Contact Lens Stuck in Eye? Here's How to Remove It Safely

Quick Answer

If your contact lens feels stuck, don't panic and don't rub your eye. Wash your hands, rinse the eye with contact lens solution or saline, and gently try to slide the lens to the white of your eye before pinching it off. If it won't budge or you feel severe pain, stop and seek professional help.

You blink, rub your eye, and suddenly realize your contact lens has shifted or won't come out. It's an unsettling feeling, but it's more common than you might think—and in most cases, you can resolve it yourself without causing any harm. The key is to stay calm, follow a careful process, and know when to stop.

A lens can get stuck for several reasons: dryness, overwear, or it may have folded and slipped under your eyelid. Whatever the cause, this guide walks you through the exact steps to safely remove a stuck lens, including what to do if it's trapped under your eyelid and when you should see an eye care professional.

Identify the Problem: Symptom or Emergency?

Before you do anything, assess how your eye feels. A lens that's simply dry or slightly shifted will cause mild discomfort, a scratchy sensation, or blurred vision. Your eye may water more than usual—this is your eye's natural response. In this case, home removal is usually safe.

However, if you experience sharp pain, intense redness, heavy discharge, or if your vision suddenly becomes very blurry and doesn't clear with blinking, stop immediately. Do not try to remove the lens with force. These can be signs of a corneal scratch or infection, and you need professional help right away.

• Mild symptoms: go ahead and follow the removal steps below.
• Severe symptoms: stop and seek medical attention.

Step-by-Step: How to Get a Contact Lens Unstuck

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and dry with a lint-free towel. Never use tools, tweezers, or cotton swabs—only your clean fingers. Sit in front of a mirror in a well-lit area.

Rinse your eye with contact lens solution or sterile saline. This can rehydrate a dry lens so it moves more easily. If you wear colored lenses, this is especially important because they can become brittle when dry. Then, look up and gently pull your lower eyelid down, and try to slide the lens to the white part of your eye using a light touch.

• Always use fresh solution, not tap water—tap water can introduce harmful microorganisms.
• If the lens won't slide, close your eye and gently massage your eyelid with your fingertip.

If It's Under Your Eyelid

Sometimes a lens folds and gets trapped under the upper eyelid. You won't be able to see it, and it may feel like something is still in your eye even after you think you've removed it. Here's how to find it: look down and gently pull your upper eyelid upward with two fingers, or use a mirror to lift it carefully. If you can see the lens, gently push it back down onto the eyeball and then slide it into place.

If you can't locate it, rinse the eye with solution to help the lens float free. If it's still not found, don't panic. Take a break, blink several times, and try again. If you've been trying for more than 20 minutes without success, it's time to stop and see a doctor.

• Avoid rubbing your eye—this can push the lens deeper or scratch the cornea.

After You Remove It: Check and Clean

Once the lens is out, don't put it back in directly. Examine it for any tears, chips, or damage. If it's a colored cosmetic lens, check that the color layer is intact. If damaged, discard it. If it looks fine, clean and disinfect it with a multi-purpose solution before using it again.

Also, listen to your eye. It may feel a bit dry or scratchy for a little while, which is normal. If that feeling persists for more than an hour, or if you notice redness or pain, consult an eye care professional. Always replace your lens case regularly and keep your solution fresh.

• Don't reuse solution from a bottle that's been open for longer than the manufacturer recommends.

Diagnosis at a Glance

• Symptom: Mild discomfort, scratchy feeling, blurred vision, or lens not centered on the eye. This is usually a dry or shifted lens—home removal is safe.
• Likely Cause: Dryness from low blink rate, overwear, or a lens that folded and slipped under the eyelid. Rehydrating the eye with solution can often resolve it.
• Corrective Action: Wash hands, rinse eye with solution, gently slide the lens to the white of the eye, then pinch off. Check under eyelid if needed. Follow steps slowly and use light pressure only.
• Stop & Seek Help: Sharp pain, intense redness, heavy discharge, or inability to remove after 20 minutes. Do not force it—see an eye care professional immediately.

Products That Help

• Dream Eye Multi-purpose Contact Lens Solution: Dream Eye Multi-purpose Solution is an all-in-one contact lens solution that handles cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, storing, and lubricating. It removes protein and helps prevent tear protein buildup. Keeping a quality multi-purpose solution on hand ensures you can rinse a stuck lens and clean it properly after removal, reducing the chance of irritation.
• Princess Pinky Cloudy Grey: Princess Pinky Cloudy Grey colored contacts give a bold, mysterious look and come with a free lens case. If you wear colored lenses, proper lens storage is key. The included lens case helps you keep your lenses safe after cleaning, so they're less likely to dry out and stick.

Getting a contact lens stuck can be stressful, but with a calm approach and the right steps, you can often resolve it yourself. Always prioritize your eye's health—if something doesn't feel right, stop and seek professional advice. And remember, proper care with a quality solution and lens case goes a long way in preventing this issue in the first place.