Contact lenses get blurry from protein deposits, dryness, dirt, or a wrong prescription. Clean or replace them and see your eye doctor.
Common causes
- Protein deposits.
- Dry eyes.
- Dirt or makeup.
- Old or damaged lenses.
- Wrong prescription.
- Lens flipped inside out.
Fixes
- Rinse and rub with solution.
- Use rewetting drops.
- Replace on schedule.
Never
Use tap water.
See an eye doctor
If blurring persists or you have pain or redness.
Reasons for blur
Contact lens blurriness comes from protein and lipid deposits, dry eyes, lens damage, incorrect prescription, worn lenses, wearing past the replacement schedule or lens rotation with toric lenses. Contact lenses sit on a thin tear film, and dryness changes vision.
- Daily lenses are replaced every day, biweekly lenses every 2 weeks and monthly lenses every month.
- Screen use reduces blinking from about 15 times per minute to about 5 to 7, increasing dryness.
- Overwearing lenses can cause corneal swelling and infections.
Fixes and cautions
Rinse and rub lenses with fresh multipurpose solution, replace them on schedule, use lubricating drops approved for contacts, and blink fully. Never use tap water, saliva or water for rinsing or storing lenses, since Acanthamoeba keratitis is a sight-threatening infection. Never sleep in lenses not approved for it. See an eye doctor for blur that persists, redness, pain or light sensitivity. An eye exam is needed yearly for lens prescriptions.
Reasons for blur
Blurry contacts can result from protein deposits, dry eyes, a torn lens, wrong prescription, astigmatism or wearing them too long. Lens replacement schedules matter.
Fixes and cautions
Rinse and replace lenses, use rewetting drops approved for contacts, and avoid sleeping in lenses. See an eye doctor if blur persists or eyes are red or painful.
Lens deposits and tear film
Contact lenses accumulate proteins, lipids and calcium from tears. Daily disposable lenses minimize buildup. Dry eye syndrome affects 16 million Americans. Astigmatism uncorrected by a spherical lens causes blur. Lenses can flip or rotate if toric.
Hygiene and replacement
Replace lenses on schedule: daily, two weeks or monthly. Use fresh solution (never water), rub and rinse lenses even with no rub solutions, and replace the case every 3 months. The CDC links poor contact hygiene to keratitis, with 1 million doctor visits a year. Do not sleep in lenses unless approved.
Based on data from the CDC and the American Academy of Ophthalmology
