Why a lens can’t get lost behind your eye
The white of your eye is covered by a thin, clear membrane called the conjunctiva. The same membrane also lines the inside of your eyelids. Where the two meet, at the deepest point above and below the eye, it forms a fold called the fornix that joins the lid lining to the covering of the eyeball.[1]
Picture a sleeve folded back on itself. There’s a pocket under each lid, but the pocket has a closed bottom. Nothing on the surface of your eye can travel past that fold to the back of the eye.
A scleral lens is also large, which works in your favor here. If one does slide off-center, it doesn’t disappear. It ends up resting on the white of the eye where you can see it in a mirror.
Why a lens sometimes feels stuck
A scleral lens lands on the white of the eye with a layer of fluid under it. That creates a light suction seal, which is part of what keeps the lens steady when you blink.
At the end of the day, that seal can make the lens feel like it doesn’t want to let go. It usually comes down to one of two things:
- Technique. The plunger is on the center of the lens instead of the lower third, it’s the inserter rather than the smaller remover, or the plunger is slipping because it or the lens is greasy.
- A snug-fitting lens. If your lenses are hard to remove most days even with good technique, the lens may be resting too tightly on the eye. That’s something your fitter can change.
What to do if it won’t come out
The full steps are in what to do when a scleral lens is stuck. In short:
- Stop pulling. More force works against the seal and irritates your eye.
- Add moisture. Put a drop or two of artificial tears your fitter has approved into your eye and blink gently.
- Wait a minute. Give the moisture time to work toward the edge of the lens.
- Plunger on the lower third. Press until it grips, then pull outward so the bottom edge lifts. Never put it in the center.
- Rest and retry. If it doesn’t release after a few tries, rest for a few minutes, add more tears, and try once more.
- 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.
The everyday version of this is in how to remove a scleral lens.
If it slides off-center
Sometimes a lens settles crooked or ends up partly on the white of the eye. It’s not lost, and it’s not dangerous in itself. Don’t push it back into place with a finger. Take it out with the plunger, rinse and refill it, and reinsert. See when the lens lands off-center.
If it pops out or you can’t find it
A lens that falls out is outside your eye, not inside it. Check your cheek, lashes, clothes, and the counter. If you’ve dropped it, see dropped your scleral lens?, and if it happens away from home, the lens popped out during the day covers what to do.
How often removal is a real problem
Handling, meaning putting lenses in and taking them out, is a common struggle for new wearers.
- In a year-long study of 95 wearers, handling problems were the most common reason people stopped, given by 35% of those who stopped. The number of attempts it took to put the lens in and take it out dropped significantly over the year for people who kept going.[2]
- In a study of 120 veterans, difficulty with insertion and removal was the most common reason for stopping, given by 53.7% of those who stopped.[3]
Neither study reports lenses lost behind the eye, which is consistent with the anatomy above. What they do show is that removal is a skill that takes practice, and that it’s worth telling your fitter early if it isn’t getting easier.
When to talk to your fitter
Bring it up at your next visit, or call sooner, if:
- removal is a struggle most days, even with tears and good plunger placement
- you see a red ring around your eye after you take the lens out
- the lens often slides off-center during the day
- you’ve had a lens you couldn’t remove and needed help
A lens that’s hard to remove can often be made easier to remove by changing the fit.
Common questions
Can a scleral lens go behind my eye?
No. The membrane covering the white of your eye continues around and lines the inside of your eyelids, joined in a closed fold at the top and bottom. There's no passage behind the eye for a lens to travel through.
Why does my lens feel like it's suctioned on?
A scleral lens rests on the white of the eye with a layer of fluid under it, which creates a gentle seal. That seal is part of why the lens stays put when you blink. It's also why you remove it with a small plunger on the lower part of the lens, which lets the edge lift and the seal break.
Can I remove a stuck lens with my fingers?
Don't pry at the edge with a fingernail. Some experienced wearers learn a lid technique to remove lenses without a tool, but it takes practice and your fitter should confirm it's right for you. For a stuck lens, use artificial tears and the plunger on the lower third of the lens.
What if I fall asleep with the lens in and can't get it out?
Try the steps on this page: artificial tears, a short wait, and the plunger on the lower third. If it still won't release, call your eye doctor or go to urgent care. Don't leave it in overnight, and tell your fitter it happened.