Eye pain with contact lenses is not something to ignore. A lens that feels dry, dirty, or out of place can cause temporary discomfort, but pain can also be an early sign of a scratch on the cornea or a serious infection. Because contact lens-related eye problems can worsen quickly and may affect vision, the safest first step is to remove the lens and switch to glasses. [1]

If pain, redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision, unusual tearing, or discharge continues after you remove the lens—or is getting worse—contact an eye doctor promptly. These symptoms need same-day evaluation, especially when they occur in a contact lens wearer. [1][2]

What to do right away

If your eye hurts while you are wearing a contact lens, take these steps:

1. Wash and dry your hands.
2. Remove the contact lens promptly. Do not keep wearing it to see whether the discomfort improves.
3. Wear glasses instead. Do not put another contact lens in the painful eye unless an eye care professional says it is safe to do so.
4. Do not rub your eye. Rubbing can worsen irritation or a scratch.
5. Do not rinse the lens or your eye with tap water. Water is not sterile and can expose the eye to germs. [3][4]
6. Keep the lens and its case if possible. The FDA advises storing the lens in its case rather than throwing it away, because an eye care professional may want to inspect it or consider it when evaluating the problem. [3]

If the lens came out after swimming, showering, or using a hot tub, do not put it back in immediately. CDC guidance says that lenses exposed to water should be removed as soon as possible and either discarded or cleaned and disinfected overnight before being worn again. [4]

When eye pain with contact lenses may be minor irritation

Some contact lens discomfort is caused by a dry eye, debris on the lens, a lens that has shifted, a damaged lens, sensitivity to lens solution, or wearing lenses longer than recommended. Symptoms may include mild scratchiness, dryness, a feeling that something is in the eye, or mild redness.

A mild problem is more likely to improve after lens removal, rest from contacts, and use of glasses. However, it is not always possible to tell at home whether discomfort is simple irritation or a corneal problem. The cornea is the clear front surface of the eye, and contact lens wear can increase the risk of inflammation, scratches, and infection there. [1][3]

Do not resume wearing contacts just because your eye feels somewhat better after a few minutes. If symptoms return, persist, or worsen after the lens is out, arrange prompt eye care.

Symptoms that need same-day eye care

Contact an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or other eye care professional the same day if you have eye pain with contact lenses plus any of the following:

• Redness that does not quickly settle after lens removal
• Pain that is moderate, severe, worsening, or still present after taking the lens out
• Light sensitivity, also called photophobia
• New blurred, hazy, reduced, or otherwise changed vision
• Excessive tearing or an unusual watery eye
• Yellow, green, white, or sticky discharge
• A persistent gritty or foreign-body feeling
• Swelling of the eyelid or around the eye
• A white or gray spot on the clear part of the eye
• A lens that suddenly feels very uncomfortable or will not stay centered on the eye

These symptoms can occur with contact lens-related keratitis, which means inflammation of the cornea. Microbial keratitis is a corneal infection caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. It can cause redness, worsening pain even after lens removal, light sensitivity, blurred vision, tearing, or discharge. Prompt treatment matters because severe infections can cause corneal scarring and permanent vision loss. [1][5]

Do you need urgent care or an eye doctor?

An eye doctor is usually the best choice for a painful red eye in a contact lens wearer, because eye specialists can closely examine the cornea and check vision. Call your regular optometrist or ophthalmologist and explain that you wear contacts and have eye pain, redness, or vision symptoms. Many practices reserve urgent appointments for these concerns.

Urgent care may be appropriate if you cannot reach an eye doctor promptly, your symptoms are concerning, and the urgent care center can evaluate eye conditions. Urgent care clinicians may check vision, inspect the eye and eyelids, use dye to look for a corneal scratch, and determine whether you need emergency or specialist care. Some urgent care centers have more eye-evaluation resources than others, so it can be helpful to call ahead.

Do not wait for a routine appointment if you have pain with redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or vision changes. The FDA notes that it is not possible to determine the seriousness of a contact lens problem without evaluation by an eye care professional. [3]

When to go to the emergency department

Seek emergency care now if you have eye pain with any of these warning signs:

• Sudden vision loss, a major decrease in vision, or double vision
• A chemical splash in the eye
• An object embedded in the eye, a puncture injury, or a cut to the eye
• Severe eye pain with nausea, vomiting, a severe headache, or halos around lights
• Heavy bleeding from the eye
• Severe swelling around the eye, trouble moving the eye, or inability to keep the eye open
• Eye pain after a significant blow to the face or eye

For a chemical exposure, immediately flush the eye with clean lukewarm running water for at least 15 minutes while arranging emergency care. Remove the contact lens during flushing if it comes out easily, but do not delay flushing to try to remove it. [6]

Call 911 if an eye injury occurs with a major trauma, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, or another life-threatening emergency. Otherwise, have someone drive you to the emergency department if vision is impaired or pain makes driving unsafe.

Possible causes of eye pain in contact lens wearers

Only an examination can identify the cause, but common possibilities include the following.

