Troubleshooting Soft Contact Lenses
 

A lens flattens on your finger prior to insertion.
Solution: The lens or your finger may be too wet. Shake the lens once or twice and blot your finger. A very wet lens is difficult to handle. If your finger is too wet, the lens will stick to your finger instead of the eye.

A lens flattens on your finger during insertion.
Solution: The lens is hitting your eyelashes or eyelid upon insertion of your lens. You must open your eye wider and/or take better aim. Occasionally flattening of the lens can occur if you press on you eye too hard while inserting your lens.

After insertion, a centered lens still causes discomfort.
Solution: Possibly dust, mucus or makeup is under the lens. Gently touch the lens with your index finger and slide it slowly away from the center of your eye onto the white portion of your eye and then back again onto the center. If the lens is still uncomfortable, remove it, clean and rinse it thoroughly, check to see if it is inside-out and re-insert your lens. If a lens is routinely uncomfortable, do not wear your lens and call your Doctor for additional recommendations.

A lens was left out of solution and it has dried out.
Solution: Lenses are not necessarily destroyed if they should accidentally dry out and become hard. To re-hydrate ( or re-soften) a dry lens, carefully place it in fresh saline for at least four hours and then disinfect as recommended before wearing. Before insertion, check your lens for defects.

After insertion, your lens burns or stings your eye.
Solution: Your lens should be removed and rinsed thoroughly to remove any residue or debris. Also, if you are using an unfamiliar solution, its pH might not coordinate with your eye's pH. Always use recommended and familiar care products. If your eye continues to burn, remove your lenses and call your optometrist for recommendations.

After some hours of wear, your lenses remain uncomfortable.
Solution: Remove each lens, rinse with saline in a clean hand. Re-insert your lenses. Apply a soft lens rewetting drop if needed. If discomfort continues, discontinue wear for the day. Thoroughly clean, rinse and disinfect as recommended. If your eyes are comfortable, wear your lenses. If you cannot maintain a satisfactory wearing schedule, contact your optometrist for further recommendations.

Your eyes are typically red and excessively irritated.
Solution: Do not wear your contacts if you suspect eye infection. Make sure you are rinsing your lenses thoroughly and following all disinfection procedures properly. A special eyelid scrub procedure might be necessary if you are not producing adequate tear chemistry. Do not wear your lenses if these symptoms continue. Contact your optometrist for further recommendations.

Continued blurry vision or light sensitivity may indicate a problem caused by:
● A dirty or damaged lens. 
● Lenses in the wrong eye. 
● Eye (corneal) abrasion. 
● Eye infection. 
● Need for prescription change.

Always feel comfortable in contacting your Doctor if you experience problems or if you should have any concerns.