Dr. Griffiths is a well credentialed and an excellent physician. Her staff are pleasant and professional. The office runs like a well-oiled machine. Kudos to them for providing such excellent care.
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Contact Lens Stuck in Your Eye? Here Is What to Do
How to Remove a Stuck Soft Contact Lens
The steps below work for the vast majority of stuck soft lens situations. The key is to stay calm, keep your hands clean, and use moisture before anything else. Rushing or forcing the lens makes things harder, not easier.
Panic causes your eyes to water and your eyelids to clamp down, which traps the lens further under the upper lid. Sit down somewhere with good lighting, take a few slow breaths, and wash your hands thoroughly with plain soap. Dry them on a clean, lint-free towel so no debris reaches your fingertip. Skip scented lotions or heavy hand creams until the lens is out, since dirty fingers are one of the most common routes for corneal infection during lens handling.
A dry lens grips the surface of the eye and the inside of the eyelid. Tilting your head back and placing several drops of sterile saline or preservative-free artificial tears onto the eye is usually the most important step. Close your eye gently for 30 to 60 seconds and let the fluid float the lens back toward the cornea. Repeat two or three times if needed. The added moisture breaks the seal between the lens and the tissue holding it in place.
Once the eye is well-lubricated, look downward. Place a clean fingertip on the outside of the upper eyelid (not directly on the eye) and use slow, light pressure to sweep the lid downward toward the lashes. This motion rolls the lens back into view from the upper pocket. Keep blinking between sweeps so natural tears continue to help the lens slide. Many wearers feel the lens shift back onto the cornea within a minute or two of gentle massage.
Stand at a well-lit mirror and gently pull the upper eyelid upward with one finger, then look in all directions. Repeat by pulling the lower lid downward. When you can see a corner of the lens, place a clean, slightly moist fingertip onto it and walk it back to the center of the eye. From there, the standard pinch-and-lift removal you normally use will work. If the lens looks torn, do not reinsert it. Let the eye rest, then replace it with a fresh lens.
Self-removal should stop if any of the following appear, since they can signal a more serious problem that needs professional attention:
- Sharp pain that does not ease after flushing the eye with drops
- Increasing redness, light sensitivity, or watery discharge
- Blurred vision that stays after blinking
- A persistent feeling that something is still in the eye after the lens appears to be out
How to Remove a Rigid Gas Permeable Lens That Will Not Budge
RGP lenses require a slightly different approach because of how they sit on the cornea. Forcing a suctioned lens directly off the eye with a fingertip can cause corneal scratches, so these gentler techniques are worth knowing before you ever need them.
Apply a few drops of a rewetting solution specifically labeled for rigid or RGP lenses, close your eye briefly, then blink firmly several times. The drops slip under the edge of the lens and restore the tear layer, which is usually enough to release a brief suction episode. Avoid tap water and homemade saline, both of which can carry harmful microorganisms that increase the risk of a serious corneal infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Look straight ahead and place your index finger at the outer edge of your lower eyelid. Pull the lid gently outward and slightly upward so the lid margin slides under the bottom edge of the lens. A firm blink then pops the lens forward into your waiting hand. This technique avoids direct fingertip pressure on a lens that is still suctioned to the cornea. If the lens still will not release after two or three careful attempts, stop and seek same-day eye care.
A rigid lens that sticks more than occasionally is signaling something worth investigating. Common causes include a steep base curve (the curvature of the lens relative to your eye), a thin tear film, meibomian gland problems (issues with the oil-producing glands at the eyelid margins), or a lens that has aged past its useful life. Our eye doctors can check the fit, measure tear quality, and adjust the lens or plan targeted dry eye care so daily wear becomes comfortable again.
Warning Signs That Require Same-Day Eye Care
Most stuck-lens situations resolve with the steps above and do not cause lasting harm. However, certain signs indicate that a cornea may be scratched or that an infection is starting, and those situations need professional attention the same day, not a wait-and-see approach.
Some discomfort while a lens is out of place is normal. The warning sign is pain that keeps climbing after the lens is removed, redness that does not improve, or squinting against ordinary room light. This combination can point to a corneal abrasion (scratch) or the start of an infection, and it should prompt a same-day call to your eye doctor rather than another attempt at home care.