Dryness or lens irritation

Dry indoor air, wind, screen use, allergies, smoke, and long periods of lens wear can make lenses feel dry or scratchy. A lens may also become uncomfortable if it is damaged, inside out, has deposits on it, or does not fit well. These problems may improve after the lens is removed, but recurring discomfort deserves an eye exam and a review of your lens type, replacement schedule, and care products. [2][3]

A corneal abrasion

A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the cornea. Contact lens use, debris trapped under a lens, or rubbing the eye can contribute to an abrasion. It may cause pain, tearing, light sensitivity, redness, or a persistent feeling that something is in the eye. Because a scratch can make it easier for germs to enter the cornea, contact lens wearers with possible abrasions should not wear lenses until they have been evaluated and told when it is safe to restart. [5]

Corneal infection or ulcer

A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea, often caused by infection. Contact lens wear—especially sleeping in lenses or poor lens hygiene—raises the risk. Symptoms can include a red eye, significant pain, watery eye, discharge, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and sometimes a visible white spot on the cornea. This needs urgent medical attention. [5]

Conjunctivitis, often called pink eye

Conjunctivitis affects the thin membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the eyelid. It can cause redness, tearing, itching, irritation, crusting, and discharge. Contact lenses may feel uncomfortable or fail to stay in place. Although some types of pink eye are mild, pain, strong light sensitivity, or vision changes are not symptoms to dismiss as routine pink eye—particularly if you wear contacts. [7]

Water exposure and uncommon but serious infections

Showering, swimming, using hot tubs, or rinsing lenses or cases with water can expose contact lenses to germs. One rare but serious infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis, is associated with water exposure and can be very painful and difficult to treat. This is why public health guidance recommends keeping contacts away from all water. [4][8]

What not to do

• Do not sleep or nap in your lenses while your eye is irritated or painful.
• Do not put the same lens—or a new lens—back in a painful eye before professional guidance.
• Do not use tap water, bottled water, saliva, or homemade saline to rinse or store lenses.
• Do not top off old solution by adding new solution to it.
• Do not share contacts, lens cases, eye makeup, or eye drops with another person.
• Do not use someone else’s prescription eye drops or leftover antibiotic or steroid eye drops.

Redness-relief drops may make the eye look less red for a short time, but they do not treat a corneal infection or scratch. They should not be used as a reason to delay evaluation of a painful, red, light-sensitive, or blurry eye.

What a clinician may check

During an urgent eye evaluation, a clinician may ask when symptoms started, whether you slept in the lenses, whether the lenses contacted water, how long you have worn the current pair, and which cleaning products you use. Bring the lenses, case, and solution if you still have them.

The examination may include checking vision, looking at the eye with magnification and a bright light, turning the eyelid to look for debris, and placing a dye called fluorescein in the eye to look for scratches or corneal changes. Depending on the findings, the clinician may recommend prescription treatment, close follow-up with an eye specialist, or additional testing. [5][6]

How to lower the chance of future problems

Good contact lens habits reduce the risk of infection and irritation:

• Wash and completely dry your hands before touching lenses.
• Follow your prescribed wearing and replacement schedule.
• Avoid sleeping in lenses unless your eye care professional specifically directs you to do so.
• Remove lenses before showering, swimming, or using a hot tub.
• Use the lens solution recommended for your lenses; saline alone does not disinfect contact lenses.
• Rub and rinse reusable lenses as directed, then store them in fresh disinfecting solution.
• Never reuse old solution or mix fresh solution with old solution.
• Clean the lens case with solution, let it air-dry as directed, and replace it at least every three months.
• Keep backup glasses available in case you need to remove your lenses unexpectedly.
• Have regular eye examinations, generally at least yearly or as recommended by your eye care professional.

These steps are especially important after any episode of contact lens discomfort. Repeated irritation can mean that the lens fit, replacement schedule, lens material, solution, or eye surface needs professional review. [2][3][9]

Bottom line

Remove your contacts promptly if your eye hurts, and use glasses instead. Mild discomfort that fully resolves may be irritation, but persistent or worsening pain, redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or any vision change requires same-day eye care. Go to the emergency department for severe pain, sudden vision loss, chemical exposure, an embedded object, or significant eye trauma. Acting early is the safest way to protect your vision.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What causes contact lens-related eye infections? Updated May 27, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/causes/index.html
2. National Eye Institute. Contact lenses. Updated December 5, 2024. Available from: https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/healthy-vision/contact-lenses
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Contact lens risks. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/contact-lenses/contact-lens-risks/
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy habits: keeping water away from contact lenses. Updated May 27, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/healthy-habits-keeping-water-away-from-contact-lenses.html
5. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Corneal ulcers and infections. Updated June 9, 2023. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001032.htm
6. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Eye emergencies. Updated April 20, 2024. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000054.htm
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of pink eye. Updated April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/signs-symptoms/index.html
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Acanthamoeba keratitis. Updated May 27, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/acanthamoeba/about/about-acanthamoeba-keratitis.html
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing eye infections when wearing contacts. Updated May 27, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/prevention/index.html