Most contact lens users, at some point will have difficulty lifting it from the eye. This problem especially affects those who have not worn contact lenses for a very long time. Contact lenses can get stuck in the eye because they dry after hours of use, or because they have shifted their position. Whether you wear soft or rigid contact lenses, the following instructions will help you remove a contact lens that is stuck in your eye.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Gently Lifting Contact Lenses
Step 1. Wash your hands
Always keep your hands clean whenever you put on or remove contact lenses. Your hands contain thousands of bacteria, including human waste bacteria, just from the things you touch every day. Wash your hands with soap and warm water before touching your eyes to prevent infection.
- To remove a contact lens that is stuck in the eye, it is more important to wash your hands beforehand, because you will be touching your eyes for a long time. The longer your fingers are in contact with your eyes, the more likely you are to spread contamination.
- After washing your hands, do not dry the palms or fingertips on the hands that will touch the eyes, because there is a possibility that your eyes may get smudged with the towel fibers.
Step 2. Stay calm
Being panicked or overly nervous about the situation will only make it harder for you to lift your contact lenses. If you are restless, take a few deep breaths before continuing.
- Do not worry! Your contact lenses will not get stuck behind the eyeball. The conjunctiva, or mucus layer in front of the eye, as well as the muscle around the eye called the rectus muscle, makes this impossible.
- Removing a contact lens that is stuck in your eye is not a serious health risk, unless you intentionally leave it unattended for a long period of time. It will cause irritation, but will not damage the eyes. On the other hand, a rigid lens can scratch the cornea if it is damaged, and this can lead to infection.
- If you fail to lift the lens several times, take a break. Sit down and relax for a while.
Step 3. Confirm the position of the lens
In many cases, contact lenses can become stuck due to shifting from their proper position, which is over the cornea. If so, you must first confirm its position before lifting. Close your eyes and relax your eyelids. You should be able to feel where the lens is going. If you can't feel it under the lid, touch it gently with your finger and make sure it's in position.
- If the lens shifts to the corner of your eye, you can see it in a mirror.
- Try looking in the opposite direction to the lens position. For example, if the lens is felt in the right corner of the eye, look to the left. Or, if the lens feels stuck under the eye, look up. The stuck lens can be seen immediately.
- If you can't feel or see the lens, it may have fallen out of your eye.
- Place your finger over your eyelid (near your eyebrows) and pull and hold it so that your eyelid opens. This can help you see the lens position better. But keep in mind that if you move your eyeball downwards while your eyelids are still pulled up, the orbicularis oculi muscle will stiffen and you won't be able to close your eyes until the eyeball is moved upward again.
Step 4. Wet contact lenses
Contact lenses can get stuck if they are dry. Therefore, wet the lens with a saline solution. If possible, drip the saline solution directly into the lens. Wait a few minutes for the lenses to get wet and soften.
- If your contact lens gets stuck under your eyelid or in the corner of your eye, additional moisture can help make it float back into the correct position, making it easier to remove.
- Often, wetting the lens will allow it to be lifted conventionally. Blink a few times or close your eyes for a few seconds, then try lifting the contact lens again.
Step 5. Massage your eyelids
If the lens remains stuck or trapped under the eyelid, close your eyes and gently massage the eyelids with your fingertips.
- If the lens is still deviated, try pushing it across the cornea.
- If the lens is stuck under the lid, it may be a good idea to move the eyeball downwards while your fingers massage the lid.
Step 6. Refine your approach
If the position of the lens is correct but still does not want to leave the eye, try a different way to lift the contact lens. Most people do this by pinching the lens on both fingers, but you can try placing one finger on each eyelid and pressing gently while blinking.
- You can use the index or middle finger on each hand. When the finger is on the upper eyelid, press down. When the finger is on the lower eyelid, press up.
- The lens will be pulled away from the eye and easy to lift.
Step 7. Lift your eyelids
If the lens is still stuck and you can feel it under your eyelid, try gently lifting your eyelid and turning it outward.
- For this, use the tip of a cotton swab, then press down on the center of the lid while pulling the lashes forward, away from the eye.
- Tilt your head back. At this point you should be able to see the contact lens if it gets stuck under the eyelid. Carefully pull out the lens from under the eyelid.
- You may need the help of a friend or family member to do this.
Step 8. See your eye doctor
If all else fails, or if your eyes become increasingly red or irritated, see your local doctor, optometrist, or hospital immediately. They can remove contact lenses without causing further damage to your eyes.
