A contact lens that feels stuck or misplaced often causes alarm, leading to the fear that the lens has slipped completely behind the eye. This is not anatomically possible; the lens remains on the front surface where it can be safely retrieved. The uncomfortable sensation means the lens has migrated under your eyelid. This guide provides practical steps to safely remove a dislodged contact lens.
Why the Contact Cannot Go Behind Your Eye
The eyeball is protected by the conjunctiva, a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and folds back to cover the white part of the eye. This tissue forms a continuous barrier, creating a pocket between the eyelid and the eye. This anatomical structure prevents any foreign object, including a contact lens, from passing behind the eye.
When a lens feels lost, it has only moved out of its central position and is resting under the upper or lower eyelid. This fold of tissue acts like a cul-de-sac, physically stopping the lens from traveling further back. Understanding this barrier helps alleviate the anxiety associated with a displaced lens, confirming it is always retrievable.
Immediate Actions to Take
Before touching your eye, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel to prevent introducing bacteria or debris. Locate the lens using a mirror in a well-lit area. Gently pull down your lower lid and look up, then lift your upper lid and look down. Identifying the lens’s location is the first step in successful removal.
If the lens is visible but not moving, or if you cannot see it, use sterile saline solution or rewetting drops to hydrate the eye. Dryness often causes the lens to adhere to the eye’s surface or stick under the lid, so moisturizing is necessary to restore flexibility. After applying the drops, close your eye and gently roll your gaze up, down, and side to side to encourage the lens to float back toward the center of the cornea. Repeat blinking several times to redistribute the moisture and nudge the lens into a more accessible position.
Techniques for Safe Removal
Once the lens is lubricated, if it remains stuck under an eyelid, close your eye and gently massage the outside of the eyelid using a light, circular motion. Direct the massage toward the center of the eye; this can physically guide the lens back onto the cornea. For a lens stuck high under the upper lid, look downward as far as possible while gently pulling the upper lid outward and down over the lower lid.
If the lens reappears on the white part of the eye, use the standard removal technique of gently pinching the lens between your thumb and forefinger. If you wear rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, avoid massaging the eyelid, as the lens stiffness could cause an abrasion. Instead, press lightly on the white of the eye just beyond the lens’s edge to break the suction seal holding the RGP lens in place. Never attempt to scratch or scrape the lens off the eye’s surface with a fingernail or tweezers.
When to Seek Professional Assistance
If you are unable to retrieve the lens after multiple, gentle attempts, or if you suspect the lens has torn and a piece remains in your eye, contact an eye care professional. Persistent discomfort, redness, or a gritty sensation after the lens is removed may indicate a minor corneal abrasion that requires examination.
Seek immediate care if you notice significant symptoms such as severe or escalating pain, unusual discharge, increased sensitivity to light, or a decline in vision. These signs suggest an infection or serious irritation, and prompt treatment from an optometrist or ophthalmologist is necessary. Do not delay professional evaluation; an eye doctor has specialized tools to safely remove any remaining fragments and assess eye health.