It’s a common fear contact lens wearers share: getting a lens stuck behind their eye. The good news is, it’s physically impossible for a contact lens to become stuck behind the eye. However, sometimes the lens can shift and move under the eyelid, which is uncomfortable and disturbing. If you’d like to know what to do when this happens, local eye doctor Dr. L. R. Gabe in Show Low, Arizona, is sharing this informative guide.

What To Do When It Feels Like Your Contacts Are Stuck Behind Your Eye

Lining the inner surface of the eyelids is a thin material called the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva folds behind the back of the eyelids, where it continues and becomes the covering over the whites of the eyes. Because of this protective barrier, it’s physically impossible for a contact lens to become stuck behind the eye.

Sometimes if you rub your eyes while wearing contact lenses or you accidentally bump your eye, the contact lens will fold in half and shift from its regular position on the cornea. When this happens, it often slides under the eyelid, disappearing.

The lens isn’t lost forever, and you don’t have to go rushing to the eye doctor for emergency eye care.

First, moisten your eye with some rewetting drops, close your eye, and then gently massage the area over your eyelid. When you feel the lens shifting downwards, simply open your eye and pull the lens out when you see it. Sometimes, only part of the lens will be visible, but you can easily slide it down once you locate it.

If this method doesn’t work, pull your eyelid up while looking down, and use a cotton swab to remove the contact lens gently. If you still can’t locate the lens, you may need to flip your eyelid inside out to retrieve it.

Using these methods will help you remove a lost contact lens in most cases, but if you still can’t remove it, give your eye doctor a call for assistance.

If you’re looking for a local eye doctor in the Show Low, Arizona, area, look no further than Dr. L. R. Gabe. With over 40 years of experience, Dr. Gabe has been providing exceptional vision care to residents, whether they need emergency eye care or a routine eye exam. To make an appointment with their eye care center, visit their website or call (928) 537-5565.