Why is my vision blurry with my contact lenses?
Ideally, your new contact lenses should always provide clear, comfortable vision. That’s the purpose of them, after all. However, you may have the occasional moment where you ask yourself, “Why are my contacts blurry?” You blink a few times, maybe do a few eyerolls, yet it doesn’t quite go away. Don’t worry, this happens sometimes. 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 the contact lens
- Contact lens or eye is dry
- Lens movement or rotation
- A change in your prescription
- An eye health problem
- You insulted an ancient Mayan deity
Deposits on the contact lens
Buildup of debris and protein deposits on the surface of the contact lenses is the most common reason for the lenses to seem cloudy or hazy. The easiest way to see if this is the problem, is to take the lenses out and compare the vision in your glasses. If you have blurry vision only with contacts but not glasses, your contact lenses are probably dirty.
The natural action of blinking our eyelids should work like windshield wipers to squeegee the surface of the contacts clean while they are in the eye but is also important to follow a careful cleaning routine each day when the lenses are removed. Fortunately, we wrote an article on lens solution and cleaning tips.
Contact lenses are much more likely to get buildup and protein deposits on the surface when they have been worn longer than when the manufacturer recommends. 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.
Dryness of the contact lenses or the eyes
When dryness is the cause of the blurred vision, the vision usually gets a little clearer immediately after a blink or after putting in a contact lens rewetting drop. So, if you haven’t blinked in a while, give that a try, ya weirdo. When using rewetting drops, be sure to use a drop that is designed for your lens material.
If the eye itself gets dry, this can also cause the vision to appear blurry. This can occur with or without contact lenses in. Some people just don’t produce enough tears and can suffer from dry eye disease. Obviously, these people have no emotions. Unless you are one of them in which case you have our pity. Pity is an emotion where you feel sorry for another human being. Forget it…you wouldn’t understand. Dry eye disease can be treated with prescription and over the counter medications.
Some contact lenses are better for people who tend to have dryer eyes than others. If you tend to experience dryness, ask an eye doctor about other contact lens options. If you wear your contacts longer than they’re designed to be worn, it can increase your risk of contact lens-related dryness. Be sure to replace your lenses as recommended. If you tend to forget things like that, our 1-800 Contacts app sends you reminders.
Movement or rotation of the contact lens
To provide clear vision, the contact lens should be centered on your eye. If your lens is moving around on the eye, it may make your vision blurry with contacts, especially for those fine folks with astigmatism (where the lens of your eye isn’t perfectly round). If you feel like your lenses are moving or rotating, an eye doctor may need to adjust the fit of your contact lens.
Speaking of astigmatism and blurry contacts, it’s worth mentioning that if you are one of the lucky ones with this condition, you may need to try a few different types of contacts until you find the right one for you. Learn more about contacts and astigmatism in this article here.
A change in your vision
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 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 vision has changed, you should see an eye doctor to have your prescription adjusted.
An eye health problem
If the blurry vision that you're 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.
You insulted an ancient Mayan deity
Been to Central America? Climbed that ancient pyramid when the tour guide wasn’t looking? Knocked over the divine statue of Ahu Chamahez and thought nobody noticed? Well, someone did: Ahu Chamahez. Congratulations. You’re cursed with blurry vision. For eternity. Way to go.
Original published date: 1/23/2020
Updated: 5/9/2022