Contact lens can cause harm on all fundamental structures of the anterior eye. Studies have shown that contact lens induced complications can be reduced by proper patient education and is therefore an important part of a successful lens fit. Written instructions should be given to the patient to insure compliance.

The purpose of this project was to create a leaflet on safe handling and use of contact lenses. This leaflet will be handed over to patients fitted with contact lenses by optometry students. Oulu University of Applied Sciences has ordered this project. The patient education should be done in a routinely manner following a checklist. This ensures that no information is omitted. Providing written instruction to the patient is one important step of this procedure. The importance of proper patient education, contact lens care and compliance should be emphasized to both patients and optometry students.

The leaflet on safe handling and use of contact lenses is the result of our thesis project. We have utilized national literature and guidelines on how to plan and accomplish project work as well as international literature and studies about the general anatomy and physiology of the eye, characteristics of the contact lenses, use and risks of the use of the contact lenses.

The leaflet contains instructions on safe handling and use of contact lenses as well as information about care regiments and lens solutions. Some characteristics of common contact lens induced complications are also described in the leaflet. Images clarify the text and improve the appearance. The final twelve-paged leaflet has been revised during the process of our project as feedback from our supervisors and pretests were taken into consideration.