Why would I use contact lenses

In general, staff in our contact lens service treat patients whose vision cannot be improved with spectacles, or are tired of wearing spectacles  you could be a candidate for contact lenses.

We can prescribe and fit contact lenses for a range of medical eye conditions, such as keratoconnus, corneal distortion, or scarred or white corneas.

We also treat patients with very high prescriptions ( e.g. over +/-15D), or to relieve pain or aid cosmesis if your eye has become unsightly following

damage from, for example, infection or trauma.

Care of your soft contact lenses
Please read all of the instructions
carefully. You can also watch a video
here:

 Always wash and dry your hands
thoroughly before inserting or
removing your lenses
 Take care not to catch the lens or
your eye with your fingernails – keep
them short
 Work over a clean, flat surface
 Use saline solution to rinse your
lenses and case – do NOT rinse them
with tap water as this can cause eye
infections
 To minimise the possibility of mixing
your lenses up, it is a good idea to
get into the habit of always inserting
and removing the same lens first
 Do not shower/bath in your lenses
 Do not sleep in your contact lenses
unless you have been advised to by
your contact lens practitioner
 It is not recommended to swim with
your contact lenses in due to the risk
of infection from the water –
prescription swimming goggles may
be available, but please discuss this
with your contact lens practitioner as
other options may also be available
Lens insertion
1. Remove the lens from the storage
case and ensure it is not damaged,
particularly checking the edges for
any damage
2. The lenses may be rinsed with sterile
saline or Opti-Free Replenish prior to
inserting them into your eyes
3. Ensure the lens is not inside out;
when it is the correct way round, the
lens is shaped like a cup contact lens on finger

(fig 1),

but if it is inside out, it is shaped like a
saucer, with the edges facing out
4. Place the contact lens onto the tip of
your index finger of your dominant
hand
5. Pull the lower lid down with the
middle finger (of the same hand)
6. Draw the upper eyelid up with the
fingers of the other hand
7. While firmly holding the eyelids,
gently place the lens on the eye
(fig 2)

8. Try to keep both eyes open when
inserting your lenses and try not to
blink
9. When the lens is on your eye, close
your eyes slowly and blink several
times
10. If you wear a lens in the other eye,
repeat steps 1-9 for the second lens
11. Discard the solution from your case,
rinse the case with saline solution or
Opti-Free Replenish and leave the
case to air dry
fig.1
fig.2
Lens removal
 When removing your lenses, you
should follow the same routine each
time to prevent mixing up your lenses
 Keep your chin down and look
upwards
 Pull your lower lid down gently with
your middle finger. Slide your contact
lens down onto the white of your eye
with the index finger of the same
hand (fig 3)


 To remove the lens, keep the index
finger on the lens and gently pinch
the front surface with your thumb and
index finger (never with your nails)
fig. 3
If the contact lens is a daily disposable
lens, you should throw it away as soon as
you have removed it from your eye.
If it is not a daily disposable lens, you
must clean it before it is put into the
storage case in order to remove the
microbes and deposits that have built up
on the lens during the day
Lens cleaning
Always use the care system
recommended to you in the clinic.
1. Place the lens into the palm of your
hand and put two or three drops of
the cleaning solution (Oté cleaner)
onto the lens
2. Rub the lens gently but firmly with the
little finger of your other hand for
approximately thirty seconds; turn the
lens over and rub the other side
3. After rubbing the lens, it is essential
to rinse it with saline solution or OptiFree
Replenish in order to remove
the loosened debris and any
remaining cleaner; rinse the cleaning
solution off the lens by rubbing the
lens between your thumb and
forefinger
4. Fill the storage case with fresh OptiFree
Replenish solution and place the
lens into the correct side of the
storage case – this soaking solution
must be changed on a daily basis
5. If you wear a lens in the other eye,
repeat steps 1-4 for the second lens
6. Leave your contact lenses to soak
overnight in the closed case or for a
minimum of four hours
You may have been advised a slightly
modified cleaning regime by your contact
lens practitioner –if so, please follow these
instructions.
Contact lens case hygiene
 Eye infections can occur due to poor
lens case cleaning. On insertion of
your lenses you must discard the
solution from your case, rinse the
case with saline solution or Opti-Free
Replenish and leave to air dry
 The contact lens case should be
replaced with a new one every month
Remember, a contact lens cannot go
behind the eye. If you cannot relocate the
lens, seek the advice of a member of the
contact lens clinic or a local contact
lens practitioner (optometrist or
ophthalmologist).
If you wear make-up, you should insert
the lenses before putting your make-up
on and remove the lenses before taking
your make-up off.
You may have been advised to use a
different method to insert and remove
your lenses – if so, please follow the
instructions from our lens team.
It is vital that you attend your contact lens
and eye exam appointments to maintain
the health of your eyes.
Contact details
If you have any queries about the care of
your contact lenses, please contact one of our team.
When to seek advice
If you experience pain, redness or loss
vision, you should telephone:

Moorfields
Eye Hospital Direct for advice on 020
7566 2345 or attend your local A&E
department or the Moorfields 24/7 A&E
department which is open for emergency
eye problems only for a further
examination.

Please do not wear your
lens.