How to Put In, Take Out and Care for Coloured Contacts

Wash and dry your hands, check the lens isn't inside out, hold your eyelids open, look up, and place the lens on the white of your eye. Then look down and blink gently. To remove, look up, slide the lens down onto the white of your eye and pinch it out. Most people get the hang of it after a few tries.

Before you start

  • Wash your hands with soap and dry them with a lint-free towel.
  • Have fresh contact lens solution and a clean lens case ready. Our Care Pack has both for $5.
  • Short nails make it much easier.
  • Do it over a clean table or a closed sink, so you don't lose a lens down the drain.

How to put in a coloured contact lens

  1. Check it's the right way out. Place the lens on your fingertip. It should look like a bowl with straight edges. If the edges flare out like a saucer, it's inside out.
  2. Hold your eyelids open. Use the middle finger of your other hand to lift your upper lid, and the middle finger of the lens hand to pull down your lower lid.
  3. Look up and place the lens gently on the white of your eye, below the iris.
  4. Look down, then close your eye slowly. The lens will centre itself. Blink gently a few times.
  5. Check the fit in a mirror. If it feels scratchy, take it out, rinse it with solution (never tap water) and try again.

How to take out a contact lens

  1. Wash and dry your hands.
  2. Look up and pull down your lower lid.
  3. With your index finger, slide the lens down onto the white of your eye.
  4. Gently pinch it between your thumb and index finger and lift it out.

How to care for reusable lenses

  • After each wear, rub the lens gently with fresh solution, rinse it, and store it in a clean case filled with fresh solution.
  • Never reuse old solution or use tap water.
  • Replace your lens case regularly.
  • Stop using lenses once they reach their replacement date: 3 months or 12 months from opening, depending on the lens.
  • One Day lenses are single use. Throw them away after wearing.

When to stop and get help

Take your lenses out straight away if your eyes become red, painful, watery or sensitive to light, or if your vision changes. If it doesn't settle quickly, see an optometrist or doctor. Never sleep in lenses, and never share them.

Read our full Wear, Care and Safety guide and FAQ.

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