Putting in hard contact lenses, also known as rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, involves careful steps to ensure proper placement on the eye's cornea.
To put in hard contact lenses, the process involves carefully preparing the lens and your eye, then using your fingers to guide the lens directly onto the cornea.
Step-by-Step Guide to Inserting Hard Lenses
Inserting hard contact lenses requires clean hands and a steady approach. Based on the reference and standard practices, here is a general breakdown of the steps involved:
1. Preparation
- Wash and Dry Hands: Always start with clean, dry hands to prevent transferring dirt or oils to the lens or eye.
- Inspect the Lens: Place the lens on the tip of your index or middle finger. Ensure it is clean and free from debris, cracks, or chips. The lens should form a perfect bowl shape. If it looks like a saucer with an outward edge, it's inside out (though RGP lenses are less prone to this than soft lenses).
- Apply Saline or Rewetting Drops (Optional but Recommended): A small drop of preservative-free saline solution or recommended rewetting drops can help the lens settle comfortably on the eye. Place the drop inside the bowl of the lens.
2. Positioning and Insertion
This is where the technique described in the reference comes into play.
- Position Your Fingers: Use one hand to hold your upper eyelid open, pulling it up firmly against the brow bone. Use your other hand to pull your lower eyelid down. This helps to prevent the lens from getting caught on the lashes or lid edge. The reference highlights this step, mentioning the need to "prevent the lens from getting in the eye" initially, likely referring to securing the lids away from the lens path.
- Hold the Lens: Hold the lens on the tip of your middle finger (as specifically mentioned in the reference: "You use the middle finger of your. The hand that's got the lens on..."). Some people prefer using the index finger, but the middle finger is a common technique, allowing other fingers to potentially assist with lid control if needed.
- Look Straight Ahead: Look directly into a mirror or straight ahead.
- Insert the Lens: Bring the hand holding the lens straight towards your eye. Directly place the lens onto the cornea. ("...and then you just put the lens. Directly on to the cornea."). Ensure the lens makes full contact with the eye's surface.
3. Verification
- Release Lids: Slowly release your upper and lower eyelids.
- Check for Comfort and Vision: Blink gently a few times. The lens should feel centered and comfortable, and your vision should be clear. If it feels uncomfortable or vision is blurry, the lens might be decentered, or there might be debris under it.
| Step | Action | Key Point from Reference (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Clean hands, inspect lens, add drop (optional). | N/A |
| Positioning | Hold eyelids open to prevent lens from getting caught. | "prevent the lens from getting in the eye" |
| Holding Lens | Place lens on tip of middle finger. | "Use the middle finger of your. The hand..." |
| Insertion | Look straight, bring lens directly to eye. | "...put the lens. Directly on to the cornea." |
| Verification | Release lids, blink, check comfort and vision. | N/A |
Always follow the specific instructions provided by your eye care professional, as techniques can vary slightly based on the individual and the type of lens. Practice makes perfect when it comes to inserting hard lenses.
