Guide to Find a Lost Contact Lens

Dropping a contact lens may be inconvenient. They're expensive to replace and, because they're transparent, might be difficult to find (maybe you wear color contact lenses, lol). However, there are a few strategies you may use to quickly locate your lens.

You've just awoken and made your way to the restroom. You start your morning ritual by putting on your contacts. But you drop your lens because of your bleary-eyed state!

Naturally, you begin looking for it. However, when you're in a panic or upset, rational reasoning goes out of the window. As a result, even simple tasks like looking for a contact lens might seem hard. We understand and are here to assist!

Read our professional guide to discovering a contact lens so you know precisely what to do the next time it happens.

Step One: Conduct an Initial Search

Act quickly. Time is of the essence when a contact lens falls out. The lens will be more susceptible to germs and damage the longer you wait. The sooner you find out about it, the better. Furthermore, any movement on the floor can cause the lens to shift and become more difficult to locate. Begin looking as soon as a lens falls out. Avoid moving too far away from the original location where the lens was lost. Remove your shoes to avoid crushing or damaging the lens if you step on them accidentally. 

1. Search for Yourself

Dropped contact lenses don't travel very far. They will occasionally land on your clothes. Some of them even get stuck in your hair! Search your clothes with your fingertips, making as little movement as possible. Check to see if your lens has fallen down your top or if it is patiently sitting on your shoulder. It does happen!

2. Search Around You

If you're certain your dropped contact isn't on you, broaden your search area. Examine the bathroom counter and the area around the sink. Allow yourself plenty of time. When you're certain that all surfaces within reach are nothing, proceed to the floor.

3. Search the Floor

If you're wearing shoes, take them off gently. If your contact is on the floor, you don't want to stomp on it. Crouch and sweep your hands across the floor. You should be able to feel the lens even if you can't see it. Keep your search area as small as possible!

4. Use a flashlight

So you've done a thorough fingertip search and still don't have a contact lens. Now it's time to get creative!

To begin, try the flashlight method. A flashlight can also be used to locate missing items. Because contact lenses can reflect light, using a flashlight is especially useful. It may increase the visibility of the lens.

Turn off all of the lights in your home and close any blinds. Make the room as dark as possible. Take a flashlight and place it on the floor horizontally. Slowly rotate the flashlight like a lighthouse until you find the contact lens.

If you've tried everything else and still haven't succeeded, it's time to try our final option: the vacuum method! 

5. Use a nylon vacuum

Wrapping a nylon sock, pantyhose, or other material around the nozzle of a vacuum is a good trick for finding small objects lost in the carpet. When you turn on the vacuum, the suction will continue to work, but the lens will not be sucked into the vacuum.

Move the nozzle slowly over the area where you dropped the contact lens. Then, check the socks or pantyhose to see if the contact lens is still attached to them.

You may have to go over a lot before you succeed. It's time to broaden your search parameters at this point. Contact lenses are light and can fall far from where you are standing.

Step Two: Clean Your Contact Lens

If everything went as planned, one of our contact search steps was successful, and you've found your lens! But what now? Your lens could have come into contact with something noxious on the floor. Here's what you need to do to get that lens back in working order:

1. Examine for Damage

Examine your contact lenses for any visible damage. Once you've found the contact lens, take it into a well-lit area and examine it under a bright light. Flip the lens over to look at both sides. Examine the surface for any cracks or tears. You may have cracked or torn your lens if you stepped on it. If the lens is damaged, do not attempt to insert it because it may cause eye irritation. Wear your glasses or replace them with a new lens. 

2. Clean Your Contact Lens

After that, clean your contacts. After you've ensured that your contact lens is free of damage, you'll need to clean it. You wouldn't put anything in your eye that could contain bacteria or debris, would you? Squeeze the solution onto the lens and rub it in your palm.

If possible, disinfect your contact by placing it in a solution-filled case overnight. If you need to put your lens back in your eye right away, thoroughly wash it with a solution before inserting it.

Do not clean your contact lenses with saliva or tap water. Bacteria in these liquids can cause eye infections. To clean your contact lenses, only use a contact solution. Nothing else will do. Contact lens cleaning with anything other than solution can cause eye infections, including rare but serious acanthamoeba keratitis.

3. Be prepared when going out

When going out, make sure you're prepared. When you go out, you should be prepared in case a contact drops out. Always keep your glasses, spare lenses, and solution on hand.