How to Remove Contact Lenses

Medically reviewed by Shaune Wallace, OD

Last Updated: October 2, 2021 References Approved

You've finally mastered putting in your contact lenses, but taking them out might be just as difficult, if not more so. Once you've removed them, it is also important to clean and store contacts properly to prevent infection. Knowing the correct process will allow you to remove your contact lenses quickly and safely.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:
Removing Your Contact Lenses

1
Wash your hands. Harmful pathogens can enter the eye via the lenses and cause eye infection or conjunctivitis.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source} Use antibacterial soap and warm water to wash your hands. Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel.
- Keeping good hand hygiene regimen not only protects your contacts from harmful pathogens, but also your eyes in general.
2
Add drops of saline to each eye. This will hydrate and lubricate eyes as well as your contacts, making them easier to remove.^{[3]
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Research source} Ensure that you use a sterile saline solution.
3
Use a mirror. Plenty of good lighting and a mirror will help initially until you get used to the process of removing your contact lenses.
4
Start with the same eye each time. Your contacts are not the same or interchangeable, so you don’t want to mix up the two lenses. By starting with the same eye each time, you’ll have less opportunity to mix them up by accident.^{[4]
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5
Hold your eyelids open. Look up, and with your non-dominant hand, use your index finger to lift your top eyelid and eyelashes up and away from your eye. Then with your dominant hand, use your middle finger to pull your lower eyelid down and away from your eye.^{[5]
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Research source}^{[6]
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Research source} Make sure you keep your eyelashes out of your eyes.
6
Use your index finger and thumb to grip the lens. Without letting go of your eyelids, use the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand to grip the lens. Use the pads of your fingers to squeeze the lens gently (without folding or creasing the lens).^{[7]
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7
Remove the lens. The gentle squeeze should remove the lens from the surface of your eye. From there, pull the lens down and away to remove it completely from your eye.^{[9]
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Research source} Be careful with the pressure, so you don’t accidentally fold or tear the lens.
8
Place the lens in your other palm. Rather than trying to flip the lens over, you’ll have an easier time simply placing it on the palm of your opposite hand.^{[11]
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Research source} This will also make it easier to clean the lens since you’ll want to use your dominant hand to do so.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:
Cleaning and Storing Your Contacts

1
Clean your lens case before using it. You should clean your storage case for your contact lenses each day before placing them back in the case. Use a sterile solution or hot water to clean the case and allow it to air dry before replacing your contacts.^{[12]
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- Let the case air dry upside down with the lids off.^{[13]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
- You may find it easier to clean the case when after you put your contact lenses in your eyes since this will provide plenty of time for it to dry.
- Replace your case for your contact lenses every three months.^{[14]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Optometric Association
  Professional medical organization dedicated to supporting optometrists and improving public eye and vision health
  Go to source}
2
Put new, clean solution in the case. Before you even remove your contact lenses, you may find it helpful to fill the case halfway with new, clean solution. This will make it easier to transfer the lenses directly into the solution rather than trying to fill the case with a lens still in the palm of your hand.
- Never reuse old solution.^{[15]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Optometric Association
  Professional medical organization dedicated to supporting optometrists and improving public eye and vision health
  Go to source}
- Make sure you use sterile solution and not saline solution. While saline will keep lenses hydrated, you can’t properly disinfect them without the right solution. Always use your eye-care professional’s suggested solution for your type of contact lenses.^{[16]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Optometric Association
  Professional medical organization dedicated to supporting optometrists and improving public eye and vision health
  Go to source}
3
Clean the lens. With the lens in the palm of your clean hand, wet the lens using the correct solution for your type of contact lenses (as suggested by your eye-care professional). Then softly use the pad of your finger to rub the solution thoroughly along the lens. This helps remove any buildup or microbes on the lens more than simply soaking it in the solution alone.^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- To avoid damaging or scratching the lens with your fingernail, start at the middle and rub to the outer edge, using gentle pressure.^{[18]
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- Remember to get both sides.
- You should thoroughly clean your contact lenses daily to reduce the risk of eye infections or other contact-related complications.^{[19]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
4
Place the contact in the case. Rubbing the lens can help breakdown any buildup, but you should use a little more disinfecting solution afterward to help wash it away. Then you can gently place the clean lens into the fresh, clean solution that you already have waiting in the case. Make sure you place it on the side for the corresponding eye.
- You may need to place more solution in the case after you place the contact lens inside. Make sure the case has enough solution to completely cover the lens.
5
Repeat the process for your other eye. To avoid potentially mixing up your contact lenses, you may find it easier to do the process from beginning to end with one eye at a time. In this case, repeat the process for the opposite eye.
6
Leave your contacts in the solution as directed. To ensure that your contact lenses are completely disinfected, they must sit in the solution for the amount of time indicated on the product. For most solutions, this will be at least four to six hours, so overnight is sufficient.^{[20]
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Trustworthy Source
American Optometric Association
Professional medical organization dedicated to supporting optometrists and improving public eye and vision health
Go to source}
- This also gives your eyes time to rest and helps to avoid eye strain.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Can you use solution in the eye while the contact is still in ?

Shaune Wallace, OD
Doctor of Optometry, Southern California College of Optometry
Dr. Wallace is an Optometrist in Nevada with over 14 years of optometry experience. He received his OD from the Southern California College of Optometry in 2006 and is a member of the American Optometric Association.

Shaune Wallace, OD

Doctor of Optometry, Southern California College of Optometry

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Soft contact lens solution can be ok to use in your eye. Use caution however — rigid contact lens solution and hydrogen peroxide cleaning solutions should never be used in the eye. Be aware and follow all warnings on the bottle's label.

Warnings

Read any directions that come with contact solutions, eye drops, or protein cleaners. Their uses vary and can be harmful if used incorrectly.

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Helpful 37 Not Helpful 9
If you use hard lenses, be very careful they don't slide to the bottom of the eye. This is equally important with soft contacts, but it is less painful than hard ones.

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Always replace your contacts as directed by your eye-care professional.

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Always remove your contacts prior to sleeping unless you are prescribed extended-wear contacts by your doctor. Sleeping with your contacts in can lead to a variety of complications.

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If your contact ever feels lodged somewhere in your eye, use a sterile saline solution to flush your eye. If you still cannot remove the lens, seek medical assistance.^{[21]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Optometric Association
Professional medical organization dedicated to supporting optometrists and improving public eye and vision health
Go to source}

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Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Do not reuse solution.^{[22]
X
Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

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Never use plain water or your saliva to clean your contacts.^{[23]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

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If you have disposables, make sure to throw them out when you are done.

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