Tips for wearing contact lenses and applying makeup

Wearing contact lenses and applying makeup are daily routines for women. If you use weekly, monthly, or annual disposable contact lenses, there are many details you need to understand, as they can affect the comfort of your eyes throughout the day. Additionally, the ingredients in most makeup products can affect the lifespan of contact lenses. The professional care tips provided by ophthalmologists are worth sharing and saving!

Pay attention to the order of makeup application

Before wearing contact lenses, be sure to wash your hands. Do not use alcohol gel or disinfectant foam as a substitute for hand washing, and avoid using hand sanitizers containing emollient ingredients. After washing your hands, do not apply any skin care lotion or hand cream, as the oil components may remain on the lens surface. After putting on the lenses, proceed with your skin care routine. Before wearing contact lenses, use hair styling spray. If you use styling spray after putting on the lenses, cover your eyes and close them. Wait for a few seconds until the spray droplets in the air dissipate, then open your eyes. For soft contact lenses, the order of use is to put on the lenses first, then apply makeup; remove the lenses first, then remove makeup. For RGP (rigid gas permeable contact lenses), you can apply makeup first and then wear the RGP.

Eye makeup precautions

Avoid applying eyeliner to the inner corner of the eye. If you must use it, choose a non-greasy eyeliner pencil instead of a liquid eyeliner. The thinner the inner eyeliner, the better. Unless using daily disposable lenses, avoid using mascara with eyelash extension function. This is because the fibers in such mascara may occasionally fall off from the eyelashes and enter the eyes. As you blink continuously, the fibers will move along with the tears and may reach between the lens and the cornea, irritating the cornea. Unless using daily disposable lenses, avoid using waterproof mascara, as it is difficult to remove and can easily stain contact lenses. Use each mascara for a maximum of three months. After opening, bacteria will continue to multiply. After application, it can easily cause bacterial infection of the eyelid margin, resulting in itching, redness, flaking, and eyelash loss. Also, do not share your mascara with others. Glue used for sticking false eyelashes, nail polish, nail polish remover, and perfume should not come into contact with contact lenses, as they can damage the lens material and shorten its lifespan. Makeup brushes, especially the small-headed eyeliner brushes used for applying eyeliner, should be cleaned regularly. Do not share your makeup brushes with others, as they can easily spread bacteria and mites.

Details of lens removal and wearing

After putting on contact lenses, when using a hair dryer to blow-dry your hair, blink frequently to keep the surface of your eyes moisturized, or use artificial tears specifically designed for contact lenses to drip into your eyes after the hair is dried. Students who wear contact lenses, if you use your index finger to remove or put on the lenses, please trim your nails. If you need to keep your nails long, we recommend using daily disposable lenses and using a soft contact lens remover instead of touching the lenses with your fingernails.