I wear contacts daily, and a lot of my clients do too.

And since I’m often asked about possible interactions, I wanted to write this article.

I’ll share why you can safely continue to wear your contacts with lash extensions, but also my favorite cleaning solution and the easiest method to put them on and remove them.

Contacts + Lash Extensions

Contact lenses themselves don’t interfere with your lash extensions or the adhesive.

So don’t worry.

Your extensions won’t fall out faster just because you wear contacts.

Having said that, if you want to optimize comfort and retention, I always give my clients 3 pieces of advice:

1. Why they should be removed during the appointment.
2. How to put them in and out.
3. Which cleaning solutions to use and which should be avoided.

I’ll cover them in this article.

During the Appointment

I always recommend removing contact lenses while getting lash extensions.

There are two reasons for that.

First, during your appointment, you’ll be required to keep your eyes closed at all times.

This prevents formaldehyde fumes (they are released when the adhesive is curing) from getting into your eyes.

They can also cause allergic reactions.

But since your eyes are closed, it also limits the amount of oxygen and moisture that reaches them.

So, why is this important?

That’s because a contact lens already restricts some oxygen and moisture to flow to your cornea.

That situation leads to dryness, irritation, and increased risk of infection.^1-2

If you’ve ever fallen asleep with your contacts in, you already know what I’m talking about.

Red eyes, discomfort and difficulty opening them.

It’s not healthy at all.

Second, this is extremely unlikely, but if the adhesive comes into direct contact with your lens, it could be very problematic.

And since your eyes are closed during your appointment, it’s not like you need to have perfect vision. 😉

So yes, it’s always best to simply bring your case with you, and remove your contacts before starting the actual appointment.

You can safely put them back immediately after your appointment is completed.

No need to wait a certain amount of time.

Putting Contacts In

It’s always best not to touch or play with your extensions if you want them to last as long as possible.

So, how do you put your contacts back in?

The key is to open your eyes as wide as possible before slowly putting your lens in.

To do so, you should pull on the lower eyelid, NOT the top eyelid where your extensions are applied.

So the general process goes like this:

1. Open your eye as wide as possible.
2. Use your middle finger (the third one) to gently pull the bottom eyelid down.
3. Use your index finger (the second one) to slowly place the lens over your eyeball.
4. Release your middle finger, allowing the lens to naturally settle into place.
5. Repeat the same steps for your other eye.

With these steps, you won’t have to touch your extensions at all, which are applied to your upper lash line in the vast majority of cases.

Some of my clients get bottom lashes as well, but it’s quite rare.

The same process would apply here, but you need to be extra careful.

Taking Them Out

The exact same principles and process apply here.

You need to avoid touching the upper eyelid.

The steps are almost identical.

1. Open your eye as wide as possible.
2. Use your middle finger (the third one) to gently pull the bottom eyelid down.
3. Use your thumb and index finger to pinch the contact lens and remove it.
4. Release your middle finger.
5. Repeat the same steps for your other eye.

Contact Solutions

There’s quite a variety of solutions out there.

But there are two general types: multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide-based.

As a general rule of thumb, I prefer preservative-free multipurpose solutions because they are less likely to dry out the lashes or break down the lash adhesive.

I wear contacts daily.

I personally find Re-Nu to be the most comfortable one with my lash extensions.

However, I’m sure there are many others.

Final Words

I know some websites out there say you can keep your contacts during your lash appointment, but I strongly advise against it.

There are only disadvantages and risks to doing so.

And, really, no benefits.

Most lash salons (mine included) will actually have extra lens cases and solution on hand if you forgot yours.

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know below, and I’ll get back to you quickly.

— Asako

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Additional readings:

References

1. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2019). Focusing on Contact Lens Safety. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/focusing-contact-lens-safety (Accessed on 21-8-2021).
2. Kierstan Boyd (2021). Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/contact-lens-related-eye-infections (Accessed on 21-8-2021).