How to Get Contacts Out: Mastering the Art of Safe Contact Lens Removal

Picture this: you're standing in front of your bathroom mirror at 2 AM, exhausted after a long day, and your contact lenses feel like they've become one with your eyeballs. Your fingers fumble, your eyes water, and suddenly what should be a simple task feels like trying to perform microsurgery with oven mitts on. If you've ever found yourself in this predicament, you're not alone – millions of contact lens wearers struggle with removal, especially when they're new to the game or dealing with particularly stubborn lenses.

Contact lens removal is one of those skills that nobody really teaches you properly. Sure, your eye care professional probably gave you a quick demonstration, but watching someone else do it and actually mastering the technique yourself are two entirely different beasts. I remember my first week with contacts – I spent more time trying to extract them than I did wearing them. My roommate would hear me cursing in the bathroom and knew exactly what was happening.

The truth is, there's a psychological component to contact removal that rarely gets discussed. When something is sitting directly on your eye, every instinct in your body screams at you not to touch it. Your eyelids want to clamp shut, your head wants to pull back, and your fingers suddenly feel like they belong to someone else entirely. Breaking through this natural resistance requires both technique and a certain mental fortitude.

Let me share something that changed everything for me: the problem usually isn't that the contact is stuck – it's that we're going about removal all wrong. Most people try to pinch the lens directly off the center of their eye, which is actually the hardest way to do it. The cornea's curve makes this approach unnecessarily difficult, and you end up chasing the lens around your eye like you're trying to catch a bar of soap in the shower.

Instead, here's what actually works. First, make absolutely certain your hands are clean and completely dry. I cannot stress the dry part enough – wet fingers on contact lenses is like trying to pick up ice with chopsticks. Pat your fingers with a lint-free towel if needed. Those little fibers from regular towels can be a nightmare if they get in your eye.

Now, look up toward the ceiling. This is counterintuitive because we naturally want to look at what we're doing, but looking up exposes more of the white part of your eye, giving you a better working surface. Using your middle finger, gently pull down your lower eyelid. With your index finger and thumb of the same hand, slide the contact lens down onto the white part of your eye before attempting to pinch it out. The lens comes off much easier from this position because the sclera (white part) is flatter than the cornea.

Some people swear by the two-handed method, where one hand holds the eyelids open while the other does the extraction. Personally, I find this makes me blink more, but experiment and see what works for your eye anatomy and comfort level. Everyone's eyes are shaped slightly differently, and what works brilliantly for your best friend might be a disaster for you.

If your contacts feel particularly stuck, don't panic and start yanking. This usually happens when your eyes are dry, which is common after long days, air travel, or staring at screens for hours. Put in a few rewetting drops specifically designed for contact lens wear – not just any eye drops, mind you. Wait about 30 seconds, blink several times to let the moisture work its magic, then try again. The lens should slide much more easily.

Here's a trick I learned from an optometrist in Denver who'd been fitting contacts since the hard lens days: if you're really struggling, try the "blink and slide" method. After putting in rewetting drops, look straight ahead and blink firmly several times. Sometimes this naturally loosens the lens's grip on your eye. Then, while looking in the mirror, gently massage your closed eyelid in a circular motion. This can help break the suction without directly touching the lens.

For those wearing rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, the removal process is entirely different. You'll need either a small suction cup device specifically designed for hard contacts, or you'll need to master the eyelid manipulation technique. Place your index finger at the outer corner of your eye, pull the skin taut toward your ear while blinking. The lens should pop out into your other hand, which should be cupped below your eye. It takes practice, but once you get it, it's actually faster than removing soft lenses.

Monthly and extended-wear lenses can be trickier to remove than dailies because they tend to be thicker and can develop more protein deposits throughout their wear cycle. If you notice your monthlies becoming increasingly difficult to remove as the month progresses, it might be time to reassess your cleaning routine or talk to your eye care provider about switching brands.

