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    Wearing guide

    The plunger won't grip

    When the removal plunger keeps sliding off the lens, the cause is usually the plunger, where it's placed, or what's on the lens.

    By the Scleral Lens Team · Updated October 2, 2026 · 2 published sources cited

    The short answer

    Make sure you're using the small remover, not the inserter, and that its cup is clean, soft, and uncracked. Place it on the lower third of the lens and press gently until it grips. If it's old or stiff, replace it. If it still slips most days, tell your fitter.

    Before you start

    Time: A minute or two.

    • Your removal plunger, and a spare
    • Artificial tears your fitter has approved

    Step by step

    1. Check you have the remover

      The remover has a small cup. The inserter has a wide one, and it won't grip the lens to take it out.

    2. Look at the cup

      It should be clean, soft, and free of cracks or tears. A stiff, cracked, or misshapen cup can't seal.

    3. Add a drop of tears first

      A drop or two of artificial tears in the eye helps loosen the lens before you try.

    4. Place it on the lower third

      Center the cup on the lower third of the lens, not near the very edge where it can catch the lid, and not in the middle.

    5. Press gently, then pull

      Press until you feel it grip, then pull outward.

    6. Swap in a fresh plunger

      If it still won't hold, try your spare. Plungers wear out and need replacing on a schedule.

    These are general steps. If your fitter taught you differently, follow your fitter: your lens and eyes are theirs to know. Print the mirror cards to keep by your sink.

    ✓ Lower third of the lens
    ✗ Not the center

    Press the plunger gently onto the lower third of the lens until you feel it grip, then pull outward. Placing it off-center, not on the middle, is the key.

    Keep plungers clean and current

    A plunger touches your lens every day, so it needs care too. In a report of corneal infections in scleral lens wearers, the authors listed cleaning the plunger among the care steps to emphasize.[1] Clean it the way your fitter shows you, let it air-dry, and replace it on their schedule. Keep a spare in your kit.

    Lotion and makeup make the lens slippery

    Oils and creams on your hands end up on the lens. Wash with plain soap before handling your lenses, and take your lenses out before you remove makeup.[2]

    Common mistakes

    • Using the inserter to remove the lens.
    • Keeping a plunger long after the cup has stiffened or cracked.
    • Pressing hard and fast instead of gently.
    • Handling the lens with lotion or makeup on your fingers.

    Common questions

    How often should I replace my plunger?

    Follow your fitter's schedule. Replace it sooner if the cup is cracked, stiff, or won't seal.

    Should I clean my plunger?

    Yes, the way your fitter showed you. In a report of eye infections in scleral lens wearers, the authors listed cleaning the plunger among the care steps to emphasize.

    Does the size of the plunger matter?

    It should be small enough to control easily and large enough to grip the lens reliably. If yours doesn't feel right, ask your fitter.

    Keep going

    Guide

    How to remove a scleral lens

    Put a drop or two of artificial tears in your eye first. Then press the small removal plunger onto the lower third of the lens, never the center, until it grips, and pull outward. Do it over a towel, and clean the lens right away.

    Guide

    What to do when a scleral lens is stuck

    Stop pulling. Put a drop or two of artificial tears in your eye, wait a minute, and try again with the plunger on the lower third of the lens, not the center. If it still won't come out after a few gentle tries, call your eye doctor rather than forcing it.

    Sources

    1. Sticca MP, Carrijo-Carvalho LC, Silva IMB, et al. Acanthamoeba keratitis in patients wearing scleral contact lenses. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2018;41(3):307-310. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2017.12.004 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
    2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Everyday Eye Care (contact lenses). Content current as of December 4, 2023. fda.gov

    Last updated October 2, 2026. Found an error or a newer study? Let us know and we'll correct the page.