Search every guide, condition page, and common question.

    Wearing guide

    What to do when a scleral lens is stuck

    A lens that won't release is usually a seal that needs a little moisture and a better angle, not more force. Here's how to get it out safely, and when to call.

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

    The short answer

    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.

    Before you start

    Time: Usually a few minutes. Take breaks between tries.

    • Your removal plunger
    • Artificial tears your fitter has approved
    • A towel under you and a mirror
    • Your eye doctor's phone number, including after-hours

    Step by step

    1. Stop and breathe

      Pulling harder or faster tends to make things worse. Put the plunger down for a moment and take a breath.

    2. Add moisture

      Put a drop or two of artificial tears in your eye. Blink gently a few times so the moisture can work its way toward the edge of the lens.

    3. Wait a minute

      Give it a minute or so before you try again. Resting also lets your eye calm down after earlier attempts.

    4. Check your plunger and where it's going

      Make sure you're using the small remover, not the inserter, and that it's on the lower third of the lens, near the edge, never the center.

    5. Try again, gently

      Press until the plunger grips, then pull outward. Let the lower edge lift. If the plunger keeps slipping, check that the lens and plunger aren't greasy, and try again.

    6. Rest between attempts

      If it doesn't release after a few tries, rest for a few minutes, add more tears, and try once more.

    7. Call if it still won't come out

      Call your eye doctor or their after-hours line. If you can't reach them, go to urgent care or an emergency room. Don't sleep in the lens.

    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.

    Why a lens gets stuck

    A scleral lens stays on because of a seal of fluid between the lens and your eye. That seal is what makes it stable while you wear it, and it’s also what you have to break to take the lens off. When removal fails, it usually comes down to one of two things:

    • Technique. The plunger is in the center instead of the lower third, it’s the wrong tool, or the eye is dry at the end of the day. These are easy to fix with the steps above.
    • The fit. A lens that has become tight, or that fits snugly on your eye, can be hard to remove every evening. That’s something your fitter can change.

    When it’s the fit, not you

    Tell your fitter if:

    • removal is a struggle most evenings, even with tears and the plunger in the right place
    • the white of your eye looks red around the edge of the lens by evening, or you feel pressure building through the day
    • your eye feels sore or irritated after removal

    These can be signs that the lens is fitting too tightly, and a design change usually helps. You shouldn’t have to fight your lens every night.

    Never sleep in it

    If you can’t get a lens out, don’t decide to leave it in overnight and deal with it in the morning. The FDA warns that sleeping in daily-wear lenses can increase your chance of infection or irritation.[1] Get help the same day.

    If something feels wrong

    The FDA’s advice is clear: if you have symptoms of eye irritation or infection, remove your lenses right away, don’t put them back in, and contact your eye care professional. Keep the lenses in their case rather than throwing them away, because your eye doctor may want to examine them.[2]

    Common mistakes

    • Pulling harder or yanking. More force works against the seal and irritates the eye.
    • Putting the plunger in the center of the lens.
    • Using the inserter instead of the removal plunger.
    • Trying to pry the edge up with a fingernail.
    • Giving up and sleeping in the lens.

    Common questions

    Can a scleral lens get stuck permanently?

    A lens that won't come off with the steps above still needs to come out today, so call your eye doctor. They can remove it in the office.

    Why is my lens harder to remove some days than others?

    A dry eye at the end of a long day, an off-center plunger, or a slippery plunger all make removal harder. If it's hard most evenings, the lens may be fitting too tightly.

    Can I just leave it in overnight and try in the morning?

    No. The FDA warns that sleeping in daily-wear lenses can increase your chance of infection or irritation. If you can't get the lens out, get help the same day.

    My eye is red after a struggle to get the lens out. Is that normal?

    Keep an eye on it. If the redness is getting worse, comes with pain or blurry vision, or is still there the next day, call your eye doctor.

    Keep going

    Guide

    How to insert a scleral lens

    Fill the lens to the brim with preservative-free saline, look straight down with your face parallel to the floor, hold both lids wide at the lashes, and bring the lens straight up to your eye in one smooth motion. Then check for bubbles every time.

    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.

     Common worry

    Are scleral lenses hard to put in?

    At first, usually yes. It's a learned skill, and the first tries can take a long time. But in a year-long study, most wearers got noticeably faster and needed fewer attempts as the months went on. Give yourself two to three weeks before deciding you can't do it.

    Sources

    1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Everyday Eye Care (contact lenses). Content current as of December 4, 2023. fda.gov
    2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Contact Lens Risks. Content current as of September 4, 2018. fda.gov

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