Contact Lenses

Prepare your work surface. You will need:

• Lint-free towel or paper towel
• Contact lens case
• Contact lens solution

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. Use a mild soap. Avoid soaps with perfumes, oils or lotions. They leave a film on your hands that can get on the lenses. The film can irritate your child’s eye or blur their vision.
2. Wipe your hands with a lint-free towel or paper towel.
3. Place your child in the best position with their arms and legs secured.

You can watch a contact lens insertion and removal video Contact Lenses for Children:
youtube.com/watch?v=fqzRXQwnc3E

1. Take the contact lens out of the case. Look closely for any missing piece or tears/rips. Do not insert a damaged lens into your child’s eye.
2. Dry your hands thoroughly on the lint-free towel or paper towel and hold the lens folded like a taco between your index finger and thumb in your dominant hand.
3. Open and secure your child’s upper eyelid with the finger(s) on your nondominant hand.
4. Open and secure your child’s lower eyelid with the middle finger on your dominant hand.
5. Insert the lens partially under the upper eyelid. Use your index finger to properly position the lens on the eye.
6. Release the upper eyelid and then the lower eyelid.

If the lens falls out onto a contaminated surface, it is very important to rinse the lens with the contact lens solution before you put it back in.

1. Open and secure your child’s upper eyelid with the finger(s) on your nondominant hand.
2. Open and secure their lower eyelid with the middle finger on your
   dominant hand.
3. Move the contact lens from the colored part of the eye to the white part
   of the eye using the index finger on your dominant hand.
4. Pinch the contact lens off the white part of the eye using your thumb and
   index finger on your dominant hand.
5. Release the eyelids.
6. Follow the cleaning instructions below before storing the contact lenses

Properly disinfecting your child’s contact lenses will help prevent eye infections that could damage your child’s vision. Always use contact lens solution. Never use water or saliva.

1. Plug the sink drain or place a paper towel over drain when cleaning or rinsing to avoid losing the contact lens down the drain.
2. Place lens in the palm of your hand and put a few drops of solution on it. 
3. Rub the lens for 10 seconds and repeat for other side. Always rub contact lenses when you clean them, even if using a “no-rub” solution.
4. Rinse with solution.
5. Disinfect the lenses by storing them in lens solution in the case. Most solutions require you to soak the lenses for 4-6 hours to achieve proper disinfection.

• Don’t let the tip of solution bottles touch other surfaces, including fingers, eyes or contact lenses. All of these can contaminate the solution.
• Replace contact lens case every 3 months. Clean the lens case between replacements with solution and air dry.
• Always carry extra solution and a clean case with you.

We will order the contact lenses for your child. We will let you know when they arrive. We may be able to mail them to your home if your eye doctor says you do not need an appointment.

The amount you owe depends on your insurance plan or Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage. Call your insurance company or Apple Health for specific benefit information.

If your child has any of the following conditions, stop using the contacts and call us at 206-987-3567:

• Eyes become red or irritated for more than a few minutes
• Unusual discharge
• Lens will not stay in the eye