Contact lenses are an extremely popular vision-correction option, and about 45 million Americans wear them. If used correctly, they are low-profile, safe, and effective. But these tiny and fragile lenses are not indestructible.  

When they rip, it can be uncomfortable, make your eyes red, and interfere with clear sight. You may not even realize it happened. 

“I often get people coming and saying, ‘I can see all right, but something’s not right about my contacts,’” says Kenton McWilliams, O.D., an optometrist with America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in St. Peters, Missouri. “They don’t know if it’s the contact or their eye.” 

To help keep your lenses in tip-top shape, Dr. McWilliams shares the top reasons why your contacts can rip, along with ideas on how you can prevent that from happening.  

Did you know that contact lens prescriptions need to be renewed every year? Find an exam time that fits your schedule! 

Follow the Instructions for Care  

Dr. McWilliams says that rips happen most frequently because of the way contacts are handled by the wearer.  

“The biggest thing is make sure they know how to handle lenses correctly during insertion, removal, and cleaning,” Dr. McWilliams says. 

For example, if a lens is folded or flipped, you may try to pull it open. But that can tear it. The correct way to fix that problem is to use a bit of lens solution, then gently use your finger and thumb to squeeze it apart instead, Dr. McWilliams says.  

Whether you’re a new contact lens wearer or just need a refresher course, follow these steps to safely handle contacts:   

• Wash your hands before touching anything, and don’t use soaps with added oils or fragrances that can stick to the lenses. 
• Gently shake the lens case to loosen contacts if they’re stuck to it.  
• Carefully slide the lens into your palm with your fingertips. 
• Fully rinse the lens with contact lens solution (do not use tap water). 
• Put the contact on the tip of your pointer finger or middle finger. 
• Look closely to check for tears or damage. 
• Make sure it is right-side out. 

Press play to see more tips on correctly inserting and removing contact lenses:

     

Consider a Different Type of Lenses 

Single-use lenses, known as dailies, aren’t handled as frequently as reusable ones, since they’re worn for a day and tossed out. That leaves them much less vulnerable to damage.  

Extended-wear lenses, or monthlies, are taken out at night, cleaned, and worn again the next day. Depending on the brand, you wear them for seven to 30 days. That’s a much longer span of time for something to happen to them. 

You can also consider wearing hard lenses. Soft contact lenses are much more common, because they are flexible, more comfortable, and easier to adjust to. But hard lenses won’t rip, and they can give you crisper vision. 

If you’re thinking about changing the style of lens that you wear, make an appointment with an America’s Best optometrist to discuss it. 

Recommended reading: Eye Exam vs Contact Lens Exam: What’s the Difference? 

 

Protect Your Eyes From Injury 

If you’re an active person, take note: Dr. McWilliams says that playing sports can dislodge your lens from your eye, leaving it vulnerable to damage. Or a teammate or opponent can accidentally stick a finger in your eye, which can rip your contact lens and harm your eyeball. 

Most eye injuries — and possible contact lens damage — are preventable by wearing safety glasses in situations where your eyes may be in danger. That includes other activities beyond sports, such as woodworking or yard work.  

Use eye protection if the activity involves:  

Hazardous chemicals or other substances that could damage your eyes 

Flying debris or other small particles 

Flying projectiles, such as balls, rocks, or wood chips 

Even wearing a pair of sunglasses while you’re hiking or running can act as a protective barrier from tree branches or flying debris.  

Keep Your Nails Trimmed 

Ragged fingernails are like little knives for your contacts. Beginners especially should consider keeping their fingernails short to prevent ripping the lenses or accidentally scratching an eye.   

And even though long acrylic nails may be fashionable, they make it more difficult to put contacts in and take them out without tearing them.  

To help prevent tears from fingernails, Dr. McWilliams says he teaches patients to put the lens on the ball of their finger, so it’s not touching anything except flesh. Once you put it in your eye, don’t force it in. That could get the nail involved, which can easily rip the lens.  

To remove it, use the ball of your finger and thumb to gently squeeze and fold it as you’re pulling it out, Dr. McWilliams says. 

What to Do if Your Lens Is Ripped 

If you notice a tear in one of your lenses, don’t put it in your eye and run the risk of irritating it. Instead, use a new set of lenses or wear your spare pair of eyeglasses until you can get a new prescription filled with your America’s Best eye doctor. 

Medically reviewed by Kenton McWilliams, O.D.

See our sources: 
Number of American contact lens wearers: National Eye Institute 
Contact lens wear: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
Putting in contact lenses: American Academy of Ophthalmology 
Safety glasses: American Academy of Ophthalmology