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 can't see a single reply that suggests anything more complicated than yours!

Another pincher here. I have 2 weekly moist silicon hydrogels, which I wear 12/14 hours per day every day, and actually only change once as month, and have done for 30 years. Interestingly I don't get on well with dailies, even the moist ones, as they are thinner and I think dry out more. I only use them on holiday so less faff and less to take with you, and you don't worry swimming in them etc.

Try the longer wear moist ones, much easier to take out too, as thicker to handle.

I've been wearing lenses 22 years and had to think about how I take them out as I do it without thinking 😂

I use my right ring finger to pull my lower lid down and then pinch them out using both index fingers- my nails aren't even that long but if I use my thumb and index finger I sometimes scratch my eye.

I started with monthly disposables but I've had dailies for many years now and they're worth the extra money for me. Mainly for hygiene reasons and I like not having to clean them or worry if I lose one. I use Alcon daily disposables which are long wear and I get on really well with them.

I wore lens for years before I had laser surgery-I never pinched mine out. The way I was taught which I found easy as anything was to kind of knock it out.
So basically you pull the skin down at the bottom of your eye-and then place one finger on your eye (it sounds terrible but it really isn’t) and basically just knock your finger downwards. And then the lens will be at the bottom of your eye and you can pick it up.
Previous posters are correct, it’s a skill that you learn and once you have it-your be fine. I remember I cried the first time and thought they would never come out lol.
Good luck and don’t give up.

I've been wearing contact lenses for about a year now and I have to say removing them is complete carnage at least four out of seven nights a week. Sometimes it works fine but my technique is literally just sticking two fingers in my eyes, fishing around and hoping for the best - I've tried all the logical ways and had it explained to me a million times, but it's like a Goddamn foreign language. Twice I've had them stuck for an hour or more - there is NOTHING more frustrating when you're desperate to go to bed!!

Same as @FormerlySpeckledyHen . Pinch em! Or slide them…

If you sleep in them, don’t panic, don’t try to pinch them… or slide, try to cry. And try again until you succeed!
Then pinch them and bin them.

I fretted during my lens trial for exactly the same reason - I couldn't, and still can't, get those instructions to work for me. Red raw streaming eyes, lenses still in, despair and sense of failure. The optician was cool about it and just advised I'd get the hang of it.
From then, as now, I just put my finger right on the lens and drag it to the bottom, or side, of my eye, and flick it out.

Are you trying to get them out after a shower, because mine are wedged in if I forget to take them out before showering.

Same! Takes all of one second.

I pinch too. I don't fancy the idea of sliding because I would worry it would go under my eyelid, and I can't bear that feeling.

But I miss the days of gas permeable lenses, which I wore for about 30 years. They were dead easy to get out - stretch the side of the eye, blink, and POP.

I had to go back during my trial years ago as I couldn’t get them out! Turns out I was subconsciously looking away slightly every time I went to swipe it down and out. Years later and still wearing them and loving them. But it’s a learning curve!

I wore extended wear lenses, I could wear them for up to 6 days & nights continuously. I took mine out by almost pinching them with the pad of my thumb & the knuckle of my forefinger as I always wore nail extensions & wanted to avoid scratching my eye. If your eyes are dry you can buy lubricating drops that can be used with contact lenses.

I do exactly the same

Another pincher here.

Controversially…I find it easier to get them out when my eyes are drier?

Obviously I aim to not regularly have my contact lenses in so long they dry out but if they do feel dry then it’s easier to get them out than if I add drops and then try to remove.

Adding the drops just seems to make everything slippery and then I can’t pinch the lens…so maybe try without the drops immediately before.

I just put my finger on my eyeball then slid it down, if they were a bit stuck then I'd use drops to make them more slippery of needed. Practice makes perfect.
I then got laser eye surgery, I'd recommend this if you can do it!!

Practise will help.

I also find squeezing the lens with your eye shut can lift it just enough for some fluid to get under the lens. Then when you try to take it out, with your eye open (!), it lifts more easily because it isn't so stuck to your eye?

I blink mine out.. I look down - put the palm of my hand under to catch my lens .. lightly, pull taut the skin at the side of my eye.. blink and the lens is out..
I've worn contacts both hard and soft for nearly 40 years and it's the easiest way to remove them.
I prefer it to the pinch method.. just seems less invasive somehow

Haven't rtft but I think I can help hopefully. Been wearing lenses for 25 ish years. When I first got lenses as a teen in the 90s I had hard lenses. With those you had to squeeze the lens out as you describe. With soft lenses now, I literally pinch (gently) it off my eye, no holding of lids. Thumb and middle finger horizontally across the eye. Then cleanse with solution. That's it. Hope that helps?

I use one hand/finger to hold upper lid up a bit then use finger on other hand to put on lens and swipe it to the side then pinch with my finger and thumb

I tried contacts and i had the exact same issue! Felt like a total weirdo.

No matter how much it was explained to me, I couldn't get them out. I'd have a bit of anxiety all day, dreading taking them out at night and how I was gonna manage. My eyes were red and sore before I finally got them out.

So I gave up. I might try them again at some point but I'm but sure. I think they are maybe just not for me

Been wearing dailies for years and I often wear up to 16 hours.

Left hand index finger horizontal and pointing toward nose , under upper lashes and pull upper lid up
Right hand pull down on skin under eye with middle finger. Index and thumb on right hand pinch that bad boy out

It doesn't hurt at all to touch the white of your eye and the lens itself covers the coloured part which does hurt, so in theory you can't cause yourself pain taking it out as you're either touching the lens or if you miss, you're touching the white. That's assuming the lens has not become dislodged of course but you'll know if it has.

I think only issue here is that you were told a weird way to get them out

“I find it easier to get them out when my eyes are drier? Adding the drops just seems to make everything slippery and then I can’t pinch the lens”

There’s a reason for this! My optician told me contact lenses are attracted to water, which is why after you take them out of the packet and try and get them in your eye, they can sort of reject your eye if there’s too much saline left on your finger. So if your eye is full of water the contact will want to stay there. I was also told to never take them out after sleeping / letting them dry out if they’re hard to smoothly move around my eye and especially if they drag. Taking them out while they’re dried out can take off a layer of your cornea

I pinch them off using my nails rather than my fingertips, it’s less difficult and slidey. My nails also aren’t crazily long acrylics, they’re short and filled smoothly.

To remove my right lens, l look up and left, then slide the lens to the right. Do the opposite for the left lens.

I purchase mine online - cheaper then my opticians

Trying to think how I do them!! I pull down bottom eyelid with middle finger, then place forefinger on contact and slide it down and towards the outside corners of my eye slightly. Then pinch between thumb and forefinger.