Contact lenses rest on the cornea, the curved membrane that covers the iris, the colored section of the eye, and the pupil. Because the cornea sometimes becomes dry, contacts can stick to the surface and be difficult to remove. The contact lens isn't going to get lost in your head, because it can't migrate behind the eyeball, according to All About vision, but it can lodge up under the eyelid and be difficult to locate. It can also tear if you try too aggressively to remove it, leaving a small piece behind that may be very difficult to remove. To remove a lens that won't let loose, follow these steps.
Step 1
Calm yourself down. Never attack a stuck lens in panic mode; you're likely to claw at it and rip it in your determination to get it off your eye. Take some deep breaths, turn on some soothing music, and relax. The contact can't go anywhere, but you can scratch your cornea by being too rough.
Step 2
Prepare your workspace. Gather your supplies. Find a large mirror; use a magnifying mirror, if possible, to give you the best view. Have plenty of wetting solution on hand. If you're working over the sink, cover the drain with a washcloth or paper towel. You want to make sure the contact is intact after removing it. Wash your hands.
Step 3
Apply wetting solution to your eye. The wetting solution will loosen a dry lens, according to the National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics (NCEMI) and make the contact slip more easily, and may also make the contact easier to see.
Step 4
Look for the contact. Open your eye wide and blink a few times. If it's visible, wet your finger slightly with wetting solution, to make the lens adhere to your finger, as suggested by the Shady Grove eye and Vision Center. Remove it as you normally would. If the contact isn't visible, blink a few times; this may move the contact back to its normal resting post in the center of the eye. If it's still not visible carefully lift the upper eyelid and see if it's there.
Step 5
Move the contact down with your finger if it's in the upper art of the eyelid. Do this gently, and stop if it's not moving.
Step 6
Reassess the situation. If the contact still isn't removable, or if your eye is becoming reddened or irritated, stop. Call your eye doctor or go to the emergency room, especially if the eye is painful.
Things You'll Need
- Contact wetting solution
- Magnifying mirror
