Wearing contact lenses is an excellent way to correct poor eyesight and still maintain an active flexible lifestyle, as opposed to wearing eye glasses. However, new contact lens wearers always experience one fundamental problem – they cannot place the soft lens on their eyes. It’s a mixed emotion of fear of touching the eyeballs, and worry that placing the lens might inflict pain.

If you are one of those people having a hard time placing contact lenses, or if you’re planning to wear contacts but you’re hesitating to do so for fear of being hurt, I understand what you’re going through. I had the same fears before I made a switch from glasses to contacts. The first time I bought contacts, the ophthalmologist actually gave up trying to place the lens on my eyes. We stayed inside the “fitting room” for more than an hour, but to no avail, my eyes just closes each time the ophthalmologist tried to fit the lens upon my eyeballs. I just can’t do it.

I asked the ophthalmologist in a humorous tone: “Do I now hold the world record for the longest time elapsed for fitting a contact lens?” She instantly answered with a frown: “YES”. That night, I went home thinking I’m a big hopeless case.

But two days later, I decided to tackle the whole thing all over again. So I gathered courage and started to take it on my own. No ophthalmologist. No one watching. For my eyes only. After some trial and error, I discovered that the whole thing WAS EASIER THAN I THOUGHT. Now, I can insert and remove a contact lens like a certified pro. I realized that it’s only the FEAR that keeps me from doing what I need to do. It’s the FEAR that paralyzes me. The moment I dismantled FEAR from my system, I was able to enjoy the benefits of a new experience.

Before I give you the steps of how to effortlessly wear a contact lens, let me give you a few guidelines first. These tips will help you cut the learning curve and avoid learning the hard way like I did:

1. Believe it or not, touching the eyeballs for a split second or two doesn’t hurt – Tell that to yourself if you’re a first time contact lens wearer. And yes, that’s the truth, it wont hurt. It actually feels a litle ticklish.
2. It’s impossible for the contact lens to get lost inside your eyes – Many people have the fear that the contact lens might get stuck somewhere inside the concave of the eyeballs and may never be recovered again, leaving the person blind. This is rubbish. It’s only a false voice inside your head. The doctors already figured this out. The contact lens is designed to automatically stick and adjust itself to the “swimming pool” of the eyes – the retina.
3. As long as you wash your hands and wash your lens, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. The only enemy you have here is fear, and dirt.

OK, now you’re ready to wear your first contact lens.. Are you ready? Here are the instructions:

1. Prepare your work area. Put yourself in front of a decent mirror. Clear all distractions. If you’re in front of a bathroom sink, make sure you close the hole or drain to avoid any “accidents”.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly. I’m sure you know how to do that.
3. Now..get your contact lens for the right eye. Place it on top of your left pointing finger. (Make sure your finger is moist but not wet, this will save you more time)

4. Put a drop of saline solution (provided by your contact lens practitioner) on the contact lens.

5. Lift your right upper eyelid with your right pointing finger (you must do this so that your blinking will be limited during the entire activity. You must be able to see the upper white of your eye), then lower your right lower eyelid with your right thumb.
6. Now, using the left pointing finger, let the contact lens touch any part of the right eye near the center. While your lens is drawing nearer to the eyes, keep looking on the mirror. When the lens is very near to your eyes, suddenly stop looking on the mirror and try to look on the lens. Then, let the lens make contact with your eyes for a split second (remember it doesnt hurt, just ticklish).
7. Withdraw your finger from the eyes..the lens has now been attached. Blink a few times. Everything is clearer now.

8. Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 for your left eye (of course, now, you will need to use your right hand. If you did it once, you can do it again.)

Note: It is normal to be teary eyed after you have placed the contact lenses, especially if it’s your first time. But once your eyes get used to it, you will feel like you’re not wearing any lenses at all.

Removing the contact lens is much easier. Just use your thumb and index finger, then gently squeeze the lens from your eyes. That should remove it. Remember it doesnt hurt. It doesnt hurt. It doesnt hurt. I said that three times so you will remember it.

Warning: Before trying out contact lenses, make sure you get help from a certified eye practitioner.