When a contact lens gets stuck on the surface of your eye or has been dislodged, it's likely that it has folded in half or shifted under your upper eyelid. To remove a dislodged lens, we recommend that you follow these steps to avoid causing your eyes harm.

1. First, wash your hands thoroughly, before adding a few drops of contact lens solution, sterile saline or rewetting eye drops to your eye, lubricating the lens and rinsing out your eye.

2. Close your eye and gently massage the eyelid one way, and then in the opposite direction, aiming to locate the lens and move it into a position where you can see it more easily to remove it.

3. If you're struggling, don't panic - just repeat steps 1 and 2, allowing the solution or eye drops to soak the affected area, so the lens moves. Massage your eyelid again to encourage the lens to return to its original position, and don't apply more lubrication if your eyes are watering heavily. Rather wipe away the excess moisture and use a dry finger to try and retrieve the lens.

In the case that encouraging the contact lens to its proper position or in an accessible place to retrieve is unsuccessful, you can alternatively turn your eyelids inside out. To do this, place a cotton wool bud across the tips of your eyelashes and, while looking downwards, take hold of your eyelashes and turn your eyelid inside out with a rapid movement. Take care not to do this too forcefully as a gentle action will suffice. By tipping your head backwards you should be able to see the contact lens and you'll be able to remove it from behind your eyelid. Enlisting the help of a family member or friend can make this method much easier, too.

FREE CONTACT LENSES

FREE CONTACT LENSES

FREE CONTACT LENSES

FREE CONTACT LENSES

Can a contact lens get stuck behind my eye?