Contact Lenses Tips Every Beginner Should Know

Are you ready to embark on your first experience with contact lenses? After receiving the green light from your optometrist, it’s perfectly normal to have questions about what to expect during your fitting appointment.

Essential Advice: Start with daily disposable lenses. These lenses eliminate the need for a cleaning routine, which can often be overwhelming for newcomers. Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses, and avoid using tap water on them. Schedule a fitting with your optometrist to ensure you receive the right lens tailored to your prescription and eye health.

Your optometrist sees you as an excellent candidate for contact lenses, and it’s completely normal to feel a blend of excitement and nervousness about the prospect of touching your eyes. Many first-time wearers experience these emotions.

We frequently assist new contact lens users, and this guide contains vital information to prepare you for your fitting appointment. You’ll find comparisons between daily and Monthly lenses, along with essential routines to ensure your eyes remain healthy and comfortable.

Making Informed Choices: Daily vs. Monthly Contact Lenses Explained

Quick Tip: Opt for daily lenses if you are a beginner, use lenses occasionally, have allergies, or travel frequently; they offer the convenience of a fresh lens each day without any cleaning required. Monthly lenses are ideal for regular users who can manage a nightly cleaning routine and may prove more cost-effective when maintained properly.

Choosing between these two types can be more straightforward than you might expect. Understanding their pros and cons can significantly enhance your experience.

Uncovering the Benefits of Daily Disposable Lenses

With daily disposable lenses, you wear a fresh pair every day and discard them at night. This convenience means you won’t need to worry about cleaning, storage, or solutions, allowing you to avoid remembering how long you’ve been using your current pair.

Who benefits from daily disposables:

• First-time users seeking a simple experience
• Occasional wearers, such as for sports, special events, or weekends
• Individuals with allergies, as new daily lenses help prevent the build-up of pollen and irritants
• Frequent travellers who appreciate convenience
• Anyone wishing to bypass a nightly cleaning routine

The drawbacks: Although daily disposables may appear more expensive initially, factoring in cleaning solutions, storage cases, and the risk of eye infections due to poor hygiene can lessen this price difference significantly.

Understanding Monthly Contact Lenses and Their Advantages

Monthly lenses can last for up to 30 days. Each night, you need to remove, clean, and store them in fresh solution to keep them in optimal condition and comfort.

Who are monthly lenses best for:

• Regular wearers looking for the most economical long-term solution
• Individuals willing to commit to a nightly cleaning routine
• Those with prescriptions not available in daily disposable options, including some complex or unique prescriptions

The drawback: Regular nightly cleaning is crucial. Ignoring this step can lead to serious eye infections.

Important Information About Fortnightly Lenses

Some brands offer a two-week replacement cycle. They require the same cleaning as monthly lenses but necessitate more frequent replacements.

Our standard recommendation for new users: Start with daily disposables. They eliminate the cleaning routine, where many new users face challenges. Once you feel confident about inserting and removing lenses, and can recognise when your eyes feel uncomfortable, consider transitioning to monthly lenses if cost becomes a significant concern.

Essential Techniques for Inserting Contact Lenses as a Beginner

Quick Tip: Always wash your hands, check that the lens is not inside out, hold your eyelids open, look slightly upward, place the lens on the white part of your eye just below the iris, then release and blink. Most individuals become comfortable with this process within a week, and your optometrist will guide you during your fitting.

At first, inserting a lens may feel strange. Your body instinctively protects your eyes, which might cause you to blink or flinch as something approaches. With practice, this reflex will diminish, and most people adjust within a week.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly. Use soap and water, then dry with a lint-free towel. Residue on your hands can transfer to the lens and then to your eye.
2. Verify the lens orientation. Place it on the tip of your index finger. It should resemble a smooth bowl with clean edges. If the edges flare out, it is inside out. Simply flip it.
3. Keep your eyelids apart. Use the middle finger of the hand holding the lens to pull down the lower lid while using the other hand to lift the upper lid, creating a clear path for the lens.
4. Look slightly upward. Position the lens on the white part of your eye, just below the iris.
5. Release and blink. Gently let go of your eyelids and blink several times to assist the lens in settling.
6. Repeat for your other eye.

Your optometrist will guide you through this entire process during your fitting. We ensure you can confidently insert and remove your lenses before you leave, which is the primary goal of the fitting session.

Proven Strategies for Safely Removing Contact Lenses

1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Look upward.
3. Slide the lens down onto the white part of your eye using your index finger.
4. Gently pinch the lens between your thumb and index finger to lift it out.

For daily lenses, simply dispose of them. For monthly lenses, place them in a clean case filled with fresh solution.

If you find removal difficult in the first week or two, consider using a soft contact lens handler or tweezers. These tools can make the process easier as you develop the necessary muscle memory. Most users no longer require these tools after about a month, but it’s completely fine to use them if they help you.

Essential Cleaning and Care Tips for Monthly Contact Lenses

Quick Tip: Clean each lens with a multipurpose solution for approximately 20 seconds, rinse, and store it in fresh solution (never top up old solution). Replace your lens case every one to three months. Avoid tap water, as it is a leading cause of severe contact lens infections.

If you’re using daily disposables, you can skip this section since cleaning is unnecessary.

For monthly or fortnightly lenses:

• After removing each lens, place it in your palm.
• Add a few drops of multipurpose solution.
• Gently rub the lens with your fingertip for about 20 seconds. Even if the solution indicates “no rub,” rubbing helps eliminate more deposits.
• Rinse with fresh solution.
• Place it in a clean case filled with fresh solution (never top up old solution; always replace it completely).
• Regularly replace your lens case every one to three months.

