Okay, so you’re stuck. No solution, no case. What do you do? First, do not panic. Second, keep your lenses in your eyes as long as they feel okay, but don’t sleep in them. Sleeping in contacts is already dicey—adding water to the mix is like wearing a wet wool sweater to bed.
If you must take them out, the best bet is to toss them. I know, I know—contacts are expensive! But your vision is priceless. A single infection can cost you thousands in medical bills and potentially lead to long-term damage. Is that worth saving a $5 lens?
In a true emergency, you can leave them in a clean, dry container without any liquid. It’s not ideal, but it’s safer than water. The lens might dry out and become brittle, but that’s a lesser evil than a microbe invasion. Just rehydrate them in fresh solution before reinserting—and even then, be prepared for them to feel wonky.
