Coloured contact lenses: wear and care

New to contact lenses? Start with contact lenses for beginners.

Coloured contact lenses are medical devices that sit on the surface of your eye, so hygiene matters. This guide covers the basics. Always follow the instructions printed on your pack, and ask your eye care professional if you are unsure.

Before you buy

• Even coloured lenses with no power should be fitted properly. Eyes differ in shape and size, and a lens that does not fit can irritate or harm the eye.
• Buy from a shop that can tell you what you are buying and how to use it. Never share lenses.
• How a shade looks depends on your natural eye colour. The same shade can look stronger on lighter eyes. See our contact lenses, or browse by colour: grey, brown and hazel and green and blue.

Putting lenses in and taking them out

1. Wash your hands with soap and dry them with a lint-free towel.
2. Check the lens is the right way round and not damaged.
3. Put the lens in, then blink and check it feels comfortable.
4. To remove, wash and dry your hands again, and slide the lens off gently.

Daily care

• Use fresh contact lens solution every time. Never use tap water, saliva or water from a bottle, and never top up old solution.
• Clean and store lenses in the case overnight, if your lenses are reusable.
• Replace the case regularly. Many eye care professionals suggest every three months.
• Follow the replacement schedule on your pack. Wearing lenses for longer than intended raises the risk of problems. Our free lens replacement reminder helps you keep track.
• Do not sleep in your lenses unless the pack and your eye care professional say they are made for it. Most coloured lenses are not.
• Put make-up on after your lenses and remove it before you take them out.

Take them out and get help if

• Your eye is red, painful, watering a lot or sensitive to light.
• Your vision becomes blurred and does not clear with blinking.
• The lens feels uncomfortable and does not settle.

Do not put the lens back in. If symptoms do not settle quickly, see an eye doctor.

Next steps

• See contact lens prices.
• If you need glasses as well, read how to read your eye prescription and book an eye test.