Never use tap water on contact lenses. Tap water may contain microorganisms that can lead to severe eye infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis, a painful condition that could jeopardise your vision. This also means avoiding swimming or showering with your lenses unless you wear sealed goggles. Do not rinse your lens case with tap water.

This precaution is not excessive. We encounter numerous cases of contact lens-related infections each year, primarily due to patients cutting corners with water. Adhering to this guideline will help you avoid such problems.

Commonly Recommended Contact Lenses

Each prescription and eye condition is unique. Your optometrist will recommend the most suitable lens tailored to your specific needs during your fitting. Here are some lenses we frequently fit and stock, along with their ideal applications.

Top Choices for Daily Disposable Lenses

• Dailies Total 1: Features water gradient technology, resulting in an outer lens surface that is nearly entirely water. This is a popular option for patients with mild dry eye.
• Acuvue Oasys 1 Day: Provides excellent oxygen transmission and built-in UV protection, making it a preferred choice for those who spend time outdoors or in bright conditions.
• Precision 1: Utilises Alcon’s SmartSurface technology to create a thin moisture layer across the lens, ensuring all-day comfort.
• Miru 1Day Flatpack: Boasts the world’s thinnest contact lens packaging. The lens sits on a flat pack, ensuring it’s oriented correctly when picked up, eliminating guesswork for new wearers.

Popular Monthly Contact Lens Selections

• Biofinity: A well-regarded monthly lens with high oxygen permeability, available in a wide prescription range, including complex prescriptions.
• Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde: Utilises SmartShield surface technology to resist protein and lipid deposits that can cause discomfort towards the end of the month. Ideal for users whose current monthlies become uncomfortable as they age.

Addressing Dry Eyes or Sensitivity While Wearing Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses can lead to dry eye, and experiencing dry eye can make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable. If you already have dry eye symptoms, your fitting discussion should focus on which lens type will be most suitable and whether to include any supportive treatments.

Feel free to discuss any concerns with us during your fitting. Contact lens wear and dry eye can coexist, but the approach must be customised to your specific condition.

When to Reach Out to Your Optometrist

Quick Tip: If you experience pain, persistent redness, sudden blurriness, discharge, a lingering sensation of “something in my eye” after removal, or new light sensitivity — contact us immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to improve. Timely care can prevent serious complications.

Some issues can wait until your next appointment, while others cannot. Reach out to us (or any optometrist) if you notice:

• Pain that does not diminish after removing the lens; pain indicates something is wrong.
• Redness that lasts for more than a few hours.
• Sudden blurred vision while wearing lenses.
• Discharge or excessive tearing.
• A sensation of something stuck in your eye after removal.
• New light sensitivity that was not present before.

Any of these symptoms may signal an infection, a damaged lens, or a corneal issue. Do not hesitate to seek assistance and avoid assuming the problem will resolve itself. Early intervention can prevent genuinely serious complications.

Frequently Asked Questions About Contact Lenses

How long does it typically take to adjust to wearing contact lenses?

Most new wearers adjust to inserting and removing their lenses within a week. Physical comfort—meaning not feeling the lens in your eye—usually settles within the first two to three days. If you continue to have difficulty with insertion after two weeks, book a follow-up appointment. Sometimes, a different lens material or a handling tool can significantly improve your experience.

Is it safe to sleep while wearing contact lenses?

No, unless they are specifically prescribed for overnight use. Regular daily and monthly lenses are designed for daytime wear only. Sleeping in standard lenses limits oxygen flow to your cornea and significantly increases the risk of infection. If you need to wear lenses overnight, discuss with your optometrist about specially designed extended wear lenses.

What should I do if a contact lens feels stuck in my eye?

It’s impossible for a lens to slip behind your eye; it typically moves to the side or folds up. Wash your hands, apply a few drops of preservative-free lubricant, and gently massage your closed eyelid until the lens shifts back to the centre for removal. If it doesn’t come out after 10 to 15 minutes, stop trying and contact your optometrist.

Can I wear contact lenses if I have dry eyes?

Often, yes, but the choice of lens is far more critical for individuals with dry eyes compared to those without. Daily disposables with high water content tend to provide greater comfort for dry eye patients than older monthly materials. Implementing a dry eye management routine (heat therapy, lid hygiene, supplements) can enhance comfort while wearing lenses. Your optometrist will select the right lens based on your tear film during your fitting.

What are the typical costs of contact lenses in Australia?

Prices vary based on the brand, lens technology, and whether you’re purchasing 30 or 90 packs. Daily disposables fall into one pricing category, while monthlies belong to another, and specialty lenses (such as toric for astigmatism or multifocal for presbyopia) tend to be pricier due to their complex optics. Current pricing for each type can be found on its product page. We also offer discounted rates for ongoing subscriptions, so be sure to inquire during your fitting.

Do I need to consult an optometrist to purchase contact lenses?

Yes. In Australia, contact lenses are classified as medical devices and require a valid prescription from a registered optometrist or ophthalmologist. Even if you have worn lenses for years, your prescription must be current. We assess the fit, corneal health, and prescription accuracy during each review.

When This Guide May Not Be Applicable to You

• If you are under 16 years old — fitting contact lenses for children requires a separate conversation with parents or guardians. Please schedule a consultation.
• If you have not had a recent eye exam — obtain your prescription and corneal health check first. Lenses should come after, not before.
• If you wish to wear cosmetic lenses without a prescription. Avoid purchasing unregulated lenses online — this is illegal in Australia and can lead to serious corneal injury.

Are You Prepared to Begin Your Contact Lens Journey?

Book your contact lens fitting at our Central Coast practice, and we will assist you in finding the ideal lens tailored to your eyes, prescription, and lifestyle. You will leave your fitting feeling confident in your ability to insert, remove, and care for your lenses.

Discover Contact Lenses at Eyes By Design · Schedule Your Contact Lens Fitting Today