Contacts are designed to remain in a concave, bowl-like shape in order to properly sit on top of your eye and provide the vision correction you need. However, sometimes problems happen and a contact lens can become curled up. This could have happened when you were sleeping, or from rubbing your eyes, or due to dryness of the eye. In any case, if a rolled up contact is stuck under your lid or in the corner of your eye, try these tips to get it out.

Flush

One of the best things you can do in this case is flush your eye out with saline solution designed for eyes. Flushing out the contact lens allows you to get it out of the area it's stuck in without having to touch your eye or drag the contact across the surface of your eye, which can cause more problems for your eye.

To flush the contact, open your eye as wide as you can and hold the eyelids apart with your free hand. Tip your head to the side so that the lens is pointed downward and begin rinsing your eye out with the saline solution, pointing the stream towards the lens. This should either push the lens out of the place it's stuck in or move it out of your eye completely.

Pluck

If your contact lens isn't completely out but it did partially dislodge itself, it's time to carefully remove it.

First off, you will need to scrub your hands thoroughly. Wash under your fingernails and make sure to rinse off all soap residue.

With clean, dry hands, a bright light, and a mirror, look for the contact lens. If it's visible and reachable, gently touch the edge of the contact lens. It may simply stick to your fingers and pop out of your eye; if not, very gently press your thumb and forefinger together to pinch the edge of the lens, and pull it out slowly. If you experience any discomfort or the contact won't budge, it's time for step three.

Optometrist Help

When a contact won't come out no matter what, it's time to get help from your ophthalmologist or optometrist. They have all the tools and equipment they need to closely examine your eye and to remove the contact lens.

If you were able to get the contact out, it's still a good idea to see your optometrist. They will be able to examine your eyes to make sure that the contact lens didn't scratch your eye. They can also take a look at your contact and find out if it's defective or needs replacing.

Contact lenses are a great way to correct your vision, but accidents can happen. If you find yourself in this situation, try flushing the contact out. If all else fails, get medical help.