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.

Ah, I wear disposables though. So it doesn't matter if I mess them up.

I've been doing it the way you were taught for almost 40 years with gas permeable and soft lenses, I couldn't pinch or slide them out if I tried I don't think. I think it took me a while to get the hang of it but dryness won't help.

Someone upthread referred to a type that are more permeable, they are called silicon hydrogels and let more oxygen in, they are better suited to longer wearing, if these aren't them then it might be worth asking to try them.

I used to use a removal tool

https://www.bestproductsreviews.co.uk/contact-lens-remover-tool?targetid=dsa-19959388920&matchtype=&device=m&campaignid=15548184439&creative=569168980234&adgroupid=131395587735&feeditemid=&locphysicallms=9046084&locinteresttms=&network=g&devicemodel=&placement=&keyword=$&target=&aceid=&adposition=&trackid=ukallltop1112&mId=407-132-4411&trackOld=true&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlKmeBhCkARIsAHy7WVtIx3CyvFoZITUmnMnR2Bbk1latRRDjMnRlVQCPJiYe54ZWt5F1woaArNxEALwwcB

Hitting 30 years with contacts and I pinch them off too 😀

I wear mine 6 days a week all day (6:30am -11pm) possibly glasses on a Saturday before I leave the house and have done for 30 years. Never had any issues and just look straight ahead pinch outwith thumb and forefinger - no need to prize your eye open m. Monthly disposable so they get a nightly soak

I think that's what I do. No pinch just a swipe into the corner (and hope it doesn't go under eye lid as it occasionally does (usually if drink is involved to be fair)

This is how I do it. My DS has just started wearing contact lenses and it looks awkward (to me) to use 2 hands to take them out.

I pull my lower lid down with my middle finger and pinch the lens out with my thumb and index finger.

If pinching isn’t working make your fingers slightly further apart. I was given that advice when I was struggling and it really worked

You can:
remove your lenses and clean them with saline mid-day and put saline drops in your eyes at that time as well as ever 2-3 hours;

not wear dailies as they are very thin and switch to monthlies which are a tad thicker and easier to remove.

When I wore lenses, I was in the slide them to the side of my eye camp and they just folded over and popped out. I could never get to grips with pinching them out.

Thanks all, lots of good tips!

So just to answer a couple of points - I was told I could have them in for 10 hours after building up over a few days, and this is my second week of trying them out (couldn’t get an appointment for a check sooner) so I feel like this should be ok? But maybe I need to try and get them out sooner - bit tricky with work sometimes though.

They are dailies, was strongly recommended these for hygiene reasons- also I’m sure they make a better profit for the opticians, but to be fair they probably will work better for my life as I would t trust DS not to fiddle with reusable ones, and as he has additional needs it wouldn’t be a matter of just telling him not to. It’s partly why I love my lenses so much - he can’t put sticky fingerprints onto them 😂

I have been putting the drops in as I want to remove them so I will try putting them in a few minutes before!

I will also ask about the more permeable ones as maybe that will help, I’m sure the trial ones will be the basic version. And also about the pinchy removal method!

I've had them almost 30 years, I pull bottom lid down with ring finger and use thumb and middle finger to gently pinch it off. I takes a while to crack it though. I remember trying to do it at home one day at the start, took ages and I felt sick that I would never get it out.

As others have said. One hand. Middle finger on lower lid. Index finger to slide the lens slightly and bring your thumb in to pinch it together and pull out. I find it easier taking them out than putting them in!

I pinch mine out too, worn them for so many years I had to think how I do it but basically index finger locates centre of lens and then with thumb slightly pull down lower lid and pincher them out.
Dry eyes will make it harder so eye drops are a good idea and also taking them out before your eyes get really tired in the evening. It's just practice really.

I always teach people to pinch them out. And make sure your fingers are very dry.

I wear silicon hydrogel lenses (biofinity torics) and wear them for a week at a time.
I also remove mine like you do by pinching them out using both lids.

If your eyes are still dry then ask to try a different type of lens, I have my contact lens check done at Specsavers but buy from Vision Direct because it is cheaper.

I use one hand to open my eye and the other to pinch the lens. I would say that the lens is bigger than you think so if you don’t get it first try, kind of open your fingers wider to hopefully get the edge of the lens. If you get the edges they should just pop out!

Me too. I wear monthly disposables.

I have daily disposables and pinch them out. I then put eye drops in after they're out to help rehydrate my eyes as I get dry eyes after having my contacts in all day.

It does take practise. When I first had lenses it would take me 5 minutes to take them out, now it takes seconds and I don't even need a mirror.

I am in the pinching camp. Middle finger holding down the lower lid and pinch using thumb and forefinger.

Hot compress on my eyes works to keep them moist... I use 2 wooden spoons warmed in as hot as you can stand water (boiled and left to cool a bit) & press them against my eyes.

Seriously - so much overcomplicating in these replies!!! lol

Been wearing them nearly 40 years.

Just use your thumb and first finger and basically pinch them off your eye!

Trust me, won't be long before you're pinching your actual eye because you've forgotten you've already removed them 😂

My eyes dry out a lot even after a few hours so I use contact friendly drops throughout the day. I hold my lower lid down and swipe from inner corner over the contact and they come out sideways, I can’t do the pinching thing.

No that doesn’t work with soft lenses.

If you’re scraping a lens off your eye @Spudlet you increase the chance of an abrasion and therefore an infection. You need to reduce your wearing time and try a new lens or two next time,