The sudden sensation of a contact lens feeling like it is poking your eye is a common and jarring experience for lens wearers. This discomfort, often described as a sharp, localized pain or a persistent gritty feeling, signals that the smooth interaction between the lens and the delicate surface of the cornea has been disrupted. A healthy, properly fitted lens should be nearly imperceptible, meaning this feeling is a direct indicator of an underlying problem. Addressing the cause quickly is important to restore comfort and prevent potential irritation to the eye’s surface.
Quick Checks for Immediate Relief
When a lens begins to feel like a foreign object, the first step is to remove it safely and check for the most common, easily fixable causes. The most frequent culprit is a small foreign body, such as a speck of dust, a stray eyelash, or cosmetic residue, trapped underneath the lens. To resolve this, gently remove the lens, rinse it thoroughly with fresh contact lens solution, and then carefully re-examine it before reinsertion.
The lens itself may also be oriented incorrectly, a common issue with soft lenses that have been inadvertently flipped inside out. A lens that is inside out will have a slightly flared edge, causing it to scrape against the eye’s surface with every blink. You can check the orientation by placing the lens on your fingertip and viewing it from the side; a correct lens forms a perfect cup shape, while an inverted one looks like a rimmed bowl with edges bending outward.
Some lenses include laser markings, like the numbers “123,” or a visibility tint around the edge to help determine the correct side. If the numbers read normally or the edge tint looks deep and defined, the lens is correctly positioned. If the edges are still causing irritation upon reinsertion, try applying a few drops of lubricating or rewetting drops, as temporary dryness can sometimes mimic a poking sensation.
Lens Quality and Maintenance Issues
If the immediate checks do not resolve the discomfort, the problem likely lies in the physical state or long-term maintenance of the lens itself. The most serious physical issue is lens damage, which includes small tears, nicks, or chips along the edge that may be difficult to see with the naked eye. Even a microscopic rough spot can constantly irritate the corneal tissue, and any damaged lens should be discarded immediately to prevent a corneal scratch.
Over time, contact lenses accumulate tear components, which results in deposit buildup that can make the lens surface rough and irritating. Your natural tear film contains proteins and lipids that adhere to the lens material. These denatured proteins can be perceived by the eye as a foreign body, causing a gritty, uncomfortable sensation, often accompanied by haziness or reduced vision.
Proper cleaning routines are designed to combat this buildup. However, using expired or contaminated solution, or attempting to clean lenses with tap water, can also introduce irritants. Tap water contains microbes and minerals that can adhere to the lens, and using solution past its expiration date compromises its ability to disinfect and condition the lens. Additionally, a lens that has an incorrect base curve or diameter for your eye shape can constantly shift or pinch, leading to persistent discomfort.
When to Seek Professional Care
While many contact lens discomfort issues are simple to fix, certain symptoms indicate a more serious problem requiring immediate professional attention. If the sharp, poking pain persists for more than a few hours after you have removed the lens, or if the eye remains noticeably red, consult an eye care professional. Pain is the body’s way of signaling that the corneal surface may have been compromised.
Immediate removal of the lens is necessary if the eye develops unusual discharge, becomes severely sensitive to light (photophobia), or if vision suddenly blurs or decreases. These symptoms can point toward underlying conditions like a corneal abrasion or a serious infection, such as microbial keratitis. Ignoring these warning signs significantly increases the risk of long-term damage to the eye.
Other persistent issues, such as a chronic gritty sensation that returns with every new lens, may indicate an allergic reaction like Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC). This condition involves inflammation on the inner surface of the eyelid, often caused by an allergic response to protein deposits on the lens. If all simple measures fail and the discomfort continues, a professional eye examination is necessary to check the lens fit and rule out any ocular disease.