Removing contacts

[Kiwi, BSN, RN]

How do you remove contacts (hard AND soft) from an unconscious patient? I cannot find this information in my med-surg book. Thanks

[All_Smiles_RN]

I've never removed them from someone else, but I've worn contacts myself for 6 years. I separate my eyelids with one hand and then use the other hand to remove the lens. You can see the contanct lens if you look hard enough. It appears as a small circle just bigger than the iris. I use my index and thumb to gently pinch it off. Not much pressure is needed. HTH.

...Jennifer...

[AdobeRN]

For hard lenses you can purchase a little "plunger" from a drug store or optometrist office. It is a piece of soft plastic that looks like a plunger, if a patient was unconscious just open lids and stick the plunger on the lens (the lens should be sitting over the pupil) and pull out.

There is also a tweezer like tool to remove soft lenses, but it is much easier to slide the lens over to the white part of the eye and pinch out. If the lens seems to be "sticking" to the eye, just put a few drops of saline. Soft lenses are much easier to remove when they are moist.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

Be sure to keep lacrilube in a patient's eye, or continuous saline drops, if that person still has contacts in. Otherwise the cornea might tear when the lens is removed. The eyeball needs to be moist at all times (goes for people with no contacts too, who are sleeping with lids open).

[VizslaMom]

I've actually had to do this before. Got an admit from ER..a young male MVA trauma, sedated and on a ventilator. When I was going through the admit profile with family, discovered that patient was a contact lens wearer. Decided I'd go ahead and check both eyes. Lo and behold, there was a contact remaining in his right eye. I pinched it out with no problem.

I also have personal experience with contacts. I've been wearing them since I was 15 y/o. Wow. That means I've worn them for 16 years!

[crb613, BSN, RN]

I don't know the textbook method but I have worn contacts all my life hard & soft. To remove hard contacts put a little saline in the eye (if dry) hold the eye open and give a gentle quick lateral tug on the outer canthus it will pop right out. To remove soft (use saline if dry) hold eye open pinch contact between finger & thumb and pull out. Hope this helps.

[Kiwi, BSN, RN]

Thank you all! This information was very helpful!