When a contact lens shifts out of place, the sensation of grit or discomfort can be alarming, making it difficult to determine if the lens has fallen out or remains lodged in your eye. This “foreign body sensation” is common for lens wearers, but it does not mean the lens is still present. A calm, methodical approach is the safest way to assess the situation and protect the delicate surface of your eye.
Confirming the Lens’s Presence
Your first step should always be to thoroughly wash and dry your hands to prevent introducing bacteria to your eye. Stand in front of a mirror in a brightly lit area to begin a visual inspection, which is the most reliable way to locate a misplaced lens. A contact lens cannot physically slip behind your eye because the conjunctiva, a continuous membrane, creates a natural barrier.
To check under the upper eyelid, look downward while gently lifting the upper lid with your finger. For the lower lid, look upward while pulling the lower lid down to inspect the area. Gently moving your eye side-to-side and blinking slowly may help reposition a shifted lens back toward the center of the cornea. If the lens has dried out and is stuck, its slight tint or edge may be visible at the junction of the cornea and the white sclera.
Safe Removal Techniques for Misplaced Lenses
If you locate a stuck lens, do not attempt to scrape or aggressively rub your eye, as this can cause a corneal abrasion. A lens often gets stuck because it has dried out or is tucked under an eyelid. The safest initial step is to rewet the eye with preservative-free artificial tears or sterile saline solution.
Applying several drops lubricates the lens and restores its flexibility, making it movable again. After applying the drops, close your eye and gently massage your eyelid in a circular motion to help coax the folded or stuck lens back onto the cornea.
If the lens is positioned correctly, use the traditional removal technique: slide the lens down to the white of your eye and gently pinch it off using the pads of your thumb and index finger. If the lens remains elusive under the upper lid, looking down toward your chin and then slowly opening your eye can sometimes cause the lens to float back into view.
Why the Feeling Persists After Removal
Even after removing the lens or confirming it had fallen out, you may still experience a gritty, uncomfortable sensation. This is known as a residual foreign body sensation and is often due to minor irritation or a superficial corneal abrasion. The cornea is one of the most sensitive tissues in the body, and even a tiny scratch from a moving or dried lens can feel significant.
The lens, especially if folded or dry, can temporarily disrupt the smooth surface of the cornea or the underside of the eyelid. This surface irregularity triggers the nerves, making your eye feel like something is still present during blinking. Applying lubricating artificial tears can help smooth the ocular surface and relieve the discomfort. Leave the contact out of the affected eye for several hours to allow the superficial cells of the cornea to heal.
When to Contact a Professional
While most minor irritation resolves on its own within a few hours, certain symptoms require immediate attention from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. You should seek professional care if you experience severe or rapidly worsening eye pain that does not subside after lens removal.
Other urgent symptoms include a sudden, noticeable change in vision, such as blurriness or haziness, or an excessive amount of discharge from the eye. Persistent redness or extreme sensitivity to light that lasts for more than a few hours also warrants a professional evaluation to rule out a serious complication, such as a corneal infection or significant abrasion.