I can't do it while looking at the contact coming towards my eye. THis is what works for me.

wash hands

put contact on tip of index finger of right hand

I slightly tilt my head downwards; with my left hand I take my finger tips and pull down my bottom lid by just moving the skin downwards, maybe an inch below the part you'd put eyeliner on - while simultaneously looking upwards (this means my eye is not able to see the contact heading towards it)

I place my contact on the lower part of my eye (where it is mostly white)

I then slowly and gently press on my bottom of my lid up so the contact gently slides into place

Anonymous wrote:I used to teach people to put in contact lenses. It’s hard but it just takes practice.

Make sure he has enough time to do it, and make sure it’s on the tip of his finger, and that it’s shaped like a bowl. Then he has to use his other hand (left hand usually) to hold both his his eyelids open, and place the contact on his eyeball with his right fingertip. It’s the only way it works for me.

This is exactly what I do. I used to freak out even putting in eyedrops and now I don’t have any problem with my contacts. The eye doctor will probably give a set of monthly use and dailies to try out. I found the dailies to be so much easier to put in and take out. In fact, I only tried the monthlies twice because I ended up in tears trying to get them back out of my eyes. Not all brands feel the same, too. I accidentally put my daughters in and thought that they went in so much more smoothly, but was confused why my eyes were so blurry. I may ask to change to her brand when it’s time for a new prescription.

OP here. Thanks everyone for all the advice! This morning my son put his head on a pillow and after a couple of attempts I got them in. I think I will do this a few times to get him used to it and then have him try again.

What worked for me was my mom (who wore contacts) decided that as long as I could successfully get them out of my eyes then she would help me get them in while I got used to the whole thing. So to start, she would pop them in for me before school. Pretty quickly, my eyes adjusted to putting in contacts, I wasn’t freaked out about the whole thing, and with the pressure off learned to do it myself. I have been happily wearing contacts ever since and I’m creeping up on 50. Is this an option with your son?

Perhaps have him start saline eye drops. Or just spend some time moving his finger close to his eye (not touching). The biggest problem is getting used to keeping your eye open when something is coming towards it.

It just takes time. I’ve been wearing them for twenty years and DH still laughs about watching me take 20+ Minutes/ea to get them when I first got them. I also use my middle finger not my index to get them in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) Buy daily disposables. Regular ones just burn, never feel clean.

2) Open 2 containers

3) Wash hands

4) Contact on index finger - check if inside out. If botched, re-wet in container

5) Insert imagining the eye a little like a pocket. I aim to slip down slightly rather than head on. might help

#5 is kind of the way I approach it. Tilting back and pulling down the lower lid lets a well-moistened contact slide down into the socket a bit, rather than coming back with your dry finger when you pull it away.

#6 - pull down lower lid when inserting - yes I forgot to say that

Anonymous wrote:1) Buy daily disposables. Regular ones just burn, never feel clean.

2) Open 2 containers

3) Wash hands

4) Contact on index finger - check if inside out. If botched, re-wet in container

5) Insert imagining the eye a little like a pocket. I aim to slip down slightly rather than head on. might help

#5 is kind of the way I approach it. Tilting back and pulling down the lower lid lets a well-moistened contact slide down into the socket a bit, rather than coming back with your dry finger when you pull it away.

He should see the nurse at Dr. Vicente's office. Unfortunately I forget her name, but she has shown all the kids in the area how to do it successfully.

One thing I don’t believe I saw mentioned was to make sure the contact is not dried out, which can happen quickly with multiple attempts. A well-moistened contact will stick to the eye like a magnet, while a dry one will tend to fall away. A drop or two of saline into the bowl of the lens will fix it.

Anonymous wrote:I do the tilt-back, too. I tilt my chin up a bit, pull my bottom lid down with the middle finger of my left hand, and roll my eyes upward before putting it in with the middle finger of my right hand.

I do remember an optometrist's assistant once telling me she'd never seen anyone put them in the way I do, though! I just can't imagine getting them in by pulling up my upper eyelid. My eyes are fairly deep-set, so maybe that's why it works better for me to pull down the lower one.

Same, I have always tilted back. I roll my eye up (I can't imagine staring right at the contact as it goes in, personally), pull the bottom lid down with my right hand middle finger and put the contact in with my right hand index finger. I don't think I ever pulled up my top eyelid but agree it might be different depending on one's eye shape. I have pretty big, open eyes and that may be why just tugging down the lower lid works for me.

I started wearing contacts at 11 and it also took me a good hour to get them in in the early days. He definitely shouldn't stress about it taking so long at first! That's very, very normal and it really will shorten pretty quickly once he starts using the contacts on a regular basis.

1) Buy daily disposables. Regular ones just burn, never feel clean.

2) Open 2 containers

3) Wash hands

4) Contact on index finger - check if inside out. If botched, re-wet in container

5) Insert imagining the eye a little like a pocket. I aim to slip down slightly rather than head on. might help

I do dailies now because they are easy. When I was learning in middle school, it really helped that my parents explained that losing a contact was ok. The worst thing is trying to put a contact in after a few failed attempts especially if you have to pick it up and rewash it.

Anonymous wrote:My son had same problem. For him, the very water soluble contacts that doc gave him were impossible for him. When he got more robust ie thicker contacts that I wear, he had no problem. The ones they give newbies are, I’m sure, extremely comfortable, but so floppy that it’s hard to get them transfer from finger to eye. Can you get samples of some more robust kinds to try?

I agree that the thinner ones are harder. I never had any problems with the yearly or even the 3-month ones, but I had a period of readjustment when I switched to dailies.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone has a different technique. I turn my head downward, hold my upper eyelid open with a finger and place contact. My son, tilts his head back, holds eyelid open and inserts. Basically, practice makes you faster. Has he watched any YouTubes? Do you know any adults or teens that could sit with him as he practices?

As I think back, in the beginning,I used to set myself up a place at my kitchen table with all my supplies and a small stand mirror. Good luck.

I do the tilt-back, too. I tilt my chin up a bit, pull my bottom lid down with the middle finger of my left hand, and roll my eyes upward before putting it in with the middle finger of my right hand.

I do remember an optometrist's assistant once telling me she'd never seen anyone put them in the way I do, though! I just can't imagine getting them in by pulling up my upper eyelid. My eyes are fairly deep-set, so maybe that's why it works better for me to pull down the lower one.