Contact lenses do split sometimes as frustrating as this might be. There are many reasons why a contact lens might split and I will be discussing those in this blog but the most important message here is, if a contact lens splits in your eye you need to remove all pieces quickly to avoid a corneal scratch. To do this lubricate the eye with some rewetting drops to prevent any pieces from sticking then gently pull your lower lid down and guide the pieces out of the eye. If you are concerned you haven't removed all the lens please see your optometrist who can take a closer look with a slit lamp.
Now we have the offending lens removed we can now address what to do. Please report this issue to us immediately and please keep the lens even if it’s in bits and stored in water. These we can often get replaced as long as the faulty lens is returned along with the batch number and expiry date on the box as well as our report of what happened. Without the faulty lens returned it can be tricky to get a replacement.
Split contact lenses can also happen for other reasons too;
Dried out contact lenses are prone to damage. Probably one of the most frequent issues is the lens can get stuck on the foil lid or has folded in the storage vial. In these situations, the best course of action is to soak the lens in contact lens solution in the palm of your hand and rub gently until the lens is free of the foil or has unfolded this will avoid the lens becoming torn.
Contact lenses can become dehydrated in the eye especially if you are working in air conditioning or spend many hours on digital devices, prior to removing your lens in the evening add a few rewetting drops, it will not only hydrate your contact lens but will also sooth your eyes providing relief from dryness.
When storing you contact lenses in your case in the evening make sure it’s filled completely with contact lens solution to ensure there are no dry surfaces of which you contact lens can stick too overnight with the potential to tear in the morning.
If you suffer from allergies and your eyes become itchy, rubbing your eyes with your contact lenses in may cause a tear, maybe consider giving your eyes a break from contact lenses and wear your spectacles for while.
Ahh - long finger nails, they may look fantastic but they are an enemy to contact lenses, always remember to handle your lenses with the soft pads of your fingers and thumb, ideally keep your nails short and smooth.
If you experience contact lenses tearing regularly you might like to consider changing to a higher modulus lens type which means that the lens material will be slighter stiffer and more robust. Low modulus lenses, although very comfortable, can be difficult to handle and therefore more prone to tearing especially with a heavy- handed insertion and removal technique. Talk to your optometrist about other lens options that might work better for you, or have your contact lens technique professionally reviewed so you can see what is going wrong, you shouldn’t have to suffer this regular inconvenience.
