How to Wash a Contact Out of Your Eye

Contact lenses can occasionally become stuck in your eye, especially when they become dehydrated. This most often happens if you fall asleep with your contacts in. Moisture from either natural tears or saline solution helps keep the lens pliable. Some people may also experience problems when they switch to a new brand of contact lenses. In most cases, rehydrating the lens will solve your problem. If you still cannot get the contact out or if your eye hurts, call your eye doctor. For after-hours help, have someone drive you to the emergency room.

Things You'll Need

  • Towel
  • Rewetting drops
  • Saline solution
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wash your hands well and dry them on a lint-free towel before attempting to remove anything from your eye.

    • 2

      Place two to three rewetting drops in the affected eye. Wait two to three minutes to allow them to rehydrate the lens before attempting to take it out.

    • 3

      Aim a steady flow of sterile saline solution or rewetting drops into your eye for several seconds if the lens is still stuck.

    • 4

      Close your eye and place your index finger on your upper lid. Gently massage the eyelid while exerting as little pressure as possible. Continue to do this until you feel the contact lens move. Blink several times.

    • 5

      Attempt to remove the contact lens again. It may help to rinse your index finger in saline solution before using it to remove the lens. If this still does not work, continue to rinse the eye in saline solution, massage the upper eyelid and blink often. Sometimes a contact lens can take up to 15 minutes and several sessions with the saline solution before it becomes rehydrated.

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