Updated: January 20, 2026
If a contact lens feels stuck, stop rubbing your eye and use lubricating drops to rehydrate the lens before trying to remove it gently. Lenses often feel stuck when they are dry or have shifted under the eyelid, and forcing removal can scratch the eye. If you can’t remove the lens or you have pain, worsening redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or sudden blurry vision, seek prompt eye care.
Quick Steps:
- Wash and dry your hands, then stop rubbing and take a moment to blink normally to let the lens move.
- Add rewetting drops or preservative-free artificial tears labeled safe for contact lens wear, then blink several times to loosen the lens.
- If the lens is on the colored part of your eye (cornea), gently slide it down to the white of your eye and pinch it out with your fingertips.
- If the lens seems stuck under the upper lid, gently massage the closed eyelid to help move it downward, then re-check in a mirror.
- Stop and get prompt eye care if you can’t remove it after a few gentle attempts or if symptoms include pain, increasing redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or sudden blurry vision.
Most “stuck” contact lenses can be removed by rehydrating the lens and using gentle technique, but persistent symptoms should be evaluated quickly.
Disclaimer: This information is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References:
How do I get a contact lens out from the top of my eye? American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). https://www.aao.org/eye-health/ask-ophthalmologist-q/stuck-contact-lens. Published September 11, 2023.
How to Insert and Remove Contact Lenses. American Optometric Association (AOA). https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/vision-and-vision-correction/contact-lenses/how-to-insert-and-remove-contacts. Updated July 2024.
Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/prevention/index.html. Updated May 27, 2025.
