It is a common and frustrating experience for a contact lens to feel stubbornly stuck to the eye’s surface. While this situation can cause momentary panic, it is rarely a medical emergency and is almost always fixable at home. The structure of the eye makes it physically impossible for a lens to get truly lost behind the eyeball, as a protective membrane called the conjunctiva prevents this. A lens that refuses to budge is most often simply dehydrated or has shifted out of its central position, but with the right technique, the lens can be safely removed.
Step-by-Step Guide for Removing a Stuck Lens
First, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel to prevent introducing bacteria or foreign particles. Next, determine the lens’s location, which is usually either centered on the cornea or displaced toward the white of the eye, known as the sclera. If the lens is centered but feels glued to your eye, its material has likely dried out, which is the most frequent cause of adherence.
Rehydrate the lens using sterile saline solution or contact lens rewetting drops, applying a steady stream over the eye for several seconds. These fluids act to lubricate the space between the lens and the cornea, softening the lens material to make it pliable again. After applying the moisture, close your eye and gently massage your upper eyelid in a circular motion, or simply blink repeatedly.
If the lens has been displaced—for instance, moved up under the upper eyelid—look in the opposite direction of the lens’s suspected location to try and dislodge it. For a lens under the upper lid, look down toward your nose to use your eyelid to push the lens back toward the center. Once the lens feels like it is moving, you can use the standard removal technique, gently pinching the lens between your thumb and index finger, or sliding it onto the white of the eye before removal. If the lens is rigid or gas-permeable, avoid massaging your eyelid and instead gently press on the sclera right next to the lens’s edge to break the suction seal.
Common Reasons Why Lenses Get Stuck
The primary reason a soft contact lens becomes stuck is severe dryness, which causes the lens material to lose its hydration and tightly adhere to the cornea. When a soft lens dries out, its diameter shrinks slightly, and the resulting suction effect makes it feel impossible to pinch or slide. This lack of moisture often occurs from extended wear, air conditioning, or sleeping in lenses not approved for overnight use.
A displaced lens that has folded or moved off the cornea presents a different challenge because the barrier of the conjunctiva traps it under the eyelid. While you may feel a foreign body sensation, the lens can be difficult to see directly, leading to the mistaken belief that the lens has vanished. The lens material can fold over itself, effectively hiding it from view, most often under the upper eyelid.
Falling asleep while wearing contacts is a common precursor to a stuck lens, as the eye produces less tears during sleep, leading to rapid dehydration of the lens material. This combination of dryness and prolonged adherence significantly increases the risk of the lens bonding to the eye’s surface when you wake up. A lens that is simply ill-fitting can also contribute to the issue by either creating excessive suction or moving too freely to be easily located and removed.
When to Stop Trying and Consult a Specialist
While most stuck lenses can be removed safely at home, there are specific warning signs that indicate you should immediately cease all attempts and seek professional help from an optometrist. If you experience sharp or persistent pain, not just the mild discomfort of a dry lens, you should stop. This type of pain can signal a corneal abrasion, which is a scratch on the clear front surface of the eye.
Persistent redness, excessive tearing, or an unusual light sensitivity that lasts more than an hour after your attempts also warrant a consultation. These symptoms can be signs of significant irritation or a possible eye infection, which requires prompt medical attention. If you suspect the lens has torn or if you simply cannot locate the lens after multiple, gentle rehydration and manipulation attempts, a specialist can safely retrieve it.