How to remove your contact lenses with less struggle

Taking off your contact lenses can feel tricky at first, but with the right techniques and some practice, it can become a quick and easy part of your daily routine.

Medically reviewed on August 9, 2025

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Published on November 12, 2025

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5 minute read

Start with patience

The first thing you need to become a pro at removing your contact lenses is patience. Think about it—when something is near your eyeball your natural instinct is to blink or close your eyes. And that’s great, because this reflex helps protect your eyes. But to take off your contacts, you have to bring your fingertips towards your eyeballs to lift a tiny, soft, wet piece of plastic off the surface of your eye. It may take some time to reduce your instinct to blink and fine-tune the hand-eye coordination needed. Once that happens, removing contact lenses will become quicker and easier. Be gentle, take deep breaths, and avoid rushing. You’ll gain confidence over time.

Get ready to take your contacts off

There are a few things you can do that can help make removing your contact lenses easier. Doing these things consistently, every time, is a great way to get more comfortable with removing your lenses.

1. Create a clutter-free workspace

Work over a clean, flat surface like a bathroom counter or a basin with a towel at the bottom. This helps catch any fallen lenses, preventing them from bouncing onto the floor or down the drain, which can be frustrating and wasteful.

2. Have everything you need within arm’s reach

This could mean your glasses, eye drops approved for use with contact lenses, or a fresh pair of contacts. If you’re wearing reusable lenses, keep your cleaning solution and contact lens case nearby and ready. Having everything ready minimizes distractions and helps you focus.

3. Thoroughly wash your hands

Wash your hands thoroughly using a mild soap (no scents, cream, oil, or artificial colorings). Dry your hands with a clean, lint-free towel to avoid transferring dirt, oils, or bacteria onto your lenses or eyes.

4. Stay relaxed and focused

Anxiety or hurried movements can cause accidental pokes or drops. It can also trigger your natural protective instinct to flinch and/or slam your eyes shut, which is the opposite of what you want when you’re putting contacts on. Take a few deep breaths, clear your mind, and approach the task methodically.

Techniques for removing your contact lenses

There are two recommended methods of soft contact lens removal—the “Pinch method” and the “Slide method.” You should follow the method that is recommended by your eye doctor. If these methods of removing your lenses are difficult for you, ask your eye doctor for an alternate method. Please note that these methods do not apply to other contact lens types like scleral or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses.

Pinch method:

Look up and hold your eye open
Many prefer to use their non-dominant hand for this part, but there are a few approaches you can take to see what works best for you. Some just pull down their bottom eyelid with their non-dominant hand, while others use their thumb and index finger to hold their top and bottom eyelids open.
Gently pinch the lens between the thumb and forefinger.
Use the pads of your fingertips, not your fingernails. Using your fingernails risks injuring your eye.
Tip: Many who are new to contact lenses make a big, sweeping motion to try to pinch the lens, and while this may work for some, many find success putting their thumb and pointer finger together first, then touching the lens and “rolling” their fingertips together to grab the lens. This is a motion that is easy to practice on the back of your hand.
Remove the lens
The lens should lift off your eyeball. If it doesn’t, take a few deep breaths and slowly work through the steps again.

Slide method:

This method follows the same steps as the pinch method, but instead of removing the lens directly from the colored part of your eye, you slide the lens down first, which can help if you're anxious about pinching the front part of your eye.

Look up and hold your eye open
Many prefer to use their non-dominant hand for this part, but there are a few approaches you can take to see what works best for you. Some just pull down their bottom eyelid with their non-dominant hand, while others use their thumb and index finger to hold their top and bottom eyelids open.
Slide the lens to the lower white part of the eye
Since the lens is designed for your cornea, it’s easier to remove when it’s not directly over the front of your eye. While touching the lower edge of the lens, look up while you slide the lens down.
Gently pinch the lens between the thumb and forefinger.
Lift the lens from your eye

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Tips to help make it easier to remove your contacts

Establish a routine

Always remove each lens in the same order—like right eye first and then left. This prevents mix-ups, especially if you wear different prescriptions in each eye.

Use lubricating or rewetting eye drops

If a lens dries out, it can stick to the eye and increase discomfort. A few drops from contact lens rewetting drops approved by your eye doctor can help loosen the lens, making removal smoother and more comfortable.

Keep fingernails short and smooth

Trimming nails reduces the chance of scratching your eye or tearing the lens accidentally. Smooth nails also help prevent catching or tearing delicate soft lenses.

How to remove contact lenses with long fingernails

Remind yourself to breathe

It’s easy to hold your breath or tense up when focusing on contact removal. Remember to breathe slowly and keep calm. You’re using fine motor skills, which takes practice.

Relax the muscles in your face

Some people “set their jaw” when they’re putting on contacts, which can make it hard to relax. Opening your mouth can help relieve some of that tension and put you at ease.

Visualize the steps

Before starting, recall each step mentally. A clear plan reduces hesitation and errors during removal.

Lens feel stuck?

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a lens can seem “stuck” on your eye, meaning difficult to remove. Here are a few tips that might help.

Blink and keep blinking

If you (like many) spend hours looking at screens every day because of work, recreation, or both, your lens may be more likely to begin to dry out, which can make contact lenses difficult to remove. Blinking helps moisture your eyes naturally and may help loosen the lens. Moving your eyes in different directions—up, down, left, and right—can also help free the lens.

Use sterile saline or eye drops

If your eye doctor says it's okay, you can use saline solution or special eye drops for contact lenses. Tilt your head back, put a few drops into your eye, and blink to spread the drops. Wait a few minutes so the solution can loosen the lens, then try removing it again.

Gently massage your eye

With hands you’ve washed thoroughly with mild soap and water and dried with a lint-free towel, try massaging the area around your eye and eyelid very gently. This can help loosen or move the lens into a better position so you can grab it easily. Be very careful not to press too hard or hurt your eye.

Make sure your hands are dry

You should always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses, but if they aren’t dry enough, or if your fingers get wet from contact lens solution or handling a lens, it can make grabbing your lens a challenge. Always make sure your hands are dry when you try to remove your contacts, even if it means continuously drying them as you attempt to remove your lenses.

Dealing with “stuck” contacts

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.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove contact lenses with long nails without hurting myself?

Use the pads of your fingertips, not your nails, and if possible, keep the nails on your thumb and pointer finger a bit shorter. Approach the lens slowly and gently pinch from the sides. Refer to our article on removing contact lenses with fingernails, and if you continue to struggle, contact your eye doctor.

What's the safest way to remove contact lenses if I struggle with pinching?

The “Slide” method may work better for you. See the steps above.

How do I remove soft contact lenses that won’t come out easily?

Your eye doctor may recommend using rewetting eye drops approved for use with contact lenses to help loosen the lens, or gentle pressure with your fingertips through your eyelids. If your contact lens still doesn’t budge, consult your eye doctor.

What should I do if the lens is stuck and won't come out despite multiple attempts?

If your lens feels stuck despite your best efforts, call your eye doctor for professional help.

How can I make removing my lenses less stressful?

Have patience and understand that it takes practice to get comfortable with contact lenses. Take a deep breath, go slowly, and follow a consistent and methodical routine.

Is it safe to attempt removing my contact lenses by myself?

Yes, with proper technique and care. If you’re struggling or experiencing pain, see your eye care professional for assistance.

Any tips to prevent struggling to remove contact lenses in the future?

Be consistent, practice, and be kind to yourself. Removing contact lenses is a skill that takes time to be good at. People who have been doing it for years may make it look easy but they likely also struggled for the first few weeks or months. If you continue to have a hard time, reach out to your eye doctor. They may recommend a different approach.