What to Do If Your Colored Contact Tears: No Panic Needed
A torn contact lens in your eye is unsettling. I’ve been there. You’re blinking, your eye is watering, and you can feel something is definitely wrong. The good news: a torn lens is not dangerous. It’s just annoying and needs to come out.
Here’s what to do in the moment so you do not make it worse.
Step 1: Do Not Blink Hard
Your instinct is to squeeze your eye shut and blink rapidly. Do not. Hard blinking can push the torn edge against your cornea, which feels like sandpaper. Keep your eye open and calm. Let your tears flow naturally — they help separate the lens from your eye.
Step 2: Rewet Immediately
A dry lens tears more easily because the hydrogel material is stiff. A wet lens folds rather than rips. Put in rewetting drops before attempting removal. Wait thirty seconds. The lens will soften and slide more easily.
Step 3: Remove Gently
Use the slide-and-pinch technique. Look up, slide the lens downward, and pinch from the white of your eye. Do not pinch from the center — you might grab the torn edge and pull it across your cornea.
Step 4: Throw It Away
A torn lens cannot be repaired. Do not even think about it. The tear creates a rough edge that will scratch your cornea the next time you wear it. Our Earl Series and Nova Series lenses use uniform thickness to minimize tearing, but any lens can rip with rough handling.
Replace your torn lens with a fresh FDA-registered pair.