Top reasons your contact won’t stay on your eye

It’s common for first-time contact lens wearers to struggle to get their contact lenses to stay on their eyes. Learn some common reasons why and what you can do about it.

Medically reviewed on August 28, 2025

•

Published on January 12, 2026

•

4 minute read time

Reason #1: Your finger is too wet

You should always begin the process of putting on your contacts by thoroughly washing your hands with a mild soap and drying them with a lint-free towel. But once your hands are completely dry, you go to grab your contact lens and what happens? You dip your fingertip into the wet contact lens solution. If your fingertip is more wet than your eye, you may have trouble getting the contact lens to stay on your eye.

What you can do: Keep that lint-free towel handy. If the finger you put your contact lens on is too wet, transfer the lens to another finger, carefully wipe your wet fingertip off, and try again.

Reason #2: Your contact lens is inside out

Your contact lens should look like a tiny bowl with straight edges. If it looks like a saucer with flared edges, it’s inside out. Some lenses also have text or numbers on them to help you know if the lens is inside out or not. Ask your eye doctor if your lens has an “inversion mark” and how to use it.

What you can do: Always do a “lens check” before putting it onto your eye. If you aren’t sure what an inside-out lens looks like, it might help to intentionally flip your lens inside out so that you can see the difference.

Reason #3: You’re not holding your eye open correctly

One reason your contact lens may not stick to your eye is if your eye isn’t open enough or if you’re not holding it open firmly enough. This can happen especially to new wearers who are feeling nervous or timid about holding their eye open and putting a contact lens on it. If your eye isn’t open enough you won’t have enough of the eye’s surface exposed to be able to place the lens. On top of that, if you aren’t holding it firmly open enough, your blink reflex may not allow the lens to settle onto your eye.

What you can do: Rather than thinking about holding your eye open, think about “pinning” your upper eyelid to your brow bone and your lower eyelid to your cheekbone. The right amount of pressure should hold the lids in place and prevent you from blinking.

Reason #4: You aren’t placing the contact lens completely on your eye

If you’re feeling nervous about putting the contact lens onto your eye, you may be too timid in your approach. It’s a fine balance. You don’t want to press the contact lens onto your eye with force, but you also don’t want it to be so gentle that the contact lens doesn’t get a chance to adhere. Once you feel an edge of the lens touch the eye, keep going until the entire lens is in contact and the lens transfers from your finger to your eye.

What you can do: Practice makes perfect. Keep trying, and follow the instructions given to you by your eye doctor.

Reason #5: Your lens doesn’t fit quite right

At your contact lens fitting, your eye doctor’s goal is to find contact lenses that are right for your needs and your eyes. Sometimes, though, the first lens you’re prescribed may not fit quite right. This is one of the reasons why your eye doctor gives you a trial period and schedules a follow-up appointment when fitting you in new contact lenses—to make sure the lenses are suitable for your eyes.

What you can do: If something seems off about your contact lens or you continue to struggle to get it to stay on your eye, tell your eye doctor.

What's next?

Still having trouble? Contact your eye doctor.

If you’ve practiced and practiced and are still struggling, get in touch with your eye doctor. They can walk you through removal again and may even provide an alternative method of removal.

Find an Eye Doctor

Questions about your contact lenses? We’re here to assist.

Chat with a contact lens specialist, watch how-to videos, read FAQs, and more.

Visit LensAssist^™

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Why won’t my contact lens stay in place when I try to put it on?

There are a number of reasons your contact lens might not transfer properly your eye, including a wet finger, an inside out contact lens, blinking, or an improper fit.

Can dry eyes affect how well a contact sticks?

People with dry eyes may have increased challenges with wearing contact lenses. If you have been diagnosed with or think you have dry eye, ask your doctor if you can wear lenses.

Why do my contacts keep slipping out after I put them in?

This might be caused by an ill-fitting lens, touching or rubbing your eyes, an air bubble under the lens or blinking too hard immediately after inserting.

How do I know if my lens is inside out?

Check how the edges look—inside-out lenses often have flared edges or appear like a saucer. Some lenses also have markings on them to help indicate whether or not your contact lens is inside out, so ask your eye doctor if your lenses do.

What should I do if my contact lenses are uncomfortable or keep slipping?

Remove your lenses and inspect them for defects, dirt or buildup. Depending on whether you wear daily disposable lenses or reusable lenses, you may need to throw them out and start with fresh ones, or clean and store them overnight, respectively. It's always best to consult your eye care professional for guidance.