I’ll admit, the first time I watched my optician demonstrate putting in a contact Lens, I filled with fear. Could I touch my eye? Every day? Could I pinch gently enough to remove the lens? What if I got the lens in my eye but couldn’t get it out? Panic flooded me. Wearing contact Lenses felt scary.

But, the truth is, it only took me a few days to get used to wearing and caring for my new contact lenses. I was so glad I overcame my fear and gave contact lenses a try.

So, if you’ve ever felt scared to try contact lenses, or maybe you’ve just ordered your first pair and are feeling a little fearful about what’s ahead, don’t stress! Here are five tips for first-time contact lens wearers that will make your transition to contacts easy as can be.

Tip 1: Keep Your Fingers Clean

Your lenses are only as clean as the fingers you use to touch them with. Use soap and water to keep your hand free of germs, particles and bacteria. Remember, some foods and oils won’t come off your hands with just one washing. Take my word for it: you don’t want to dice jalapenos or put peppermint oil on your fingers and then touch your eyes! (Ouch!)

Tip 2: Be Mindful of Blinking

If you’re a new contact lens wearer and spend most of your day staring at a screen, be mindful of your blinking. Our natural tendency is to blink less often when we’re working at a computer all day, but your lenses need the little shot of moisture that comes when you shut your eyes for those milliseconds throughout the day.

Tip 3: Be Mindful of Drinking

If your body is dehydrated, your eyes will know it! Dry eyes and contacts is an uncomfortable combination. So, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and limit the amount of beverages that you drink that contribute to your dehydration (like coffee and alcohol).

Tip 4: Make-Up Second

If you wear make-up, put your contact lenses in before applying your make-up. This ensures that you won’t have make-up on your fingers that accidentally gets on your lenses. It also gives your lenses the best chance of not picking up a piece of mascara on the way into your eye.

Tip 5: Abide by Wear Times

If you wear lenses designed for one-day use only (daily lenses), don’t try to wear them for two. Likewise, monthly lenses should only be worn for one month, not three! Keep your eyes safe and healthy by abiding by contact lens wear times. Wearing lenses longer than recommended can cause infection and hurt your eyes.

If you’re scared to try contact lenses, talk to the helpful optical staff at your closest Eyeglass World and let them alleviate your fears!