Contact Lens Advice | Eye Health

Smiling woman with short brown hair wearing an orange sweater, representing friendly contact lens advice. — Getting started with contact lenses

Find out more the types of contact lenses available and some helpful top tips to get you started

Contact lenses are a popular vision correction option, offering convenience, comfort and style. Keep reading to find out more about the types of contact lenses available, how they work and how to take care of them, as well as some helpful tips to get you started.

What are contact lenses?

Contact lenses are an alternative to glasses, worn directly on the surface of the eye. They're usually made of clear, flexible, very thin silicone gel, but may be made of thin plastic, depending on the type you choose. Just like glasses, they work by refracting and refocusing the light that comes into your eyes, allowing you to see more clearly.

Who can wear contact lenses?

Contact lenses are suitable for people with a whole range of prescriptions – even children. Contact lenses are suitable for most (though not all) people who wear glasses and can correct both long and short-sightedness. They can also be suitable if you have astigmatism, an eye condition that can affect the way light enters your eye and how you see things. Contact lenses are also suitable for those who currently wear varifocal glasses. If you're considering contact lenses, your optician can advise if they're suitable for you and what type would work for your lifestyle.

Glasses or contact lenses?

Many people choose contact lenses for the freedom of not having to wear glasses all the time. Because the lenses move naturally with your eyes, they often feel more comfortable and provide a wider, more natural field of vision. They’re also a convenient choice for sports or anyone with an active lifestyle.

However, it’s important to follow proper cleaning routines and maintain good hygiene to keep your eyes healthy. Contact lenses can become uncomfortable if worn longer than recommended, and if you experience allergies or hay fever, you may find glasses more comfortable during those times. Contact lenses also shouldn’t be worn while swimming.

For these reasons, most contact lens wearers also keep a pair of glasses for times when lenses aren’t ideal.

Types of contact lenses

There are many types of contact lens available. Your optician will carefully assess your sight and eye health and recommend the most suitable type for you, based on your prescription, eye health and overall lifestyle.

Daily disposable lenses are designed to be worn once, then thrown away. Although you must always ensure your hands are completely clean when handling your lenses, daily lenses don't require any after-wear cleaning. If you wear disposable lenses you can keep your eyes healthy by:

Making sure you put them in the correct way round
Checking them for damage before putting them in
Never re-using them

Daily reusable lenses can be worn daily for periods of usually up to a month. After each wear, they're removed, rinsed and cleaned with solution, then stored in a solution as advised by your optician overnight (unless the packaging instructs you otherwise).
Extended or continuous wear lenses are designed to be worn day and night, for usually up to a month, and then discarded.
Hard or Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses are made of a firm, durable plastic that's designed to last for up to a year. The lenses are removed after each wear during the day and cleaned each night. Opticians sometimes recommend these lenses if you have astigmatism, or if you have a more complex prescription. 
Multifocal lenses help you to see objects near, far and in-between by mixing different prescriptions into one lens. Learn more about multifocal lenses and presbyopia here.

Getting used to contact lenses

If you decide to give contact lenses a go, one of our trained colleagues will provide a one-to-one session to teach you how to put in and take out your contact lenses to ensure you are completely confident when you take them home.

Your optician may provide you with a 'wearing schedule' that gradually increases the number of hours you wear your contact lenses over a few days. This allows your eyes to gradually get used to the sensation.

Contact lenses sit on the surface of your eye, so safety and hygiene is important when putting them in and taking them out. Read our step-by-step guide on how to put your contact lenses in and take them out here.

The do’s and don’ts

Do:

Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your contact lenses or eyes
Have a pair of suitable glasses for when you're not wearing contact lenses
Have regular eye and contact lens check-ups. Prescriptions change over time, especially when we're older. Many eye problems don't cause any noticeable symptoms initially, and a check-up is the only way to spot them
Remove your lenses if they feel wrong, or if your vision is blurry
Remove your lenses in the shower and bath, and when swimming or playing water sports. as bacteria from the water can get into your eye and grow on the surface of your lens
Remove your lenses before bed unless your optician or ophthalmologist says it's okay
Supervise your child if they wear contact lenses to start with, to make sure they have fully understood their lens care instructions and are following them correctly
Only use eye drops that have been recommended by your optician
Replace your lens case at least once a month

Don’t

Don’t wear lenses that haven't been prescribed for your eyes
Never use water or saliva to moisten your contact lenses – this can introduce dangerous infections into your eye. Only use a solution recommended by your optician. Throw any excess away and start a new bottle on the schedule your optician has given you.
Don't top up the solution in your case, always store your lenses in fresh solution
Don’t put a dropped lens back in without cleaning it thoroughly
Don't wear lenses that feel rough or uncomfortable on your eye, or lenses with any visible damage
Don’t share lenses with anyone
Don’t reuse a daily disposable lens or wear lenses for longer than the recommended time or after it's reached the end of its life
Avoid pouring solution into travel-size bottles as they might be unclean

Frequently asked questions

Can my contact lens get stuck behind my eye?

This is a very common worry, but your contact lens can’t get stuck behind your eye. Your eyelid and eyeball are connected, so there's no space for a lens to get through. However, contact lenses can occasionally get stuck to the inside of your eyelid. If this happens, the following techniques can help unstick them:

If you have lubricating eye drops or an all-in-one contact lens solution, you can add a few drops to your eye to lubricate the lens. Never use saliva or tap water – this can introduce dangerous bacteria to your eye.
While looking straight ahead, lift your upper eyelid as far as possible, then massage or very gently 'pinch' the lens out
If you can't get the lens out, see your optician as soon as possible. If you can't see your optician on the same day, you should go to A&E (accident and emergency)

What if my eyes are red, sore or swollen?

While rare, contact lens use can cause eye problems. If one or both eyes are red, sore, or swollen, then:

Avoid wearing contact lenses until the problem's cleared up. Use glasses instead
Avoid wearing eye make-up
If removing the lenses doesn't resolve the problem, seek advice from your optician