Why are your contacts blurry?

New contact lenses functions is to provide clear, comfortable vision. However, sometimes a blurry contact lens can lead to frustration and difficulty completing everyday tasks and it might potentially present a safety or health risk. Depending on the cause, you can clear blurry contacts in several different ways. Here are some possible causes (and solutions) to blurry vision while wearing contacts.

Some common reasons for your vision to be blurry, cloudy, or hazy in your contacts are:

Deposits on contact lens

When a contact lens is dirty from general wear or exposure to the environment, it can become blurry. After you wash your hands with soap and water, remove, clean and rinse the lens with an appropriate contact lens solution. Tap water or saliva should never be used to clean or clear contact lenses. Follow the instructions on the bottle for correct cleaning and disinfection and make sure the solution is the right kind for the type of contacts worn. Contacts should only be stored in a clean contact lens case with fresh solution.

Contact lenses are much more likely to get buildup and protein deposits on the surface when they have been worn longer than they were designed to be replaced. Most lenses on the market today are either daily disposable, two-week disposable, or monthly disposable. Even with careful cleaning, your lenses should be replaced on the recommended schedule to prevent buildup and reduce the chance of damage to the eyes.

Movement or rotation of contact lens

In order to provide clear vision, the contact lens should be centered on your eye. If the lens is moving around on the eye, your vision will probably be blurry, especially for those fine folks with an astigmatism. If you feel like your lenses are moving or rotating, your doctor may need to adjust the fit of the contact lens, or switch you to a different one.

A change in your prescription

If your eyes are changing, you may experience blurred vision in your contacts as a result. Changes in prescription are common in teenagers as they grow, and also in people over the age of 40. Prescription changes tend to be gradual, rather than sudden changes. Sudden changes in your prescription could indicate more serious eye or systemic health problems like diabetes. If you feel like your prescription has changed, you should see your eye doctor to have the contact lenses adjusted.

An eye health problem

If the blurry vision that you are experiencing is still present after the contacts are removed, it could indicate a more serious eye health problem such as corneal swelling, infection, inflammation, cataracts, retinal problems, or many other conditions. If the blurred vision persists, see your eye doctor immediately.