How to put on and take off contact lenses with long nails
Just like with makeup or hair styling, long nails can be a fun, creative way to express yourself. From intricate nail art to simple french tips, the options are endless. But with the added risk of poking or scratching your eye, learning to handle contact lenses when you have long nails can be intimidating. We’ll go over how to put on and remove contacts with long nails, step by step, and provide some helpful tips along the way.
Before you handle your contacts
Get used to your long nails
If you’re new to long nails, take some time to familiarize yourself with them before attempting to put contacts on so that you don’t accidently injure or scratch your face or eyes.
Make sure your hands and nails are clean
Long nails can harbor germs if you don’t take care of them properly. To reduce the risk of eye infection, it’s essential that your hands—and nails—are clean before and during lens handling. Wash them thoroughly with mild soap and dry them with a lint-free towel.
Consider keeping some nails short
While people usually decide to sport long nails on all their fingers, keeping the index finger and thumb nail of your dominant hand shorter than the rest can help make it easier to put on and take off your contacts.
Use a clean, flat surface
Long fingernails can make handling contact lenses tricky, which can lead to dropped lenses. Putting on and removing your contacts over a clean, flat surface can help you find your lens if you do happen to drop it. A small sink is not an ideal space because lenses may fall into the sink and/or get tap water on them, which can contaminate or damage the lens.
Putting on lenses with long nails
1. Use the pads of your fingers
While it may be tempting to grab the lens with your nails, it’s better to use the pads of your fingers. Your nails can damage the lenses, and your finger pads give you more control and sensitivity, which is essential for gently handling the delicate lens.
2. Check the lens
With the lens resting on the pad of your index finger, make sure the “bowl” of the lens is facing up and the lens is not damaged.
3. Hold your eye open and place the lens
Using a mirror to help you see what you’re doing, use your non-dominant hand to gently pull down on your lower eyelid and up on your upper eyelid. Being careful to make sure your nails aren’t pointed towards your eye, place the lens onto your eyeball with your dominant hand.
4. Blink
Once the lens is in place, blink a few times and make sure it feels normal. If there’s any discomfort, remove the lens and start over. Be sure to throw out the lens if there’s any sign of damage.
Taking off lenses with long nails
Push the lens down
For this technique, think of it as the reverse of putting your lens in. You’ll hold your eyelids open in the same way, and with the pad of your index finger, slide the lend down towards your bottom eyelid until the lens comes loose.
Gently pinch the lens
With this technique, you’ll use your non-dominant hand to hold your eyelids open. With your dominant hand, use the pads of your thumb and index finger to gently pinch the lens and pull it off your eye. Make sure your nails don’t come too close, as they can scratch your eyes or damage your lenses.
Practice and talk to your eye doctor about your questions
Handling contact lenses with long nails may take a bit of practice, but it’s entirely possible with the right techniques. By being mindful of how you handle your lenses, you can maintain both your gorgeous nails and your clear vision with ease. The key to success is patience and consistency. With time, you’ll be putting on and removing your contacts like a pro—all while sporting fabulous looking nails.
Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.
Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.
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