It can happen from time to time, and when it does, the best thing to do is to not panic. The assuring thing is when your lens gets stuck, it will never get stuck behind your eye, and in some cases, it may find its way out on its own. But during that time, it can feel uncomfortable and instant removal is needed. Here are some home remedies you can use to remove your stuck lens, however, if you are experiencing tremendous pain and need immediate attention, leave your lens where it is, and go straight to your eye doctor.

It is important to mention the type of lenses you are wearing, as the removal procedure for soft and hard lenses is different. We only sell soft lenses on our site, but those of you who are reading this with rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, read down further below, as using soft lens removal techniques with hard lenses can cause scratching on your cornea.

How to remove stuck soft lenses

The most common cause of contacts becoming stuck in your eye is because the lens is lacking in moisture which causes it to stick to the centre of your eye. When this happens, the initial thought may be to panic, but rest assured, this is completely normal and can happen to contact lenses now and again. This is why it is imperative to make sure your eyes are lubricated with drops when needed, to prevent your eyes from drying out.

Step 1: Take a deep breath. I always suggest this, because when trying a removal attempt when feeling stressed, it can affect your ability to perform the task calmly and efficiently.

Step 2: Thoroughly wash and dry your hands. Ensure all the soap is washed off, and your hands are fully dried. The last thing you want is anything else becoming lodged into your eye such as dirt, soap, or water.

Step 3: Next step is to rinse your eye by applying a steady stream of saline solution, rewetting drops, contact safe lubricating drops, or sterile eye wash to your eye for a few seconds. Do not use contact lens solution as an eye wash because the ingredients inside are used to disinfect contact lenses, and can cause damage if applied straight onto your eyes. This can cause your eyes to dry out further.

Step 4: Constantly blink your eyes for around 30 seconds to elevate your production of natural tears, which will help to add more moisture back into your eye and lubricate your lens. Blinking also helps to dislodge your contacts, making them easier for removal.

Step 5: This is the best part, treating your eyelid to a gentle massage. Close your eyes and gently massage your eyelids in circular motion for another 30 seconds. You should be able to feel the lens moving as it loosens itself.

Step 6: Repeat the process as necessary. Your lens may take several attempts before it decides to dislodge itself from your eye.

Remember to never attempt to remove your lens whilst it is stuck to your eye, as our eyes are very sensitive, and this can cause abrasion which can lead to further damage. If after many attempts and your lens still isn’t budging, stop trying as this can irritate your eyes further, and make an appointment with your doctor.

Your lens is stuck off-centre

When your lens is stuck off-centre to your eye, it can feel more uncomfortable- sometimes causing blurry vision. The easiest thing to remember if this happens is to always look in the opposite direction to help loosen the lens. For example, if your lens is stuck to the right side of your eye, then look to the left, or if it is stuck to your upper eyelid then look downwards. These opposite movements can help to push the lens back to its correct position, enabling for easier removal. Alongside this technique, you can then follow the above 6 steps to dislodge your stubborn lens.

Your lens is torn

Sometimes the contact lens may tear when you are putting in or trying to remove your lens. If the broken lens is large enough, with clean and dry hands, you can slowly guide it with your finger to the bottom part of your eye and remove it as if it were a normal lens. For torn pieces that are smaller, or stubborn lens pieces that will not budge, rinse your eyes with saline solution or sterile eye wash and blink constantly. Our body knows when there is something caught in our eye, and as a form of defence, it will naturally send signals to our eyes to produce tears to help to flush out the stuck particle. Combined with our eye wash, this should hopefully be enough to push the torn part out. Do not rub your eyes or go poking around with your fingers, as this can cause you to accidentally scratch your cornea. You can gently pull your upper and lower eyelid apart and then release them again, which may help to dislodge the part. Like with the above, if you cannot get your lens out, or feel there is still smaller torn bits of lens stuck in your eye, consult your medical practitioner.

How to remove stuck hard lenses

Unlike soft lenses, it is not as common for rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses to get stuck- but it does happen, and when it does these are the steps you should follow.

Step 1 through to Step 4 are the same as your soft lenses (read above).

Step 5: With your clean hands, use your fingertip to gently press just beside the edge of the lens to break the suction that is keeping it in place (you should never massage your eyes if wearing RGP contacts, as the rigidness of their material can scratch your cornea).

Step 6: This next step requires you to know how to use an eye plunger. An eye plunger is a small suction device that safely helps to remove stuck RGP lenses. It would be a good idea to speak with your doctor on how to use one of these before attempting to do it yourself. If your lenses did not already come with one, you should be able to buy one at a pharmacy or speak to your doctor in how to get one.

Above all, if you are experiencing severe eye pain and are unable to remove your lenses, seek medical care immediately. Leaving stuck lenses inside your eye can increase your risk of contracting an eye infection.