A contact lens that feels “stuck” is a common and often startling experience for wearers, usually occurring because the lens has dried out and adhered to the cornea or has been displaced under an eyelid. This situation can cause blurred vision and an uncomfortable sensation of a foreign object in the eye. While the immediate urge may be to panic or rub the eye vigorously, a stuck lens is rarely a medical emergency that requires immediate professional intervention. Most instances of a displaced or dried-out lens can be resolved safely at home with gentle, deliberate actions.
Essential Preparations Before You Begin
The first step before touching your eye is to practice meticulous hygiene to prevent introducing bacteria. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, paying close attention to cleaning under the fingernails. Dry your hands completely with a clean, lint-free towel to ensure no debris is transferred to the lens or eye surface.
Next, position yourself in front of a well-lit mirror for clearly seeing the lens position. Before proceeding with any removal technique, verify the lens is actually still in the eye. Sometimes the persistent irritation is a residual sensation after a dry, displaced lens has fallen out.
Rehydrating a Lens That Won’t Budge
If you locate the lens centered on the colored part of your eye and it refuses to move, it is likely stuck due to dehydration. This adherence occurs when the lens loses moisture and becomes stiff, often after sleeping in them or due to dry environmental conditions. Attempting to remove a dry, adhered soft lens risks tearing the lens or causing a corneal abrasion, which is a painful scratch on the eye’s delicate surface.
The primary strategy is to reintroduce moisture to the lens, making it pliable and allowing it to float freely again. Apply a steady stream of sterile saline solution, contact lens rewetting drops, or artificial tears directly to the eye, ensuring the product is safe for use with contacts. Never use tap water, as it contains microorganisms that can cause severe eye infections.
After thoroughly lubricating the eye, close your eyelid and gently massage the lid in a circular motion over the area where the lens is located. This gentle pressure helps the solution work underneath the lens to loosen its adherence to the cornea. Blink several times to redistribute the moisture, and if the lens still does not move, repeat the rehydration and massage process until the lens is visibly displaced or slides.
Maneuvering a Displaced Lens
A lens that cannot be immediately seen has simply shifted off-center, most commonly lodging under the upper or lower eyelid. It is anatomically impossible for a contact lens to slip to the back of the eye, as the conjunctiva creates a barrier that prevents objects from traveling past the front of the eyeball.
To locate a lens that has slipped downward, gently pull your lower lid down while looking up toward the ceiling. If the lens is suspected to be under the upper lid, look down toward your nose or feet without closing your eye. Looking in the direction opposite to where the lens is stuck can sometimes cause the lens to shift back into view.
If the lens is still hidden, carefully pull the upper eyelid up and slightly away from the eye, or gently massage the closed upper eyelid to coax the lens downward. Once located, the goal is to gently slide it back onto the cornea or the white of the eye (the sclera) where it is easier to grasp. Use the pad of your finger to apply light pressure to the outside of the eyelid, guiding the lens back to a central position.
Once the lens is accessible, use the standard “slide and pinch” method for removal, ensuring your fingers are dry and clean. Gently pinch the lens between the pads of your thumb and index finger, removing it completely from the eye. If the lens is ripped or only a piece is removed, assume a fragment may still be present until a complete lens is confirmed.
Immediate Steps After Removal and Medical Warning Signs
Following successful removal, the eye may feel irritated, dry, or gritty, which is a normal reaction to the manipulation and dryness. Apply a few drops of lubricating artificial tears to soothe the surface. Avoid wearing a new contact lens in that eye for at least 24 hours to give the eye’s surface a chance to heal from any minor irritation or abrasion.
While most cases resolve without issue, seek immediate attention from an eye care professional if specific symptoms persist after the lens is out. Other symptoms that require medical evaluation are sensitivity to light (photophobia), any change in vision, or discharge, as these can be signs of a corneal abrasion or a developing infection.
Warning signs include:
- Redness that does not subside after a few hours.
- Persistent or increasing pain.
- A continued sensation that something is still lodged in the eye.
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia), any change in vision, or discharge.