NEW WEARER GUIDE

Tips for first-time contact lens wearers

ACUVUE
Smiling bearded young man in blue denim button down shirt
Jump to:
Young person leaping on a blue background, dressed in jeans and a grey hoody

Welcome to contact lenses! Enjoy the view.

Congratulations on your new contact lenses, and your new look. Putting on and taking off your contact lenses is easier than you might think. It may take a little getting used to, but soon you'll discover your own way and be doing it without a second thought. If you are wearing contact lenses for the first time, remember: Practice makes perfect.

woman inserting a contact lens
Put On Contact Lenses

HOW TO PUT ON YOUR CONTACT LENSES IN FOUR EASY STEPS

Follow along with this quick tutorial to see how to put your lenses on easily and safely.
An illustration of washing your hands

Wash And Dry Your Hands

Before you begin, wash your hands with soap (preferably an unscented, antibacterial liquid soap), then rinse and dry your hands with a lint-free towel.

It’s a good idea to always put on your contact lenses in the same order, e.g. with your right eye first. This way, you won’t get your lenses mixed up.

An illustration showing that when a contact lens is inside out, the edges flair out; and otherwise

Check If The Lens Is Reversed

To do this, just put the lens on the tip of your finger and hold it up to the light. If the edges flare out, it's inside out. If it looks like a smooth-edged cup, it’s ready to go.

Most ACUVUE® Contact Lenses also have a 123 indicator, so you can easily tell when they are inside out. If the numbers are the right way around, so is the lens.

An illustration of lowering the bottom eyelid and lifting the upper eyelid in preparation of inserting a contact lens.

Open Your Eye

With your free hand, gently hold your upper eyelid so you don’t blink. With the lens on your finger tip, use the other fingers of your applying hand to pull down your lower eyelid.

An illustration showing the placing of a contact lens in an eye

Place The Lens On Your Eye

Keep your hand steady and look upwards as you place the lens on your eye, then slowly release your eyelid and close your eye for a moment to allow the lens to settle. Repeat for your other eye.

removing a contact lens
Take Off Contact Lenses

See an easy way to take off contact lenses

Follow along with this quick tutorial to see how to take your lenses off.
An illustration of washing your hands

Wash And Dry Your Hands

Make sure your hands are clean and dry. Start with your right eye to avoid mixing your contact lenses. Look up and carefully pull your lower eyelid down with your middle finger.

An illustration showing a finger pulling down on a contact lens in order to remove it from an eye

Slide The Lens Down

Slowly bring your index finger close to your eye until it touches the bottom edge of the lens. Drag the lens to the white part under your eye.

An illustration shown the squeezing of a contact lens to remove it from an eye

Gently Press And Remove

Gently squeeze the lens between your thumb and index finger and remove it. Repeat for your left lens.

An illustration showing the application of contact lens solution to a contact lens in the palm of a hand

Disinfect Or Discard

After removing the lenses, discard daily disposable lenses, or clean and disinfect reusable lenses.

Note: Never rinse your contact lenses or lens case with tap water.

Frequently asked questions

How long will it take for me to adapt to contact lenses?

This varies for everyone. If you feel like it is taking too long, and you’re having problems with comfort, vision, or handling the lenses, then the best thing to do is to speak to your Eye Care Professional.

Should the contact lenses move around after I put them on?

With proper fitting, your lenses should stay in place almost all the time. It is not possible for a contact lens to get lost or stuck behind your eye, as the eye has a protective barrier that covers the front of the eye and loops under the upper and lower lids to prevent anything from moving behind it. The contact lens can only stay on the front of the eye, or under your eyelid, if displaced.

Is it okay if my vision is still blurry after putting on my contact lenses?

Blurry vision could be caused by a lot of things but it could also be a sign of a more serious problem unrelated to your lenses. You should always talk to your Eye Care Professional about any issues you are having with your vision or your contact lenses.

Once you've got the basics down

Learn about what helps keep your eyes and contact lenses safe and comfortable for the long-term.

Touching a contact lens in the palm of left hand

Learn to clean your reusable contact lenses

See the best ways to keep your reusable contact lenses clean so your eyes stay healthy.

A woman doing a plank in the gym

See tips for healthy eyes

Find out how to protect your eyes and reduce your risk for serious eye conditions.

Get started with ACUVUE® contact lenses

Find an Eye Care Professional near you

Let an Eye Care Professional help find the right ACUVUE® contact lenses for you.

Footnotes

#All ACUVUE® contact lenses have UV Blocking to help provide protection against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye. UV absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV absorbing eyewear such as UV absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV absorbing eyewear as directed by your eye care professional.

Important information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE® Contact Lenses can be used 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 instructions on proper lens care. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, any eye disease or systemic disease, that may affect the eye, or if you are allergic to any ingredients. If you experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems, remove the lens and contact your Eye Care Professional immediately. For more information, including warnings and precautions, carefully read the Instructions for Use available on the Johnson & Johnson website.

PP2023AMB5867

ACUVUE
© Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd. 2024. All rights reserved. This site is published by Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd., which is solely responsible for its content. It is intended for use by residents of South Africa.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care is part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd. ACUVUE®, 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST Brand Contact Lenses with LACREON® Technology, 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM, ACUVUE OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology, ACUVUE OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd.
Last updated 19/02/2024.