What emergency improvisation can be used to remove a GP lens if other methods fail?

• A. Place head in bowl of water and open your eyes
• B. Push lens toward the iris with a fingertip
• C. Rinse with saline and blink rapidly
• D. Remove the lens with tweezers

Answer: (A)

When a rigid gas-permeable lens is stubbornly stuck, the safest improvise-and-remove approach is to use external moisture to loosen it, rather than forcing or grasping the eye. Placing the head in a bowl of clean water and keeping the eyes open creates a generous, wet environment that blends tears with the water. This hydration reduces the adhesion between the lens and the cornea, and with the eye open you can often get a bit of blink or gentle movement to encourage the lens to loosen and move off the surface. The lens can then be removed more safely with the fingers without rubbing the eye or using instruments that could scratch the cornea.

Use clean water, and avoid this method if there is any ongoing pain, vision loss, or if you can’t locate the lens. If the lens doesn’t come free, or if there is persistent irritation, seek professional care. The other options pose greater risk: pushing toward the iris can abrade the cornea; rinsing with saline and blinking rapidly may not overcome the adhesion; removing with tweezers risks corneal injury and infection.