Tips for overcoming contact lens anxiety

It’s very normal to feel anxious when you’re trying out contact lenses for the first time. Fortunately, with a bit of patience and practice, you can rise above it and enjoy the freedom and clear vision they provide.

Medically reviewed on August 11, 2025

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Published on November 12, 2025

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5 min read

To face your fear, understand what you’re afraid of

There are a number of reasons you could feel anxiety around wearing contact lenses. Perhaps you’ve heard myths about contact lenses, like how they can get “lost behind your eye” (they can’t). Maybe you have a friend that got an eye infection from poor contact lens hygiene and you don’t want that to happen to you. Or maybe you simply don’t like the idea of touching your eye. All of these are normal reasons to be anxious about wearing contact lenses, but for each and every one of them, there are things you can do to help ease your mind and feel comfortable. Start by sitting with your anxiety and trying to identify what it is you’re most anxious about.

For anxiety around putting lenses on, go slowly and practice

Fear and anxiety often get better when we face them—gradually. This approach taps into what’s called “exposure therapy,” which is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy where you slowly expose yourself to something you fear in a safe, controlled environment to get your body used to the experience. To try it, work with each step below until you’re comfortable and then move on to the next one. Remember: be patient with yourself.

Steps for getting comfortable touching around your eye

Step 1: Thoroughly wash and dry your hands.
Step 2: Use your fingers to gently touch around your eyelids and eyelashes. This can help you overcome the blink reflex.
Step 3: Practice opening and closing your eyelids with your fingers without applying any lenses.
Step 4: Practice holding your eyelids open.
Step 5: Practice holding your eyelids open and then bringing a finger towards your eyeball (without actually touching it).

When you feel ready, bring in the contact lenses

As you begin to practice putting on your contact lenses, remember that it’s normal to struggle at first. You may drop your lenses, have trouble getting them to settle on your eye, or blink too much. All of these things can be overcome with practice.

Set aside a quiet time to practice handling your contacts. Before touching them, always wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
Give yourself plenty of time to put your lenses on. Try not to rush in an attempt to put them in before you leave for work or school, or give yourself a “cut-off time,” that way you won’t feel rushed if you can’t get it to work right away.
Remember that putting on contacts is a skill. It takes hand-eye coordination, and it takes time for the muscle memory to kick in.

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Ease eye health worries with good lens hygiene

If you’re nervous about getting an eye infection or injuring your eye, there are some simple things you can do to help decrease the chance of things like that happening.

Always follow the care instructions provided by your eye doctor
Always wash your hands thoroughly with a mild soap and dry them completely with a lint-free towel before handling your lenses
Never sleep with your contact lenses on unless you’re prescribed overnight lenses by your eye doctor
Always take off your contact lenses before swimming or getting in the shower
Never wear your lenses for longer than they’re supposed to be worn, or wear expired lenses
Never clean your lenses with water, saline, or saliva.
Only use fresh contact lens solution to clean and store your lenses

Fight fiction with fact

If myths are what fuel your anxiety, take the power away by getting informed on what’s true and what’s not when it comes to contact lenses. For example, a contact lens cannot go behind your eye or get stuck to your eye.

See common myths

What’s next

Ask your eye doctor for help

Helping patients work through challenges with their contact lenses is part of the job description for those that work at the eye doctor’s office. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them for help at any stage. They can help provide strategies or techniques tailored to you.

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Questions about your contact lenses? We’re here to assist.

Chat with a contact lens specialist, watch helpful how-to videos, browse FAQs, and more.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How do I get over my fear of touching my eye?

Practice gentle touches around your eye without lenses. Gradually get comfortable with having your fingers near your eyeball, and have patience with yourself.

What if I’m worried about hurting myself?

Your eye care professional can show you the correct techniques to reduce the risk of injury. Practice these techniques, go slowly, and be patient.

What is the fear of eyes called?

The fear of eyes is called ommetaphobia, and it’s usually characterized by a person feeling fear or stress when seeing or thinking about eyes. This may lead to avoiding eye contact, avoiding situations involving eyes and physical symptoms like sweating and trembling.

Is it okay to practice handling my lenses?

Yes, if you’re uncomfortable handling your contact lenses, you can practice, but be sure to wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling them. If they’re disposable, throw it out if you aren’t going to put them on. If they’re reusable, make sure to clean and store them when you’re done practicing.