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Wearing contact lenses: your essential guide

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Everything you need to know about safe, comfortable contact lens wear. Backed by expert advice and trusted by thousands of UK wearers, this guide covers everyday care, lifestyle tips and how to keep your eyes healthy.

Daily contact lenses are worn once and thrown away at the end of the day, which makes them the easiest starting point for most new wearers. Monthly contact lenses work out cheaper per wear but need consistent cleaning and storage every night.

How to put in your contacts

Getting a lens in cleanly is mostly about technique, and it gets easier fast. Wash and dry your hands first, then use your index or middle finger to place the lens on your eye. Our step by step guide to putting in contact lenses walks you through it.

How to take out your contacts

Removing a lens should never involve force or scratching at your eye. Look up, pull your lower lid down gently and pinch the lens away with clean, dry fingers. Read how to remove contact lenses safely if a lens is being stubborn.

Switching from monthlies to dailies

Plenty of wearers move from monthly contacts to daily disposables and never look back. The appeal is simple, with no solution to buy, no case to clean and a fresh pair every morning. Find out what to expect when switching from monthlies to dailies.

Contacts or glasses?

Most wearers end up using both, choosing whichever suits the day ahead. Contacts give you a full field of vision and stay put during exercise, while glasses need no handling at all. Our comparison of contact lenses and glasses weighs up cost, comfort and convenience.

Cleaning your contact lens case

Your case needs as much attention as the contacts inside it, because bacteria build up in the wells. Rinse it with fresh solution rather than water, then leave it open to air dry every day. Our guide on how to clean your contact lens case covers when to replace it too.

Do contacts expire?

Every blister pack carries an expiry date, and it is there for a reason. Past that date the sterile seal and the saline inside can no longer be relied on, which raises your risk of irritation and infection. Find out why contact lenses expire and what to do with an out of date pack.

Frequently asked questions

This depends on the lens type and your eye doctor's recommendation. Daily wear lenses are usually worn for 8 to 16 hours, while extended wear lenses can be worn overnight in specific cases. Always follow the schedule set by your optometrist. 

Yes, but you may need specialist lenses or to use lubricating eye drops. Daily disposable soft contact lenses are often a good choice for dry eye sufferers. 

This depends on the type of contact lenses you wear and your eye health needs. Multipurpose solutions are convenient for most soft lenses, while hydrogen peroxide based solutions offer deep cleaning. Speak to your eye care professional to find the best match. 

Stick to proper lens care, avoid using tap water, never sleep in lenses unless advised, and always wash your hands before handling lenses. Regular check ups with your optician are also key. 

No. Water increases the risk of serious eye infections like Acanthamoeba keratitis. Always remove contact lenses before entering a pool, shower, or hot tub. 

Visit our Eye Care Centre for more expert guidance, and browse the blog for lifestyle tips and advice from the Vision Direct team.

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