Guide · contact lens comfort
Why do my contact lenses hurt when I blink, especially at the end of the day?
A lens that scratches or stings every time you blink is telling you something. It is usually simple to put right, and you should not have to push through it. Here is what it means and what to do.
In two minutes
The short version
- Why it hurts
-
Your eyelid catching a dry, stiff or lifted lens edge, a poor fit, or an irritated lid.
- Why evenings are worse
-
The lens dries and collects deposits through the day.
- What to do now
-
Take the lens out. Try a fresh one another day if your eye is white and comfortable.
- When to ring us today
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A red, painful, light-sensitive or blurry eye.
- The fix
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We find the cause under the microscope and change what needs changing.
The problem
What people tell us about lenses that hurt.
- “It feels like sand every time I blink.”
- “They’re fine until about six o’clock.”
- “One lens hurts and the other is fine.”
- “My eyelid feels sore and heavy.”
- “I have to take them out on the way home.”
- “I don’t want to give up contact lenses.”
You do not have to give up lenses, and you should not have to put up with this. There is nearly always a reason, and we can see it under the microscope.
Why us
Our optometrists fit and check contact lenses every day at all five practices, and look at your lenses, your eyelids and your tears together.
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“I was shown the scans and everything was clearly explained to me.”Patient survey
The lens itself
Why you can feel the edge of some lenses
Not all soft lenses are equally soft. Every lens material has a stiffness, which optometrists call its modulus. The higher the modulus, the stiffer the lens, and the less it moulds itself to the curve of your eye.
A stiffer or thicker lens can sit with its edge lifted very slightly off the front of your eye. Every time you blink, the inside edge of your eyelid catches that edge and scrapes over it. You feel it as a scratch, a sting or simply being aware of the lens all day.
It gets worse when your eyes are dry, because there are fewer tears to cushion the lid as it slides over the lens. That is why a lens that feels fine in the morning can feel like it has an edge by the evening.
What fixes it: a softer, lower-modulus lens with a thin, smooth edge, fitted to the shape of your eye, so the edge lies flat. And if your eyes are dry, treating that too. We check the fit and the edge under the microscope.
What it usually means
Why it hurts when you blink, and what fixes it
Every blink drags your eyelid across the lens. When something is not right, you feel it.
| What you notice | What it usually means | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| A scratchy feeling that builds through the day | The lens is drying, and your eyelid is rubbing over it | A lens that holds moisture better, blink breaks, and treating any dry eye |
| Sore from the moment you put it in | Something on the lens, a tear or nick, or the lens is inside out | Take it out, check it, and use a fresh lens |
| One eye only | A damaged lens, or something caught under it | Take it out and try a fresh lens. If it stays sore, ring us |
| A heavy, itchy upper lid | A reaction to deposits building up on the lens | A fresh daily lens and a check of the inside of your lid |
| You can feel the edge every time you blink | A stiffer or thicker lens whose edge lifts slightly off your eye, so your lid catches it. Worse when your eyes are dry | A softer, lower-modulus lens with a thin edge, fitted to your eye, and treating any dry eye |
| The lens moves a lot, or feels tight | The fit is not right for your eye | A different lens design, fitted properly |
| Sore, crusty lid edges | Inflamed eyelids, often called blepharitis | Lid care, and treatment if it needs it |
If your eye is red, painful, sensitive to light or suddenly blurry, take the lens out, do not put it back in, and ring us the same day. Urgent eye care →
What to do
What to do if your lenses hurt when you blink
- NowTake the lens out
Do not push through it. Look at your eye in the mirror.
- If it is white and settlesRest your eyes
Wear glasses for the rest of the day. Try a fresh lens tomorrow.
- If it keeps happeningBook a contact lens check
We look at the lens, the fit, your lids and your tears.
- If it is red or painfulRing us today
Keep the lens out and call your nearest practice.
The plan
How we stop the pain
- 1Book a contact lens check
Whoever fitted your lenses. An aftercare check is £70.
- 2We look under the microscope
At the lens, how it sits, the inside of your eyelids and your tears.
- 3We change what needs changing
A new lens, a better fit, lid care or a new routine, and we check again.
What you get. Lenses you can blink through all day without noticing them.
Push through the pain, and a small problem can become a sore, red eye that keeps you out of lenses for weeks.
Get it checked, and you are back to lenses that feel like nothing at all.
Near you
Get your lenses checked near you
At all five practices, whoever fitted your lenses. Same day if your eye is red or painful.
Contact lens checks in Cheadle
Abra & Co, 19 Wilmslow Road, Cheadle SK8 1DW
Five minutes from Cheadle Hulme and Gatley, ten from Stockport and Didsbury, fifteen from Wilmslow.
Contact lens checks in Heald Green
Ashworth Opticians, 214 Finney Lane, Heald Green SK8 3QA
Five minutes from Gatley, ten from Wythenshawe, fifteen from Sale and Altrincham.
Contact lens checks in Middleton
Abra & Co, 36 Long Street, Middleton M24 6UQ
Eight minutes from Heywood, ten from Chadderton and Blackley, fifteen from Rochdale, Oldham and Prestwich.
Contact lens checks in Winsford
Winsford Eye & Footcare, 27 Delamere Street, Winsford CW7 2LX
Ten minutes from Northwich and Middlewich, twenty from Knutsford, Crewe and Nantwich.
Contact lens checks in Heckmondwike
Armitage Opticians, 14 Market Street, Heckmondwike WF16 0JU
Eight minutes from Cleckheaton, ten from Dewsbury, Batley and Mirfield, twenty from Morley.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my contact lens hurt when I blink?
Most often the lens has dried and your eyelid is rubbing over it, or there is something on or wrong with the lens. Sometimes the lens does not fit well, or the lid itself is inflamed.
Why is it worse at the end of the day?
Because the lens has been drying and collecting deposits all day, and your tears are thinner by the evening. That is why many people feel fine in the morning and sore by night.
Should I keep wearing a lens that hurts?
No. Take it out. If the discomfort goes and your eye looks white and normal, try a fresh lens another day. If your eye is red, painful or sensitive to light, keep the lens out and ring us the same day.
Why can I feel the edge of my contact lens?
Usually because the lens is on the stiff side, or its edge is thick, so it lifts slightly off your eye and your eyelid catches it when you blink. It is worse when your eyes are dry. A softer, lower-modulus lens with a thin edge, fitted properly, usually solves it.
Could my lens be inside out?
It happens, especially with soft lenses. An inside-out lens often feels odd and moves more when you blink. Take it out, turn it over, rinse it as advised, and try again.
Do I need a new type of lens?
Sometimes. A lens that fits your eye better, or a fresh daily lens, often solves it. We look first and tell you honestly.