, OP. I stick the pad of my finger straight onto the middle of the lens and shift it around a bit and that seems to break the suction the lens has on my eye (especially if I've had them in too long) and that makes it so, so much easier to pinch out. I def have to use both hands though, left index finger and thumb to hold my eyelids open and right index finger and thumb to pinch the lens out.

I pinch mine too. I definitely built up the length of time I wore mine for. I agree that different brands vary for comfort. After various trials I went to daily disposables. Not ideal environmentally but I have less issues with them.
Do feedback that sometimes they are dry in the evening but you’ll adjust.

I don’t touch my upper or lower lids at all, either putting them in or taking them out.

I just use my ring finger and slide to the side where they fold over and come out.

I also pull lower eyelid down then pinch out. But it just takes practise, when I first started wearing them I'd dread taking them out but now I don't even think about it. But it's harder if your eyes are dry. On the odd occasion that I accidentally nap in them I have to moisten eyes before trying to remove them.

I always slide them sideways and outwards using my middle finger tip and kind of pull my lower lid down with my ring finger. I know I ought to use the pinch method but I honestly think I'd hurt myself.

I put a drop of solution in the corner of my eye and blink a few times, pull down my bottom eyelid with the middle finger of my hand and look up to the ceiling slightly. Then use the index fingers of both hands to pop it out - basically break the suction by pushing inwards very slightly.

Pinch them out. Use one hand to hold eyelids apart, pinch using the side of tips of thumb and index finger (not nails).

Swipe to the outer corner of my eye and then pinch out.

My eyes just will not let me pinch out straight from the iris 😂 my lids clamp shut.

I've never done the pinchy thing. I use one finger and drag mine down towards the outside of my eye. It's easy to sweep off once it hits my eyelid.