What to do when you can’t remove your contact lenses

Q: Can I use a contact lens remover tool?

Soft contact lens removal should generally be done without the use of tools, because a contact lens may need to be removed quickly in certain situations, like contamination or chemical exposure. Relying on a tool could be problematic in those situations if a tool is not available and you are not good at removing your contact lenses with your fingers. In certain situations your eye doctor may recommend a remover tool, like if you have limited use of your fingers, but always defer to the instructions and recommendations of your eye doctor.

Q: What if I can’t get my contact lens out no matter what I do?

Sometimes, lenses just don’t want to cooperate. If you’ve applied a few drops of the recommended lubricating or rewetting solution directly to the eye and the lens still doesn’t move after a few minutes, contact your eye doctor immediately.

Q: What should I do if my contact lens tears in my eye?

If a lens tears, gently try to slide the pieces to the corner of your eye for safe removal. You can also use sterile saline to help flush away any remaining bits. If you are unable to do this successfully, see your doctor immediately for help.

Q: How to correctly take out contact lenses?

Follow the instructions provided to you by your eye doctor. We also offer video tutorials on our LensAssist page.

Published on August 12, 2025

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6 minute read time

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a contact lens remover tool?

What if I can’t get my contact lens out no matter what I do?

What should I do if my contact lens tears in my eye?

How to correctly take out contact lenses?

What to do when you can’t remove your contact lenses

Why might contact lenses seem stuck to your eye?

What to do if your contact lenses get stuck on your eye

How to help keep contact lenses from sticking

Contact your eye doctor with any questions or concerns

Frequently asked questions

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