If a contact lens falls out and you lack solution, immediate, safe action is required to protect your vision. The goal is to temporarily preserve the lens and your eye health until proper disinfection can occur. This guide outlines the necessary steps for immediate hygiene, emergency rinsing, short-term storage, and follow-up care.
Essential First Steps
The immediate priority is minimizing the risk of introducing pathogens. Before touching the lens or your eye, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least twenty seconds. Dry your hands completely using a clean, lint-free towel to prevent transferring tap water residue to the lens.
Once hands are clean, assess the condition of the lens and your eye. Inspect the lens for visible tears, nicks, or excessive debris. If the lens is visibly damaged or heavily soiled, discard it immediately.
Check your eye for signs of irritation or injury. If your eye is significantly red, painful, light-sensitive, or experiences a persistent foreign body sensation, do not attempt to reinsert the lens. These symptoms suggest a potential corneal abrasion or early infection, requiring professional evaluation.
Emergency Cleaning and Rinsing Substitutes
True contact lens solution is chemically formulated to clean (remove protein and debris) and disinfect (kill microorganisms); no substitute can perform both functions safely. The only acceptable liquids for a temporary rinse are commercially prepared, sterile saline solution or preservative-free artificial tears. These options hydrate the lens for a few hours and rinse off loose debris, but they contain no agents to kill bacteria or fungi.
You must avoid common substitutes, as they introduce a significant risk of serious eye infection. Tap water, bottled water, or distilled water all contain microorganisms, including the dangerous parasite Acanthamoeba. Exposure can lead to Acanthamoeba keratitis, a painful corneal infection that may result in permanent vision loss.
Furthermore, water’s osmolarity differs from tears, which can cause the lens material to swell or change shape, altering its fit. Homemade solutions, such as mixing salt and water, are highly dangerous and should never be used. It is impossible to achieve the necessary sterility or correct pH balance at home, leading to contamination risks. Saliva is equally unsafe, as the human mouth hosts numerous bacteria that can cause severe eye infections.
Safe Temporary Storage Methods
If you cannot immediately access proper solution, the lens must be stored to minimize drying and contamination. The ideal short-term container is a clean, small receptacle with a tight-fitting lid, such as a washed pill bottle, a sterile specimen cup, or a small glass jar. Wash the container thoroughly with soap and hot water, then air-dry it completely.
Fill the container with the safest temporary liquid: commercially prepared, sterile saline solution. This keeps the lens hydrated, preventing it from drying out, shrinking, and becoming brittle. A dried lens can develop microscopic cracks that trap bacteria and scratch the cornea if reinserted.
If absolutely no sterile liquid is available, storing the lens dry in a clean, sealed container is a last-resort option for a very short period. This prevents contamination from unsafe liquids like tap water, but the lens will likely be ruined by dehydration and must be discarded.
Required Follow-Up Care
Once you have access to proper multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide solution, treat the lens as highly contaminated. Due to the risk of using non-disinfecting emergency substitutes, the safest action is to discard the lens entirely, eliminating all risk of infection.
If discarding the lens is not an option, perform a maximum-duration disinfection cycle before reinsertion. Place the lens in a fresh, full reservoir of disinfecting solution and allow it to soak for the longest recommended time, typically six to eight hours. Also, clean and rinse the temporary storage container or lens case with fresh solution and allow it to air-dry.
After reinsertion, monitor your eye closely for the next 24 to 48 hours. Watch for signs of infection, including increased redness, persistent pain or discomfort, blurred vision, or unusual sensitivity to light. If any symptoms develop, immediately remove the lens and contact an eye care professional for an urgent examination. Delaying treatment for a corneal infection can lead to severe complications and permanent damage to your vision.