Nightly Contact Lens Removal and Storage

Clean hands are your first defense against eye infections. Wash with plain soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing between your fingers and under your nails. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue. Use oil-free, fragrance-free soap and avoid lotions before handling lenses.

Dry your hands with a clean, lint-free towel. Paper towels work well because they do not leave fibers behind. If you must handle lenses near a sink, cover or plug the drain. Avoid using hand sanitizer alone, as it does not remove oils and debris that can transfer to your lenses.

Look up and use your non-dominant hand to hold your upper eyelid open. With your dominant hand, place your index finger on the lower edge of the lens and slide it down slightly onto the white of your eye. Gently pinch the lens between your thumb and index finger and lift it away from your eye.

• Keep your fingernails trimmed short to avoid scratching your cornea
• Move slowly and gently to prevent tearing the lens
• If the lens folds, let it unfold in your palm before storing
• Repeat the same careful process for your other eye

RGP lenses require a different technique than soft lenses. Place one finger at the outer corner of your eye and pull your eyelid slightly toward your ear while blinking. The lens should pop out onto your other hand or a clean towel placed below your face.

Some people use a small suction cup tool designed for RGP removal. We can show you how to use this device safely during your fitting appointment if you find the blink method difficult. Perform removal over a clean towel or with the sink drain plugged to avoid losing the lens. If you use a suction cup remover, clean it with mild soap and water after use and allow it to air dry.

Never force a lens off your eye. First, apply several drops of preservative-free rewetting drops or saline solution to lubricate your eye. Wait a minute, then blink several times and try gentle removal again.

• Close your eyes and gently massage your eyelid to help the lens move
• Look in different directions to shift the lens position
• Add more lubricating drops if needed
• Do not use tweezers or other tools on your eye
• Stop and call sooner if you develop pain, light sensitivity, or decreased vision
• Call our office if the lens remains stuck after 15 minutes of trying

Place each lens in your palm and inspect it under good light before putting it in the case. Look for tears, splits, or rough edges that could scratch your eye. Check that the lens is right-side out, not inverted.

Damaged lenses should be thrown away immediately and replaced with your backup pair. Never wear a torn or damaged lens, even if it seems like a small problem. We can provide replacement lenses during your next visit or through your lens supplier.

Some mild redness when you first remove your lenses is normal, especially after a long day. However, persistent redness that lasts more than 30 minutes may signal a problem. Your eyes might be reacting to solution ingredients, protein buildup, or early infection.

Consider switching to a different disinfection system, such as a hydrogen peroxide-based system, or to a multipurpose solution with a different preservative. If redness continues for more than a day or two, schedule an appointment with our office so we can check for underlying issues that require treatment.

Your vision should return to normal within a few minutes of removing your contacts. Blurriness that persists suggests corneal swelling, deposits on your lenses, or an incorrect prescription. Chronic overnight corneal swelling from poor lens hygiene can take hours to resolve each morning.

• Corneal edema from oxygen deprivation during extended wear
• Protein or lipid deposits that have built up on the lens surface
• Early signs of contact lens-related dry eye
• Changes in your vision that require a new prescription

Fresh contact lens solution should be clear and colorless. Cloudy, discolored, or stringy solution indicates contamination. This can happen if you touch the bottle tip to your hands, lenses, or case, introducing bacteria or fungi into the bottle.

Throw away contaminated solution immediately and do not use it to store your lenses. Replace your lens case and use a new, unopened bottle of solution. If you already stored lenses in contaminated solution, discard those lenses and start with a fresh pair.

• Do not share solution bottles
• Discard any bottle that is past the manufacturer's discard-after-opening date
• If the bottle tip touches your fingers, lenses, eye, or case, treat it as contaminated and replace the bottle

A cloudy film or white spots on your lenses comes from protein deposits that build up from your tears. Regular cleaning usually prevents this, but some people produce more protein than others. Deposits make your lenses uncomfortable and can harbor bacteria.

• Increase your rubbing and rinsing time when cleaning lenses
• Consider enzyme tablets for weekly deep cleaning if appropriate for your lens type, but do not use enzymatic cleaners with daily disposable lenses
• Replace your lenses more frequently than the maximum wearing schedule
• Ask us about lens materials that resist protein buildup
• Consider switching to daily disposable lenses if deposits recur despite proper cleaning

During your regular contact lens checkup, we examine your cornea, conjunctiva, and eyelids for signs of problems. We look for tiny blood vessels growing into the cornea, areas of thinning or scarring, and inflammation that suggests poor lens care.

We also inspect your contact lenses under magnification to assess deposits, damage, and fit. Bringing your current lenses and your lens case to appointments helps us identify storage problems. These exams catch issues early, before they threaten your vision or ability to wear contacts.

No, never rinse or store your contact lenses in tap water. Even clean-looking tap water contains microorganisms like Acanthamoeba that can cause devastating eye infections. These parasites resist normal disinfection and can lead to months of painful treatment or permanent vision loss. Always use fresh multipurpose solution or sterile saline specifically labeled for contact lenses.

We strongly advise against sleeping in contact lenses unless they are specifically FDA-approved for overnight wear. Even one night increases your risk of corneal swelling, infection, and oxygen deprivation. If you accidentally fall asleep in your lenses, remove them as soon as you wake up, let your eyes recover without lenses for several hours, and watch for any signs of irritation or redness.

Follow the labeling for your specific solution. If lenses remain stored longer than the time indicated on the bottle, repeat the full clean and disinfect cycle before wearing. Many products require re-disinfection if stored more than 24 hours to 7 days. When in doubt, discard the stored lenses and start with a fresh pair.

Never reuse solution or top off partially used solution in your case. Each time you store your lenses, empty the old solution completely and fill the case with fresh solution from the bottle. Used solution loses its disinfecting power and becomes contaminated with bacteria, proteins, and debris from your lenses. This practice is one of the leading causes of preventable contact lens infections.

Do not try to remove your lenses immediately upon waking. First, add rewetting drops or preservative-free artificial tears to rehydrate your eyes. Wait a few minutes, blink gently, and then try to remove the lenses once they have loosened. Give your eyes a rest without lenses for the rest of the day. Contact our office if you experience pain, redness, or vision changes that persist after removal.

No. Scleral and orthokeratology lenses have unique wear schedules and care systems. Follow the instructions provided by your fitter for those lenses.