The Top 6 Contact Lens Myths Debunked

April 15, 2026

More than 45 million people wear contact lenses safely and comfortably every day. But many people still hesitate to try them because of outdated information, concerns about maintenance or the occasional horror story.

Thomas Stokkermans, OD, PhD, an optometrist, Director of Optometric Services and Co-Director of the Dry Eye Center of Excellence at University Hospitals, breaks down the most common myths about contact lenses.

Myth 1: Most people find contact lenses uncomfortable.

Today’s contact lenses are designed to be worn daily for extended periods of time. Even if they feel strange at first, most people who wear contact lenses regularly find them comfortable. “For new patients entering the market for contact lenses, discomfort generally isn’t much of an issue,” says Dr. Stokkermans.

He adds that most lenses are one-size-fits-all and generally fit up to 98% of people. But if the lens fit isn’t quite right, it can cause discomfort. “It’s important to have your lenses fitted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist who can assess how well they suit your eyes.” Taking this step can help ensure optimal compatibility with the eye and reduce the risk of discomfort from new lenses.

Discomfort may also affect middle-aged and older contact lens wearers because they’re more prone to conditions that irritate the eyes, such as:

Dry eye, which is the most common cause of eye discomfort that leads people to stop wearing contact lenses.
Acute allergies, including seasonal allergies.
Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), a long-term reaction to lenses or preservatives in contact lens solution.
Contact lens overwear, which can occur if you don’t take your lenses out before you go to sleep, wear them for more days than recommended or don’t properly disinfect them.

To prevent or address the discomfort, it’s necessary to treat the underlying condition. “If you don’t, then you’re actually aggravating the problem by wearing contact lenses,” says Dr. Stokkermans.

Myth 2: Inserting and removing contact lenses is difficult.

For most people, learning to put contact lenses in and take them out is not difficult, but having the right training helps. Dr. Stokkermans advises taking an insertion-and-removal training class at your eye doctor’s clinic. “If you still have trouble, go back for more training,” he says. Your doctor can give you tips on different ways to insert and remove lenses or recommend alternative lenses that may be easier for you to manage. Chances are you’ll get the hang of it.

Research suggests that age is not a significant factor, and even children as young as eight are able to insert and remove soft contact lenses after their first training. For older patients, certain factors like reduced hand coordination or ocular disease can make inserting and removing lenses more challenging.

Myth 3: Contact lenses can disappear behind your eye.

As scary as this might sound, it’s physically impossible. “A contact lens cannot disappear behind the eyeball because a thin, moist membrane called the conjunctiva covers the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids,” says Dr. Stokkermans. “It forms a continuous, sealed pouch that prevents foreign objects from moving behind the eye.”

A displaced lens can sometimes be tricky to locate. “We do see patients who lose a contact lens and think it’s still in their eye,” he says. But it’s rare for lenses to truly get lost or stuck in the eye if they’re being used as directed. If a lens does slide beneath your upper or lower eyelid, you may be able to remove it yourself. If you have trouble, Stokkermans suggests consulting your eye doctor. “An eye doctor is best equipped to try to find the lens and get it off the eye,” he says. He also notes that if it’s a rigid lens, you should avoid rubbing your eye, since the lens could scratch it.

Myth 4: Contact lenses are high maintenance.

Contact lens care is minimal, especially if you use daily disposable contact lenses. “Daily disposable is the go-to,” says Dr. Stokkermans. “It’s widely considered the most convenient type of contact lens because there is no cleaning, disinfecting or storage solution required — you simply wear a fresh pair each day and then throw them away.” They’re also available for a wide range of vision issues.

Frequent replacement of soft contact lenses are pretty low maintenance too. Most can be cared for with a single multipurpose solution that cleans, rinses, disinfects and stores the lenses. The care system for rigid lenses takes a little more effort, since separate solutions may be needed for the different steps, but it’s not a big barrier. “Very few people stop wearing contact lenses because they’re high maintenance,” says Dr. Stokkermans.

Myth 5: Contact lenses put your eye health at risk.

If you take care of your eye health and follow your doctor’s instructions for cleaning and caring for your contact lenses, you will greatly reduce your risk of complications such as eye infections. Most eye health issues related to contact lenses come from how they’re worn, stored and cared for, rather than from the lenses themselves.

The most serious concern is a corneal ulcer, which is an eye infection that occurs when a microorganism (usually bacteria) creates a hole in the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped layer that covers the front of the eye). “Besides being extremely painful and debilitating, scarring from corneal ulcers can cause blindness and may require a corneal transplant to restore eyesight,” says Dr. Stokkermans. Your risk of developing a corneal ulcer is very low if you take good care of your contact lenses and don’t sleep in them.

Myth 6: Contact lenses don’t help you see as well as glasses do.

For most people, contact lenses help them see just as clearly as glasses do. For some, they may even be a better option, says Dr. Stokkermans. For example, multifocal contact lenses tend to offer clearer peripheral vision than glasses with progressive lenses, which can cause peripheral vision to be blurry. “Contact lenses work for most prescriptions,” he says. There are now lenses that correct for multiple refractive errors (including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism) simultaneously. Not every combination is available in every lens type, but when a soft contact lens won’t work, a rigid lens can often be used instead.

It’s a good idea to ask your eye doctor whether you’re a good candidate for contact lenses in the first place, says Dr. Stokkermans. There are certain factors that may make eyeglasses a better option. “Glasses are generally a better, safer and more convenient solution than contact lenses when prioritizing low-maintenance care, avoiding eye infections, reducing dry eye irritation or working with a lower budget,” he says. “Contact lenses are typically better suited for active lifestyles, sports and enhanced peripheral vision, as they won't fog up, slip or obstruct your view, or for those with a strong prescription.” An eye care professional can help you find the right solution.