If the eye still feels like something is in it after the lens is out, two possibilities matter. A torn piece of lens may still be tucked under the upper lid, or the cornea may have a small scratch that mimics a foreign body sensation with every blink. A prompt exam is the safest path when a lens seems to have disappeared and the sensation does not settle within an hour or so.
Blurred vision that does not clear with a blink, thick yellow or green discharge, or a visibly swollen eyelid are all reasons to stop trying to self-manage the situation. Do not insert a fresh lens in the affected eye until an eye doctor has checked the cornea. Wearing a lens over a scratched or inflamed surface traps bacteria against open tissue and can turn a minor issue into a serious one quickly.
If the lens feels stuck because something (dust, metal, or grit) entered the eye at the same time, remove the lens before or during flushing. Then rinse the eye thoroughly with clean, warm water or sterile saline using an eyecup. Do not rub the lid or try to pick at a visible particle. If discomfort, tearing, or redness continues after flushing, seek eye care that day.
Taking a few precautions between the moment you notice a problem and the time of your appointment helps protect the eye and gives your eye doctor a clearer picture of what happened.
- Leave lenses out of both eyes and wear glasses instead
- Use preservative-free artificial tears as often as every hour for comfort
- Avoid eye makeup, swimming, and hot tubs until you have been cleared
- Bring your lens case and solution bottle so the eye doctor can inspect them
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers address the practical decisions and specific scenarios that often come up when a lens gets stuck, going beyond the basic steps covered above.
The risk of real damage is low when the situation is handled calmly and correctly. The risk rises when a wearer forces the lens repeatedly, rubs hard, or leaves the lens out of position for many hours without seeking care. Those actions can scratch the cornea and create an entry point for bacteria. Following the lubrication steps first, and stopping if pain increases, keeps the risk very low for most people.
A folded lens sitting under the upper eyelid for a few hours is unlikely to cause lasting harm, though it will likely cause irritation and some redness. After roughly a full day, dried protein buildup on the lens makes it harder to dislodge, and the risk of an infection or an inflammatory reaction increases. If you have been trying to locate a missing lens for several hours without success, same-day care is the safer choice rather than waiting until the next morning.
Short, familiar drives may be manageable, but a stuck lens can blur vision or trigger reflex tearing without much warning. If the affected eye will not stop watering, if vision becomes blurry in that eye, or if light from oncoming vehicles causes significant discomfort, pull over safely and address the lens before continuing. If you cannot resolve the situation roadside, arranging a ride is the safest option.
Yes, and this is more common than most wearers realize. Antihistamines, certain blood-pressure medications, and isotretinoin can all reduce tear production, which causes the eye surface to grip the lens instead of letting it float freely. During allergy season, lid swelling and increased debris in the tear film can coat lenses faster and make displacement more likely. If you notice a pattern tied to a medication or a season, mention it at your next visit so the lens material, replacement schedule, or fit can be reviewed.
Younger wearers sometimes describe a stuck lens as 'something feels weird' without connecting it to the lens at all. Parents should ask about comfort at the end of each wearing day and watch for signs like rubbing, squinting, or unexpected tearing. Teaching the lubricate-and-wait steps as part of the original lens-care lesson prepares children to handle the situation early rather than waiting for it to become painful. A quick check in good light at the end of the day catches most out-of-place lenses before they become a bigger issue.
Morning sticking in lenses approved for extended wear usually means the eye surface is not producing enough moisture overnight, or that the lens fit or material is not ideal for overnight use. This is a fitting and tear-film question, not something to manage with more drops alone. Bringing this pattern to the attention of your eye doctor allows for a proper evaluation of tear quality, lens parameters, and whether daily disposables or a different wearing schedule would serve you better.
Visit NewView Eye Center for Contact Lens Care
A stuck lens is usually a manageable problem, but it can also be a signal that your fit, tear film, or wearing schedule deserves a closer look. Our eye doctors at NewView Eye Center are experienced in contact lens care, corneal evaluation, and dry eye management, so you can get answers and relief in one visit. If a lens is stuck right now and self-care is not working, or if any of the warning signs described above are present, please reach out to our team for same-day care. We are here to make every step of your lens-wearing experience as safe and comfortable as possible.
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