How To Know If Contact Is Stuck In Eye

How to Know if a Contact Lens is Stuck in Your Eye

It's a frightening experience: you feel something's wrong with your eye, and you suspect a contact lens might be stuck. This guide will help you determine if your contact lens is indeed stuck and offer safe solutions to remove it.

Identifying a Stuck Contact Lens

Several signs indicate a contact lens might be stuck under your eyelid:

Common Symptoms:

• Foreign body sensation: The most obvious sign is a persistent feeling of something irritating or scratching your eye. This feeling often doesn't go away even after blinking repeatedly.
• Redness and Irritation: Your eye might become red, inflamed, and watery. This is the eye's natural response to irritation.
• Blurred Vision: A stuck lens can significantly affect your vision, leading to blurriness or distortions.
• Pain: While not always present, severe pain is a serious indicator and necessitates immediate attention.
• Inability to Locate the Lens: If you try to remove your lens with your fingers and can't find it, it's likely lodged under your eyelid.

Differentiating from Other Eye Issues:

It's crucial to distinguish a stuck contact lens from other eye problems. Symptoms like these might indicate something other than a stuck lens and require professional medical help:

• Severe pain accompanied by vision loss.
• Significant swelling or discharge.
• Persistent headache.
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light).

If you experience these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention from an eye doctor or ophthalmologist.

Safely Removing a Stuck Contact Lens

Attempting to remove a stuck contact lens improperly can cause further damage to your eye. Follow these steps:

Gentle Manipulation:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly: Use soap and water, then dry with a lint-free towel.
2. Gently pull down your lower eyelid: Use your index finger to pull your lower eyelid down, exposing the area beneath.
3. Look up and to the side: This helps to move the eyelid, potentially dislodging the lens.
4. Try to locate and remove the lens: Using your index finger (clean!), gently try to dislodge the lens from underneath your eyelid. Be incredibly gentle to avoid scratching your cornea.
5. Rinse your eye: After removing the lens, gently rinse your eye with sterile saline solution or lukewarm, boiled water (cooled to room temperature).

If You Can't Remove the Lens:

Do not force it! Forcing removal can cause significant injury to your eye. Instead:

• Seek professional help: Visit an eye doctor or ophthalmologist as soon as possible. They have specialized tools and expertise to safely remove the lens and assess your eye for any damage.

Prevention is Key

To minimize the risk of future incidents:

• Proper hygiene: Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses.
• Regular cleaning and disinfecting: Clean and disinfect your contact lenses as recommended by your eye doctor.
• Replace lenses as instructed: Following the recommended replacement schedule for your lenses is critical to prevent issues.
• Avoid sleeping in your contacts: Unless specifically prescribed by your eye doctor, remove contacts before sleep.

Remember, your eye health is paramount. If you're unsure about anything related to your contact lenses, always consult with your eye care professional.