Please read all of the instructions carefully

  • Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing your lenses.
  • Take care not to catch the lens or your eye with your fingernails – keep them short.
  • Work over a clean, flat surface.
  • Use saline solution to rinse your lenses and case – do NOT rinse with tap water as this can cause eye infections.
  • To minimise the possibility of mixing your lenses up, it is a good idea to get into the habit of always inserting and removing the same lens first.
  • Do not shower / bathe / swim in your lenses.
  • Do not sleep in your contact lenses unless you have been advised to by your contact lens practitioner.

Lens removal

When removing your lenses, you should follow the same routine each time to prevent mixing up your lenses;

  1. Keep your chin down and look upwards.
  2. Pull your lower lid down gently with your middle finger. Slide your contact lens down onto the white of your eye with the index finger of the same hand.
  3. To remove the lens, keep the index finger on the lens and gently pinch the front surface with your thumb and index finger (never with your nails).
  4. If the contact lens is a daily disposable lens, you should throw it away as soon as you have removed it from your eye.
  5. If it is not a daily disposable lens, you must clean it before it is put into the storage case in order to remove the microbes and deposits that have built up on the lens during the day.

Lens insertion

  1. Remove the lens from the storage case and ensure it is not damaged, particularly checking the edges for any damage.
  2. The lenses may be rinsed with sterile saline or the soft contact lens solution recommended by the contact lens clinic before inserting them into your eyes.
  3. Ensure the lens is not inside out; when it is the correct way round, the lens is shaped like a cup but if it is inside out, it is shaped like a saucer, with the edges facing out.
  4. Place the contact lens onto the tip of your index finger of your dominant hand.
  5. Pull the lower lid down with the middle finger (of the same hand).
  6. Draw the upper eyelid up with the fingers of the other hand.
  7. While firmly holding the eyelids, gently place the lens on the eye.
  8. Try to keep both eyes open when inserting your lenses and try not to blink.
  9. When the lens is on your eye, close your eyes slowly and blink several times.
  10. Discard the solution from your case, rinse the case with saline solution or the contact lens solution recommended by the contact lens clinic and leave the case to air dry

You may have been advised to use a different method to insert and remove your lenses – if so, please follow the instructions from the clinic.

Lens cleaning

Always use the care system recommended to you in the clinic.

  1. Place the lens into the palm of your hand and put two or three drops of the cleaning solution onto the lens.
  1. Rub the lens gently but firmly with the little finger of your other hand for approximately thirty seconds.
  1. After rubbing the lens, it is essential to rinse it with saline solution or solution advised by the contact lens practitioner in order to remove the loosened debris and any remaining cleaner; rinse the cleaning solution off the lens by rubbing the lens between your thumb and forefinger.
  1. Fill the storage case with fresh solution as advised by the contact lens clinic and place the lens into the correct side of the storage case – this soaking solution must be changed on a daily basis.
  1. Leave your contact lenses to soak overnight in the closed case or for a minimum of four hours.

You may have been advised a slightly modified cleaning regime by your contact lens practitioner –if so, please follow these instructions.

Contact lens case hygiene

  • Eye infections can occur due to poor lens case cleaning.
  • On insertion of your lenses you must discard the solution from your case, rinse the case with saline solution or solution advised by the contact lens clinic and leave to air dry.
  • The contact lens case should be replaced with a new one every month.

 Remember, a contact lens cannot go behind the eye. If you cannot relocate the lens, seek the advice of a member of the contact lens clinic, local contact lens practitioner or other medical assistance.

If you wear make-up, you should insert the lenses before putting your make-up on and remove the lenses before taking your make-up off.

It is vital that you attend your contact lens and eye exam appointments to maintain the health of your eyes.

Wearing time

On day one, wear you lens(es) for ______ hour(s).

Build up the wearing time by an extra _______ hour(s) a day to a maximum of ______ hours before your next appointment.

Please attend you aftercare appointment wearing your contact lens(es) unless there is a problem.

Contact details

If you have any queries about the care of your contact lenses, please contact the contact lens clinic:

Phone: 01228 814727.  Please ask for the Optometrist or leave a message with the nurse with your name and contact number and we’ll call you back ASAP.

(Monday–Friday, 9.00am–5.00pm)

If you need a replacement lens ordered you can phone on the above number or email on;

Contact.lens@ncic.nhs.uk

Please note that if you pay for your lens, payment will need to be received before a lens can be ordered.

When to seek advice

If you experience pain, redness or loss of vision, you should seek medical attention. You can contact the contact lens clinic on, or alternatively seek advice from your own Optometrist or GP.

For urgent care please visit your local A&E service.

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302