If you believe you have accidentally scratched or damaged your eye while attempting to remove a contact lens, contact your ophthalmologist immediately. You should consult a doctor if there is a possibility of eye damage, whether you manage to remove the lens or not
Method 2 of 3: Removing Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Rigid Contact Lenses
Step 1. Wash your hands
Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Do not dry the fingers that will be used to touch the eyes so as not to infiltrate the fabric fibers. Your hands should be clean every time you put on or remove contact lenses.
Thorough hand hygiene is important if you are going to touch your eyes for a long time, such as when trying to remove a lens that is stuck in your eye
Step 2. Stay calm
A contact lens stuck in the eye is not considered an emergency situation, so if you are nervous it will make it even more difficult to position and lift the lens.
- Your contact lenses will not get stuck behind the eyeball. The conjunctiva, or mucus layer in front of the eye, as well as the muscle around the eye called the rectus muscle, makes this impossible.
- Removing a contact lens that is stuck in your eye is not a serious health risk, unless you intentionally leave it unattended for a long period of time. It will cause irritation, but will not damage the eyes. If the lens is broken or damaged, it may be painful.
Step 3. Confirm the position of the lens
In many cases, rigid contact lenses can get stuck because they shift from their proper position, which is on top of the cornea. If so, you must first confirm the position before lifting.
- Close your eyes and relax your eyelids. You should be able to feel where the lens is going. If you can't feel it under the lid, touch it gently with your finger and make sure it's in position.
- If the lens shifts to the corner of your eye, you can see it in a mirror.
- Try looking in the opposite direction to the lens position. For example, if the lens is felt in the right corner of the eye, look to the left. Or, if the lens feels stuck under the eye, look up. The stuck lens can be seen immediately.
- If you can't feel or see the lens, it may have fallen out of your eye
Step 4. Break the seal
If the lens strays toward the white of the eye, you can often pry it out by breaking the suction cup between the lens and the eyeball. To do this, use your fingertips to gently press your eye beyond the rim of the lens.
Don't massage the eyeball as you would a soft contact lens. This will instead make the edges of the lens scratch the surface of the eye as it moves
Step 5. Use a suction cup tool
If the lens remains stuck, you can purchase a small suction cup device in the eye care section of your drugstore, to help remove the lens. Ideally, your optometrist will teach you this technique before prescribing contact lenses.
- First, wash the suction cup with contact lens cleaner. Wet the suction cup with the saline solution.
- Use your thumb and index finger to lift the eyelid.
- Place the suction cup into the center of the lens and then pull it out. Be careful not to get your eyes in the suction cup.
- The contact lens can be lifted from the suction cup by gently sliding it at an angle.
- Consider seeing an eye health professional before choosing this method. Using a suction cup yourself to remove a rigid lens can result in trauma to the eye.
Step 6. See a doctor if necessary
If you are unable to remove your contact lenses yourself, see your local doctor, optometrist, or hospital. Let them do it for you. You should also seek medical attention if your eyes become very red or irritated.
If you believe you have accidentally scratched or damaged your eye while attempting to remove a contact lens, contact your ophthalmologist immediately. You should consult a doctor if there is a possibility of eye damage, whether you manage to remove the lens or not
Method 3 of 3: Getting Used to Hygenic Contact Lenses
Step 1. Never touch your eyes without washing your hands first
Your hands contain thousands of bacteria from the things you touch every day. Wash your hands with soap and warm water before touching your eyes to prevent infection.
If you touch your eyes with dirty fingers and hands, you could potentially cause an infection or scratch
Step 2. Lubricate your eyes at all times
Use contact lens eye drops or other eye lubricant to keep your eyes moist throughout the day. This keeps the lens from getting stuck in the eye.
If your eyes become itchy or red after using eye drops, try looking for a product marked "preservative-free."
Step 3. Keep the contact lens case clean
Clean the lens case every day. After fitting the contact lenses, wash the case with a sterile solution or hot (preferably distilled) water and soap. Do not allow the lens case to fill with tap water, as this will cause fungal and bacterial infections. Let the lens case air dry.
Change your contact lenses every three months. Even if you clean it every day, bacteria and a lot of other debris will eventually contaminate the box
Step 4. Change the solution in the lens case, daily
After cleaning the lens case and letting it air dry, pour a fresh, clean contact lens solution into it. This solution will lose its benefits over time, so keep it fresh every day to keep your contact lenses clean and bacteria-free.
Step 5. Follow the instructions for cleaning and sanitizing the type of lens you are using
Different types of lenses require different care products. Always use the correct type of solution for your lens type. Follow your eye care professional's recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing contact lenses.
