People who wear contacts may experience blurry vision for a number of reasons. Protein deposits on your lenses or an outdated prescription are common, easily fixable causes.
However, unexplained blurred vision can be a sign of a more serious eye health problem. Call your eye doctor immediately if blurry vision occurs with other symptoms or sudden changes to your eyesight.
This article explores 12 reasons you may experience cloudy or hazy vision while wearing your contacts. It also covers how to fix blurry contact lenses and when to see a doctor.
12 Possible Reasons Why Your Contacts Are Blurry
Several factors can cause blurry vision while wearing contacts. 12 common causes of blurry vision with contact lenses include:
1. Dirty Contact Lenses
If your vision is blurry when you put your contacts in, a dirty contact lens may be the problem. This is one of the most common causes of blurred vision from contact lenses.
Many people wear their contacts for longer than the recommended period. This can cause protein deposits to build up on the contact lens.
In addition to making your vision blurry, dirty contact lenses can lead to serious eye health issues like infection.
How to Fix It
You must remove your contacts at the end of each day for careful cleaning. If you use daily disposables, you can just throw them away and open a new pair the next day.
Extended-wear contacts are marketed as safe to sleep in. However, most eye doctors don’t recommend using extended-wear contacts because they have a higher risk for eye infections.
2. New Prescription
Wearing contact lenses for the first time can cause eye strain and blurry vision as your eyes and brain adjust.
Corrected vision takes time to get used to. It may take up to 2 weeks to attain comfortable vision with a new prescription.
How to Fix It
Follow up with your eye doctor if your vision doesn’t improve within a couple of weeks. It may indicate you need a new prescription.
3. Outdated Prescription
Over time, refractive errors can change. This makes contact lenses ineffective at correcting visual acuity.
If your vision is blurry while wearing glasses or contact, you may need an updated prescription.
How to Fix It
It is essential to have an annual comprehensive eye exam to keep your prescription up to date and ensure optimal clear vision.
4. Allergies
Itchy and watery eyes are common symptoms of eye allergies. Rubbing your eyes can shift the placement of the contact lens on top of the cornea, leading to discomfort and blurry vision.
How to Fix It
Wear glasses instead of contacts if your eyes are irritated from allergies.
The most effective ways to treat eye allergies include:
- Eliminating the allergen-causing symptoms
- Taking antihistamines
- Giving your eyes a break from wearing contacts
- Keeping your contacts clean
- Using artificial tears
5. Improper Fit
Contact lenses come in many shapes, sizes, and brands. The wrong fit can make your vision blurry and cause discomfort.
Symptoms of contact lenses that don’t fit properly include:
- Feeling like something is in your eye
- Redness and tearing
- Eye secretions
- Sensitivity to light
- Burning sensation
- Blurred vision
- Dry eyes
How to Fix It
If you experience discomfort while wearing contacts, remove the lenses and call your eye doctor.
Working with your eye doctor to ensure the lenses fit correctly on top of your eye will help provide clear vision and comfort.
6. Astigmatism
Wearing contacts with astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea) can cause the lens to shift easily. When a contact lens shifts on your eye, you may experience discomfort and blurry vision.
How to Fix It
There are contact lenses designed specifically for people with astigmatism. An eye doctor can diagnose astigmatism during a routine comprehensive eye exam.
7. Dry Eyes
Dry eye syndrome results from the eye not producing enough tears or tear film. Blurry vision is a common symptom of dry eye.
Other symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:
- Burning or stinging sensation
- Gritty feeling in the eye
- Excessive mucus or discharge around the eye
- Red, irritated eyes
How to Fix It
Your eye doctor may recommend using eye drops or rewetting drops while wearing contact lenses. If symptoms are severe, you may need to avoid using contact lenses until your dry eyes are successfully treated.
8. Eye Floaters
Experiencing eye floaters while wearing contact lenses can temporarily change your vision. Eye floaters can also produce the feeling that your lenses are dirty or shifting in your eye.
How to Fix It
Eye floaters are usually harmless and go away on their own.
Prolonged eye floaters can be a sign of retinal detachment and should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist immediately.
9. Eye Infection
Extended wear and improper cleaning and handling of a contact lens can lead to a severe eye infection. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is a common infection that affects the membrane covering your eye.
Signs and symptoms of an eye infection include:
- Eye pain
- Blurred vision
- Redness and irritation
- Discharge from the eye
- Sensitivity to light
How to Fix It
Stop wearing your contact lenses and call your eye doctor if you have symptoms of an eye infection.
Eye infections are treated with medicated eye drops.
10. Hormone Changes
The hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause can affect vision and make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable.
Fluid retention and increased blood volume due to hormone fluctuations can lead to dry eyes. Vision changes experienced during pregnancy typically return to normal after delivery.
How to Fix It
Talk to your eye doctor about ways to treat dry eye during pregnancy. This usually includes eye drops.
11. Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are often associated with temporary vision changes, including:
- Zigzag lines
- Flashing lights or halos on one side of your visual field
- Sensitivity to light
- Nausea or vomiting
How to Fix It
Contact lenses will not improve vision changes experienced during an ocular migraine.
Treatment includes:
- Removal of triggers
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Prescription medication
12. Underlying Medical Conditions
In some cases, blurred vision isn’t due to the contact lens itself, but an underlying medical condition.
Medical conditions that can affect vision include:
- Diabetes. Can damage blood vessels in the eye, leading to diabetic retinopathy
- Cardiovascular disease. Can damage veins and arteries in the eye
- Cataracts. A cloud in the lens that can cause blurry vision and eye prescription changes
- Glaucoma. Results in an increase in intraocular eye pressure, leading to vision loss
- Macular degeneration. Results in blurred and reduced central vision
How to Fix It
These health conditions require professional medical treatment.
Seek medical attention if you experience blurred vision that occurs suddenly or unexpectedly.
Where to Buy Glasses + Contacts
Best Overall: Warby Parker
Fastest Delivery: EyeBuyDirect
Also Great: Liingo
Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts
Why Routine Eye Exams are Essential
Routine eye exams are essential for keeping your eyes healthy, whether you wear contact lenses or glasses. They help monitor vision changes and keep your eye prescription up to date.
Comprehensive eye exams can catch underlying eye conditions early, avoiding serious complications that include vision loss and blindness.
Summary
Experiencing blurry vision while wearing contact lenses can be caused by several factors. These factors range from an outdated prescription and improper fit. More severe causes include eye conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Routine eye exams will help prevent blurry contacts and other vision problems. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience sudden vision loss or unexplained blurry vision.
In this article
Best Places to Buy Contacts
Best Overall
1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online.
Also Great
GlassesUSA has a huge selection of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses.
Best Places to Buy Glasses
Best Overall
Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices.
Also Great
Liingo Eyewear is another great option to buy glasses online.
Best on a Budget
EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6.
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