I've noticed that removal difficulty often correlates with how well the lenses fit in the first place. Lenses that are too tight will suction to your eye more aggressively, while those that are too loose might slide around, making them paradoxically harder to grab. If you consistently struggle with removal despite good technique, it's worth discussing with your optometrist whether your current brand and fit are optimal for your eyes.

Environmental factors play a bigger role than most people realize. Air conditioning, heating, wind, and low humidity all contribute to lens adherence. I keep a small humidifier on my nightstand, and it's made evening removal noticeably easier. Similarly, removing lenses immediately after a hot shower, when the bathroom is steamy, can be more comfortable than doing it in a dry room.

One mistake I see repeatedly is people trying to remove their lenses with long fingernails. While it's possible, it significantly increases your risk of corneal abrasion. If you're committed to keeping your nails long, consider using the pad of your finger rather than the tip, or invest in a soft-tipped contact lens removal tool. These tools look like tiny plungers and can be lifesavers for people with mobility issues or those who simply can't get comfortable touching their eyes.

The psychological aspect deserves more attention. If you're anxious about removal, your whole body tenses up, including the muscles around your eyes. This makes everything harder. Try taking three deep breaths before starting, consciously relaxing your shoulders and face. Some people find it helpful to remove lenses at the same time each day, creating a routine that their body and mind can settle into.

For new wearers, I always recommend practicing removal shortly after insertion for the first few days. Your eyes are less tired, the lenses are fresh and clean, and you're not dealing with the added pressure of needing to get to bed. Build your confidence when the stakes are low, and removal will feel more natural when you actually need to do it at the end of the day.

Special situations require modified techniques. If you've accidentally napped in your lenses (we've all been there), don't try to remove them immediately upon waking. Your eyes are likely dry, and the lenses may have temporarily molded more tightly to your eye shape. Blink several times, use rewetting drops liberally, and wait a few minutes before attempting removal. Same goes for after crying – the salt can make lenses stick more than usual.

Sometimes a lens will migrate under your upper eyelid or into the corner of your eye. Don't panic – it cannot go "behind" your eye, despite what urban legends might suggest. The conjunctiva forms a barrier that prevents this. Close your eye and gently massage the lid, directing the lens back toward the center. Looking in the opposite direction of where you think the lens went can sometimes help it slide back into place.

If you've tried everything and absolutely cannot remove a lens, don't keep traumatizing your eye with repeated attempts. Call your eye care provider's emergency line or visit an urgent care center. They have specialized tools and experience to remove stubborn lenses without causing damage. It's far better to seek help than to risk scratching your cornea.

The learning curve for contact lens removal is real, but it does get easier. What takes 10 minutes of frustrated fumbling in your first week will eventually become a 10-second unconscious action. Your fingers develop muscle memory, your anxiety decreases, and before you know it, you're popping out lenses while half-asleep without even thinking about it.

Remember that everyone's journey with contacts is different. Some people master removal on day one, while others need weeks to feel comfortable. Neither timeline makes you better or worse at wearing contacts – it's simply a matter of individual comfort and coordination. Be patient with yourself, maintain good hygiene, and don't hesitate to ask for help or advice when you need it.

The freedom that contact lenses provide – from sports to special occasions to simply seeing the world without frames – makes mastering removal technique worthwhile. Once you find your rhythm, it becomes just another part of your daily routine, no more challenging than brushing your teeth. Until then, keep practicing, stay calm, and remember that millions of us have been exactly where you are now, squinting at the mirror and wondering if these things are ever coming out. They will, and sooner than you think, you'll be the one giving advice to nervous new wearers.

Authoritative Sources:

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Clinical Optics. San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2020.

Bennett, Edward S., and Barry A. Weissman. Clinical Contact Lens Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2021.

Efron, Nathan. Contact Lens Practice. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2018.

Phillips, Anthony J., and Lynne Speedwell. Contact Lenses. 6th ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2019.

Ruben, Montague, and Michel Guillon. Contact Lens Practice. London: Chapman & Hall Medical, 2020.