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    Wearing guide

    Shaky hands

    Whether it's nerves, a tremor, or stiff joints, a steady hand makes insertion much easier. Bracing, sitting, and the right tools all help.

    By the Scleral Lens Team · Updated October 2, 2026 · 1 published source cited

    The short answer

    Sit down at a table and brace both elbows on it, so your hands have something solid under them. Take a slow breath before you bring the lens up. If a tremor or arthritis makes it hard, ask your fitter about an insertion stand, which holds the lens still for you, or about training a family member or caregiver to help.

    Before you start

    Time: A minute to set up; then your usual routine.

    • A table or counter you can sit at, at a comfortable height
    • A mirror that sits flat or tilts up toward you

    Step by step

    1. Sit, don't stand

      Sitting at a table gives you a stable base and lets you rest between tries.

    2. Brace your elbows

      Rest both elbows on the table. The closer your hands are to something solid, the steadier they'll be.

    3. Bring your eye down to the lens

      Keep the lens steady and close, and lower your face to it, keeping your face level.

    4. Breathe out as you go

      A slow breath before you start, and breathing out as you bring the lens up, helps calm nerves.

    5. Pick your best time of day

      If your shake or stiffness changes through the day, practice when your hands are steadiest.

    6. Ask about a stand or a helper

      An insertion stand holds the lens still. Your fitter can also train a family member or caregiver to insert and remove the lens.

    These are general steps. If your fitter taught you differently, follow your fitter: your lens and eyes are theirs to know. Print the mirror cards to keep by your sink.

    Nerves get better with practice

    If the shaking is mostly nerves, it usually fades as insertion becomes routine. In a year-long study of scleral lens wearers, those who kept wearing their lenses needed significantly fewer attempts to put them in and take them out over time.[1]

    If it’s a tremor or arthritis

    Tell your fitter at your first visit. They can check whether a stand or a different inserter would work better for you, and train someone who lives with you to help on harder days.

    Common mistakes

    • Standing at the sink with your arms in the air.
    • Rushing because your hands are shaking.
    • Struggling on alone when a tool or a helper would make it easy.

    Common questions

    Can someone else put my lenses in for me?

    Yes. Ask your fitter to train them at a visit, so they learn the same steps you did.

    Will my hands get steadier with practice?

    Nerves usually settle as insertion becomes routine. In a year-long study, people who kept wearing scleral lenses needed significantly fewer attempts over time.

    Keep going

    Guide

    Your first two weeks with scleral lenses

    Expect it to be slow and awkward at first. That's normal. Practice every day at a calm time, follow your fitter's wearing schedule exactly, do the three checks after every insertion, and keep notes for your follow-up. Decide after two to three weeks, not after two to three days.

    Guide

    How to insert a scleral lens

    Fill the lens to the brim with preservative-free saline, look straight down with your face parallel to the floor, hold both lids wide at the lashes, and bring the lens straight up to your eye in one smooth motion. Then check for bubbles every time.

     Common worry

    Are scleral lenses hard to put in?

    At first, usually yes. It's a learned skill, and the first tries can take a long time. But in a year-long study, most wearers got noticeably faster and needed fewer attempts as the months went on. Give yourself two to three weeks before deciding you can't do it.

    Sources

    1. Macedo-de-Araújo RJ, van der Worp E, González-Méijome JM. A one-year prospective study on scleral lens wear success. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2020;43(6):553-561. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2019.10.140 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

    Last updated October 2, 2026. Found an error or a newer study? Let us know and we'll correct the page.