Soft contact lenses provide comfortable vision correction, but their delicate construction makes them susceptible to tearing. They are made from soft, flexible polymer plastics designed to hold water and allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. This flexibility means they can be easily damaged, often due to preventable factors related to handling or the environment. Understanding the common causes of tears is essential for preserving lens integrity and protecting eye health.
Physical Handling Errors
The most frequent cause of damage is direct physical trauma during insertion or removal. Long or sharp fingernails are a common culprit, as they can easily nick the thin polymer material. To prevent this, users should employ the soft pads of their index finger and thumb, rather than the nail tips, when manipulating the lens.
Aggressive handling, such as pinching the lens too hard during removal, can cause the lens to rip or develop micro-tears. Proper removal technique involves gently sliding the lens to one side of the eye to break the suction before lightly folding it out. If a lens accidentally folds onto itself, pulling the edges apart can cause damage. Instead, submerge the lens in solution and gently massage it until it unfolds naturally.
Excessive or improper rubbing during cleaning can also weaken the lens structure. While cleaning is important to remove deposits, use a light, back-and-forth motion, not a circular one that can cause the material to shear. Damage can also occur if a lens is dropped onto a rough surface, such as a countertop or sink edge. Foreign debris on these surfaces can introduce sharp imperfections to the polymer.
Environmental and Chemical Factors
The environment a soft lens is exposed to significantly impacts its durability. Soft lenses require hydration to maintain their shape and flexibility; a dry lens becomes brittle and highly susceptible to tearing. Drying can occur if the lens is exposed to air for too long during handling. It also happens if the storage case is not completely filled with solution, allowing the lens to stick to the case wall and dry out.
Wearing a lens beyond its recommended schedule, such as using a two-week lens for three weeks, can lead to material degradation. Over-wearing allows protein and lipid deposits to accumulate, altering the lens’s surface properties and causing brittleness. Using expired or incompatible cleaning and storage solutions can also weaken the polymer’s integrity through adverse chemical interactions.
Dry eyes contribute to lens fragility while the lens is worn. When the eye’s tear film is unstable, the lens can lose moisture and adhere tightly to the cornea, making removal difficult without tearing. Applying a rewetting drop specifically formulated for contact lenses before removal can rehydrate the lens and ensure a smoother, tear-free process.
Immediate Action Steps
If a contact lens tears while in the eye, discard the entire lens immediately, as any jagged edge can scratch the cornea. The primary concern is ensuring all fragments of the torn lens are completely removed. A small piece left behind can cause a foreign body sensation, persistent stinging, or redness.
To remove a suspected fragment, first wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Lubricate the eye with rewetting drops or sterile saline solution. Gently slide the main piece of the lens, or any noticeable fragment, toward the outer corner of the eye using a clean fingertip, then remove it. Do not rub the eye, as this can push the piece further under the eyelid or increase the risk of a corneal scratch.
Seek professional medical attention if irritation persists, redness does not subside after an hour, or if you feel a persistent sharp sensation. These symptoms may indicate a retained fragment or a corneal abrasion. Any change in vision following a tear also warrants an immediate visit to an eye care professional. Never attempt to wear a torn lens, even if the tear seems small.