The sudden disappearance or uncomfortable shift of a contact lens is a common, frustrating event for wearers. This guide helps you quickly diagnose whether your lens has fallen out or is simply misplaced. It also provides safe, immediate steps for locating and removing a stuck lens without causing irritation.
How to Tell if the Lens is Missing
The most reliable way to determine if your lens is missing or stuck is by assessing your physical sensation and vision clarity. If the lens has fallen out completely, the vision in that eye will suddenly become blurry or unfocused, but the eye itself will feel entirely normal, without any scratchiness or discomfort. This is because the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, is once again exposed and smooth.
A misplaced or stuck lens, however, creates a distinct foreign body sensation, which is the feeling that “something is in there.” This is often accompanied by excessive watering, mild redness, or a gritty, scratching feeling as the eyelid brushes over the folded or displaced lens. It is important to know that a contact lens cannot physically get “lost” behind the eye because the conjunctiva forms a barrier that prevents objects from moving into the orbital cavity. The lens is simply stuck under the upper or lower eyelid.
Finding a Misplaced Contact Lens
Once you confirm the sensation of a stuck lens, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to prevent introducing bacteria to the eye. Locate a well-lit area and a mirror to begin the visual search for the often transparent lens. The lens is usually folded or shifted away from the cornea, commonly tucking itself high up under the upper eyelid.
To locate a lens under the upper lid, look down toward your feet while gently pulling the upper lid outward and away from the eyeball. For a lens caught under the lower lid, look up toward the ceiling while pulling the lower lid down. A technique for dislodging the lens is to look in the direction opposite to where the lens is felt; for instance, if the lens is felt high up, looking down can encourage it to slide back toward the center of the eye.
Safe Steps for Removal
The initial step in safely removing any stuck lens is lubrication, especially one that feels dry or adhered to the eye surface. Apply a generous amount of sterile saline solution or contact lens rewetting drops to the affected eye. This rehydrates the lens material and makes it flexible again. Allow the drops a few seconds to absorb, then blink repeatedly to encourage the lens to float or slide back into a central position.
If the lens is still stuck off-center, gently massage the closed eyelid with a clean fingertip, moving the tissue toward the center of the eye to guide the lens. Once the lens is centered on the cornea, remove it using the standard pinching technique between your thumb and forefinger. Avoid rubbing the eye vigorously or aggressively attempting to pry the lens out, which can lead to a corneal abrasion. If the lens is a rigid gas permeable type, do not massage the eyelid, as the stiff material can scratch the cornea.
When to Call Your Eye Doctor
While most stuck lenses can be safely removed at home, certain symptoms require immediate professional attention to prevent damage. Stop all attempts at self-removal and contact your eye doctor if you cannot locate or remove the lens after multiple, gentle attempts, as continued manipulation risks further irritation or injury.
Professional help is also necessary if, after successfully removing the lens, you experience severe, persistent pain, a sharp scratching sensation, or significant redness that does not improve within an hour or two. These symptoms can indicate a corneal abrasion, a scratch on the eye’s surface that requires examination and treatment to prevent infection. Any sudden, unexplained decrease or change in vision should also prompt an immediate call to your eye care provider.