Use commercially prepared solutions, eye drops, and cleansers to reduce the risk of infection
Step 6. Wear contact lenses as directed by an eye care professional
They should give you a range of how long it is safe to wear your contact lenses each day. Use contact lenses according to this professional's advice.
Do not fall asleep while wearing contact lenses, unless you have been prescribed an “extended wear” contact lens. Even so, professionals still do not recommend sleeping while wearing this type of contact lens, because it can increase the risk of eye infections
Step 7. Remove your contact lenses before exposing yourself to water
If you are going to swim, take a bath or shower, or soak in a hot tub, remove your contact lenses first. This helps reduce the risk of infection.
Step 8. Keep eyes wet
Contact lenses can get stuck in the eye if they are dry. One way to avoid this is to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Adequate fluid intake will help keep your eyes moist.
- The recommended water intake for men is at least 13 cups (3 liters) per day, while for women it is at least 9 cups (2.2 liters) per day.
- If you regularly experience dry eyes, try to stay away from excessive alcohol and caffeine. This type of fluid dehydrates your body. Water is best for you, while other good options include fruit juices, milk and decaffeinated bitter teas like Rooibos, and many other herbal teas.
Step 9. Don't smoke
Scientific studies show that smoking makes dry eyes worse. “Dry eyes” can cause your contact lenses to stick and get stuck in your eye. Smokers who wear contact lenses are more likely to have problems with their contact lenses than non-smokers.
Even passive exposure to secondhand smoke (from other people) can create problems for contact lens users
Step 10. Take care of your health
You can help prevent eye problems by maintaining healthy eating habits, exercising, getting enough sleep each day, and reducing eye pressure.
- Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, mustard greens, kale, and other greens, are very good for eye health. Salmon, tuna, and other fatty fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that can help prevent some eye problems.
- Many studies show that people who exercise regularly generally have better eye health. They are also less likely to be exposed to serious eye diseases such as glaucoma.
- If you don't get enough sleep, it can take a toll on your eyesight. The most common side effect is dry eyes. You are also likely to have eye twitching.
- Try to reduce eye pressure as much as possible. Reduce exposure to light from electronic items, adjust to an ergonomic position at work, and take frequent breaks when working involving the use of the eyes.
Step 11. Have your eyes checked regularly
Regular eye check-ups with a professional ophthalmologist can help keep eye problems at bay. Regular professional eye exams can also detect various eye diseases such as glaucoma.
If you have persistent eye problems or are in your late 30s, you should see your doctor every year. Adults in the age range of 20-30 years should have an eye exam at least every two years
Step 12. Discuss health concerns with your doctor
If your contact lenses are constantly stuck or stuck in your eyes, see an eye doctor immediately. There may be a more serious problem. You also ask for advice on various preventative methods that can be taken.
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See a doctor "immediately" if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Blurred vision
- Flashes of light or "halo" (gloss of light around an object)
- Eye pain, irritation, swollen or red eyes
Tips
- Wet eyes with saline solution before removing contact lenses. Once moistened, air dry your finger and remove the lens from your eye. This method allows enough friction for your finger to grip the lens surface.
- Many cities have online lists of ophthalmologists. For example, if you're in Detroit and need to see an ophthalmologist, a good place to look is on the Henry Ford Healthcare System's “Find a Doctor” page. VSP also provides a search page.
- Put on makeup after putting on contact lenses. Remove contact lenses before removing makeup. This helps prevent makeup from sticking to the lenses.
- Close your eyelids tightly (holding with your fingers if necessary) and move your pupils around (look around) counterclockwise for three minutes, then the contact lenses will begin to seep out of their trapped places and can be removed easily.
Warning
- Always make sure that your hands, lens case, towel, and anything else that comes into contact with your eyes or contact lenses are always clean. Otherwise, your eyes could become infected.
- Never use saliva to wet contact lenses. Human spit is full of germs, so if you use it to wet the lens, it's the same as transferring it all to the eye.
- Carefully read the instructions for using the lens solution before applying it to the eye. Basic saline solutions are safe to use for wetting lenses, but some solutions contain cleaning agents that will irritate or burn your eyes if you drop them directly into your eyes.
- If, after removing the lens, your eye remains red and irritated, see an ophthalmologist immediately for an examination. It could be that you have accidentally scratched the cornea.
- Never wear "custome" contact lenses or other contact lenses purchased without a prescription, as they can cause blisters, pain, infection, and even permanent blindness.
