Woman Gets Fat Injections in Eyelid to Resolve ‘Facial Asymmetry’ — and Five Stuck Contact Lenses Pop Out

A surprising discovery was made at a plastic surgery clinic in China, where a 33-year-old woman arrived seeking treatment for facial contour asymmetry. Little did she know, the cause of her swollen eye was not just a simple cosmetic issue but something much more unusual. According to a case report published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, doctors found five contact lenses lodged underneath her upper eyelid.

The woman, described as “otherwise healthy,” underwent a fat injection procedure to address her facial asymmetry. However, during the process, it was revealed that several transparent contact lenses had migrated from the upper area between her eyelid and eyeball. The medical team uncovered a total of five soft contact lenses hidden under her eyelid when they examined her left upper eyelid.

It was later confirmed by the woman that she had been wearing contact lenses for many years and had experienced incidents of losing her left contact lens multiple times without any associated vision problems. This discovery raises concerns about the potential risks associated with such cases. Doctors warned that other plastic surgeons treating similar conditions should be wary of hidden spaces within the upper eyelid, which could lead to contact lenses becoming dislodged without the patient’s awareness.

Interestingly, the report highlighted the soft and hydrophilic nature of the contact lenses, making them less noticeable and potentially easier to migrate and accumulate without causing immediate discomfort. This case is a reminder of the importance of proper contact lens care and regular check-ups to prevent such unusual incidents from happening.

This incident is not an isolated one, as there have been previous cases where multiple contact lenses were found lodged in patients’ eyes. In a viral video from California, an ophthalmologist removed a shocking 23 contact lenses that had accumulated under a patient’s eye. This serves as a cautionary tale about the significance of following proper contact lens hygiene and usage guidelines.

Dr. Katarina Kurteeva, an ophthalmologist, explained that prolonged use of contact lenses can desensitize the cornea, the eye’s most sensitive part, which may explain why patients do not always experience physical discomfort when lenses migrate. Despite this protective feature, it’s crucial for contact lens wearers to adhere to safe practices, including removing them before sleeping to avoid potential risks such as eye ulcers and infections.

The case of the woman with five contact lenses lodged under her eyelid serves as a reminder of the importance of eye health and proper contact lens management. While advancements in medical technology have made contact lenses a convenient option for vision correction, it is essential to prioritize eye safety and hygiene to prevent unexpected complications like these. Regular eye examinations and following experts’ recommendations can help ensure the well-being of contact lens wearers and maintain good eye health in the long run.