Doctors Shocked to Find 27 Contact Lenses Stuck in Woman’s Eye During Surgery

"A bluish foreign body" turned out to be a "hard mass" of 17 lenses stuck together with mucus.Photo byThe British Medical Journal (BMJ), 2017.

Routine cataract surgeries don't usually involve surprises, but for one 67-year-old patient in the West Midlands in 2017, a simple procedure became an eye-opening revelation. Doctors at Solihull Hospital were astonished to discover that 27 contact lenses had been lodged in her right eye—a finding that left both the medical team and the patient stunned.

The case, first reported in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), began when surgeons noticed a bluish mass during a routine cataract operation.

Photo byThe British Medical Journal (BMJ), 2017.

Initially, the foreign body was revealed to be a solid cluster of 17 contact lenses, all bound together by mucus. But a closer examination of the same eye uncovered an additional 10 lenses that had been hidden deeper.

"None of us have ever seen this before," ophthalmologist Rupal Morjaria said, describing the unprecedented discovery. "It was such a large mass. All the 17 contact lenses were stuck together. We were really surprised that the patient didn’t notice it, because it would cause quite a lot of irritation."

The woman, who had worn monthly disposable contact lenses for over 35 years, did not report any significant discomfort before the surgery, attributing her irritation to dry eyes and aging.

“She was quite shocked,” Morjaria added. “She thought her previous discomfort was just part of old age and dry eye.”

The cataract surgery had to be postponed after the lenses were removed, as the doctors were concerned about the risk of bacterial infection, such as endophthalmitis, due to the long-term presence of the lenses in her eye.

According to experts, the woman’s deep-set eyes and poor vision in her right eye may have contributed to the lenses being lost and overlooked. Although losing contact lenses is a common issue, most dislodged lenses work their way out of the eye or remain hidden under the upper or lower eyelid. The sheer number of lenses found in this case is exceedingly rare.

This extraordinary case is a powerful reminder of the importance of contact lens hygiene and regular eye examinations. Despite wearing lenses for decades, the patient did not attend consistent check-ups, which likely allowed the lenses to accumulate undetected. As Morjaria emphasized, the easy accessibility of purchasing contact lenses online may make people lax about maintaining proper aftercare.

Henry Leonard, a clinical and regulatory officer at the Association of Optometrists, also weighed in on the case. “Finding this many lenses stuck in someone’s eye is exceedingly rare,” Leonard said. “Most patients would experience significant discomfort and redness, and be at risk of eye infections.”

This bizarre discovery not only highlights the risks associated with poor contact lens hygiene but also serves as a wake-up call for individuals to adhere to professional advice.

The College of Optometrists has issued several tips for safe contact lens use, including:

• Never wearing lenses for longer than advised
• Washing hands thoroughly before handling lenses
• Avoiding swimming with lenses in
• Ensuring regular eye check-ups.
• If any signs of redness, discomfort, or vision problems occur, seeking immediate professional help is critical.

In the end, this case underscores the vital importance of regular eye care, especially for those using corrective lenses, as even minor oversights can lead to major complications.