Removing disposable contact lenses is a standard process that involves careful handling to ensure eye safety and comfort. Once removed, the key difference with disposable lenses, especially daily disposables, is what you do with them next.
To remove disposable lenses safely and effectively, you typically follow a few simple steps. Unlike other types of contact lenses, daily disposables are designed to be discarded after a single use.
How to Remove Disposable Lenses: Step-by-Step Guide
Removing your contact lenses should always be done with clean hands to avoid transferring germs to your eyes. The process itself is straightforward.
Preparation: Clean Hands are Key
Always start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water and drying them with a lint-free towel before touching your eyes or lenses.
Removal Techniques (General)
There are a couple of common methods for removing soft contact lenses:
- The Pinch Method:
- Look straight ahead or slightly up.
- Using the pad of your index finger and thumb, gently pinch the lens away from your eye.
- The lens should fold slightly, allowing you to lift it off your eye.
- The Slide and Pinch Method:
- Look sideways (e.g., to your right for the right eye).
- Using your index finger, gently slide the lens from the cornea (the colored part) onto the white of your eye.
- Once the lens is on the white part, gently pinch it off your eye with your index finger and thumb.
Repeat the process for the other eye.
What to Do With Disposable Lenses After Removal
This is where disposable lenses differ significantly from other types. Based on information regarding lenses like DAILIES TOTAL1® contact lenses, which are designed as daily disposables:
And because dailies total one contact lenses are daily disposable lenses there's no cleaning and disinfecting. Simply discard them at the end of the day.
This means once you have safely removed your daily disposable lenses, you do not need to clean them or store them in a lens case with solution. They are meant for a single use and should be disposed of immediately after removal.
Here's a simple summary of what to do after removing daily disposable lenses:
| Lens Type | Post-Removal Action (Based on Reference) |
|---|---|
| Daily Disposable | Simply discard them at the end of the day. |
Remember to follow your eye care professional's specific instructions regarding the removal and disposal of your particular brand of disposable contact lenses.
