Hoda Kotb, the popular anchor of the TODAY Show, had a scary moment on February 1, 2024. Despite experiencing a “medical emergency,” she bravely chose to go to work. During the live broadcast, she revealed that she had a contact lens stuck in her eye. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but anyone who has experienced it knows how painful and frightening it can be.
Kotb downplayed the seriousness of the situation, but her co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, immediately expressed concern. She asked if it was a medical emergency, to which Kotb responded that she was planning to visit the eye doctor but ran out of time. In a plea to viewers, Kotb asked for their advice on how to remove the stuck contact lens.
Despite her discomfort, Hager tried to continue with the show as scheduled. However, after a commercial break, she announced that Kotb had lost all eyesight because her other contact lens had fallen out. It was a challenging moment for both of them.
Thankfully, the viewers of TODAY came to Kotb’s aid. They started offering tips and tricks on how to remove a stuck contact lens. Kotb even tried some of the advice live during the show, with a handheld mirror in hand.
One viewer suggested lifting the eyelid all the way up and looking all the way down to make the contact lens slide down. Kotb gamely tried this suggestion, which you can watch in the video below.
Despite the initial scare, Kotb was eventually able to remove one of the contacts with the help of the viewers. It was a reminder of the power of community and how we can all come together to support each other, even in unexpected situations.
Have you ever experienced a contact lens getting stuck in your eye? If so, share your story and any tips you have for removing it.
Hoda Kotb hilariously loses her contact lens live on ‘Today’: ‘I can’t read!’
Talk about eyewitness news.
Hoda Kotb suffered a minor “medical emergency” Thursday on “Today With Hoda and Jenna” when she had two contacts stuck on one eye.
“I think I have a contact stuck in my eye way up here,” Kotb, 59, told Jenna Bush Hager at the end of the show’s first segment. “I don’t think I took it out last night and I can’t find it. It feels like it’s in there.”
“I’m not kidding,” she said as she rubbed her eye. “I was going to go to the eye doctor but I didn’t have time.”
Hager, 42, briefly panicked for her co-host, asking if this was a “medical emergency,” but Kotb assured her that viewers might be able to offer up tips on how to get the lens out.
“Maybe people have tricks on how to get it out, because I’m sure people have had contacts that have rolled up,” she said. “How do I get it out? I’ve tried. If you guys know, will you post on [social media]? I just want to get it out!”
After a commercial break, Hager revealed that Kotb had an additional problem.
“We have breaking news: Hoda has now lost all eyesight because her other contact fell out,” Hager said of the previously properly placed lens. “I’m going to go ahead and read and hopefully when the health person comes, we can resolve this issue.”
Kotb picked up a large hand-held mirror and messed with her eye some more as Hager attempted reading off the teleprompter.
“There are two in there, I’m not kidding,” she again claimed.
Finally, Kotb successfully got the lens off her eye with the help of a fan-submitted tip to look down while she pulled on her lid.
“That was so crazy, that was the best advice,” a thankful Kotb said.
The mom of two was still unable to read the prompter because everything looked “super fuzzy” and “like a bunch of mushed up colors.”
“I just need one more contact,” Kotb said.
Thursday was an eventful day on the “Today” show. Later on the program, Larry David attacked Elmo, who was there to discuss his viral tweet about emotions.
