Fabulous glasses frame the eyes beautifully and create a statement look. But glasses don’t let you show off your lashes very well. You’re getting a lash lift to curl your lashes to perfection, and then you want to flaunt them!

So you’re planning to swap your glasses for contacts after your procedure. Now you’re wondering: Can you get a lash lift if you wear contacts?

Contact lens wearers can safely have lash lifts done. However, removing contact lenses during the lash lift procedure is recommended to minimize the risks of discomfort, irritation, and infection. You can wear sterile contact lenses straight after the procedure.

This article is for all lash lovers with less than 20/20 vision who don’t want to hide their lashes behind glasses! I’ll answer whether it’s okay to combine contacts and lash lifts, explain why I advise clients to take out their contacts during their lash lift procedure, and share safety tips for contact wearers.

Let’s get started!

Can I Get a Lash Lift if I Wear Contacts?

It’ll help to split this question into 3:

• Is it safe to wear contacts after a lash lift?
• Is it safe to wear contacts during a lash lift?
• Is it comfortable to wear contacts during a lash lift?

Is it Safe to Wear Contacts After a Lash Lift?

There are zero reasons to throw out your contacts just because you’ve had a lash lift! You can safely wear your contacts after your procedure. 

Alert! Contacts wearers should look after their contacts to avoid getting a nasty eye infection whether or not they get a lash lift. 

How clued-up are you on the dos and don’ts of wearing contacts? Find out! Check out these 8 ways to care for your contacts (and eyes) from the American Academy of Ophthalmology – because healthy, bright eyes go best with lash lifts ☺

Having a lash lift shouldn’t mess with your usual contact hygiene routine. The only thing you’ll need to do differently after a lash lift is to take extra care when inserting and removing your contacts to avoid squashing your lashes.

Be especially careful when putting in and taking out your contacts for 24 hours after your lift, so you don’t irritate your eyes and make them water. Results take a day to set, and you need to keep water, heat, steam, makeup, and products off your lashes during this period.

Is it Safe to Wear Contacts During a Lash Lift?

It’s not dangerous to wear your contacts while you’re having a lash lift done. However, keeping your contacts in during the procedure increases your risk for eye infection, so I recommend that my clients take out their contacts before I start the procedure. 

The infection risk isn’t caused by the lash lift but rather by keeping your eyes closed while wearing contacts. 

Let’s focus on eye health for a moment to understand why closed eyes and contacts aren’t a good combo. 

Your eyes need constant oxygen and moisture to stay in top condition. When wearing contacts, you cut how much of these essentials reach your eyes. Close your eyes while wearing contacts, and you limit your eyes’ oxygen and moisture supply even more. And when your eyes don’t get enough oxygen, they’re more vulnerable to infection.¹

Be aware of these signs of eye irritation or infection and see your eye doc if you experience them:

• Blurry vision.
• Eye discharge.
• Redness.
• Excessive watering.
• Unusual light sensitivity.
• Itching, burning, or gritty feelings.
• Pain.

The closed-eyes-and-contacts infection risk is specifically linked to sleeping or napping while wearing contacts. But since you’ll shut your eyes for up to an hour during a lash lift (the equivalent of a power nap!), I’d prefer you play it safe by removing your contacts during the procedure.

Is it Comfortable Wearing Contacts During a Lash Lift?

Some of my clients feel slight discomfort when they keep their contacts in during a lash lift.

I want your lash lift experience to feel like a pamper sesh, so if it’s up to me, I say take out your contacts while I beautify your lashes. Don’t let anything spoil your me-time! (You can pop them back when it’s time for your lash reveal.)

How to Prepare For a Lash Lift if You Wear Contacts

So, you’ve decided to go for max comfort and min risk by keeping your contacts out while you have your lash lift done. Okay, you have 2 options:

• Option #1: Arrive at your appointment without your contacts.
• Option #2: Take out your contacts just before your procedure.

Option #1: Arrive at Your Appointment Without Your Contacts

This is your fuss-free option. Simply grab your specs!

Remember to take your glasses case to your appointment so you’ll have somewhere to put them while your lashes are beautified.

Suppose you don’t have glasses and can’t see where you’re going without your contacts. Go to option #2.

Option #2: Take Out Your Contacts Just Before Your Lash Lift

Here are must-know safety tips for taking out, storing, and putting your contacts back in 1,2,3 if you’ll be removing them just before your procedure:

• Wash your hands before removing your contacts, but avoid oily or super-scented soaps. Then dry your hands thoroughly using a lint-free towel. Skip the hand cream.
• Store your contacts in a sterile lens case containing a fresh disinfecting solution. Never store your contacts in water. Water may look pure, but it has invisible organisms that can trigger eye trouble.
• Wash your hands again before returning your contacts to your eyes (the same routine as when you took them out).

Safety tip! You should verge on OCD cleanliness when it comes to your contact lens case. I’m talking: rinse it out with disinfecting solution at least nightly, wipe it with a clean tissue, and leave it to air-dry. Then add fresh lens solution before you put your contacts inside. And get a new case every 3 months or more frequently.²³

Plus, always keep your lens solution in the sterile container it came in. Buy a travel-sized bottleful if you want something smaller when you’re on the go.

Lash Lift and Contacts – Key Takeaways 

There’s no reason wearing contacts should stop you from getting a lash lift. 

For ultimate safety and comfort, I recommend you don’t wear your contacts during the procedure. But after your lashes are done, you’re free to put them back in without causing problems for your eyes – though gently does it; you don’t want to crush your new lash curl!

References 

1. Rebecca Joy Stanborough – medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, OD (2019). Why Sleeping in Contacts May Endanger Your Eyes. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/sleeping-with-contacts (Accessed on 2 July 2022) 
2. US Food and Drug Administration (2019). Focusing on Contact Lens Safety. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/focusing-contact-lens-safety (Accessed on 2 July 2022) 
3. Medically reviewed by Whitney Seltman, OD (2021). Tips for Contact Lens Wearers at Every Age. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/ss/slideshow-contact-lens-tips (Accessed on 2 July 2022)