Contact lenses are a revolutionary vision correction technology, offering a practical, aesthetic alternative to wearing glasses; perfect for those who wish to look sharp, and ready for anything. The biggest upside of contact lenses is that they come in a variety of subtle colors which lets you customize your eyes. It is quite the game-changer for costume fanatics who love showing their fashion sense!
However, changing from glasses to contact lenses isn’t as easy as you might think. Because contact lenses are considered medical devices, you must follow the proper guidelines when wearing, cleaning, or storing your contact lenses.
Blurriness in contact lenses can be caused by a number of reasons, from simple over-usage to wearing faulty contact lenses bought with a wrong prescription. Most contact lens brands recommend a person only wear contact lenses for a maximum of 8 hours a day. However, that number varies depending on every person.
It is also necessary to avoid purchasing contact lenses from less reputable contact lens sellers, especially the ones that do not require a prescription.
If you feel a sort of blurriness or irritation, Immediately remove your contact lenses and check for possible damage or a tear on the surface of the lenses; also make sure that you are not wearing them inside out. If the lenses are in perfect condition, take them to your optometrist and have them check the diameter to confirm they match your prescription details. It is important that you waste no time addressing this problem, and get it sorted as quickly as possible for the betterment of your eyesight.
2. Blurry Vision While Wearing Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are considered Medical devices, which is why it is recommended that you always use an updated prescription when purchasing them because even a microscopic error can cause blurriness and irritation.
These contact lenses rest directly above the tear film of your cornea, to refract the light directly onto your retina. Prescription contact lenses use different correction values to fix refractive errors like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.
However, this intricate system is not perfect. Even if your contact lenses are in perfect condition, blurriness can be caused by a number of external factors like personal hygiene, dryness in the eyes, and dusty environments.
Distinguishing the difference between persistent blurriness and the occasional blurriness is important. Temporary blurriness while wearing contacts can be linked to dry eyes or unclean contact lenses, but persistence issues can implicate a bigger problem that needs professional attention.
3. Common Causes of Blurry Contacts
Contact lenses are designed to give you clearer vision or the cosmetic aspect that you desire for your everyday needs, and it can be frustrating when they cause problems instead of solving them. Whether you’re new to wearing contacts or have been using them for years, occasional blurriness is a common issue that can result from several factors. Understanding the causes can help you address the problem quickly and restore your vision to crystal clarity. Here are the most common culprits of blurry vision:
a. Outdated or Incorrect Prescription
One of the most common reasons why your seemingly perfect contact lenses are causing blurriness or another form of irritation is the outdated prescription. You see, as you grow older, your body changes and so do your eyes; even the most microscopic refractive error can cause a slight vision obstruction if you wear contact lenses. It should be a common practice to get a comprehensive eye exam every so often.
One of the main risks involving contact lenses with inaccurate prescription is that they don’t fit properly on your eyes and cause slight discomfort. However, if you continue wearing faulty contacts, they can lead to bigger problems and unnecessary risks.
b. Lens Contamination and Deposits
It is common for protein deposits and environmental debris to gather on your contact lenses over a long usage, this accumulation can cause contact lenses to give cloudy vision or a blur effect. The key to resolving this issue is simply to clean your contact lenses properly with the right contact lens solution.
Please Follow Our Guidelines to properly clean and store your contact lenses after each use.
Quick Fact: the most common type of infection caused by wearing contact lenses is Corneal Keratitis which can be easily avoided simply by properly cleaning your contact lenses.
However, if cleaning your contact lenses after each use sounds difficult, you should opt for choosing daily contact lenses that you can dispose of after each use.
c. Dry Eyes and Environmental Factors
One of the underlying conditions that might cause blurriness while wearing contacts could be dry eyes. Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or they evaporate quickly; this could happen due to several reasons but you should seek a professional opinion.
Additionally, because contact lenses rest on the surface of your cornea; they can further reduce the flow of oxygen to your eyes which might lead to further dryness and cause blurriness.
d. Poor Lens Fit and Movement
If you have astigmatism, you might want to try readjusting your contact lenses properly on your cornea and make sure it sits right. Try blinking a few times to adjust the position.
Ill-fitted lenses can cause blurriness, visual stress, and more, that’s why it’s important to wear new contact lenses in the presence of a professional.
e. Allergic Reactions and Eye Conditions
It’s not uncommon to have allergic reactions to contact lens materials, cleaning solutions, or even environmental allergens like pollen. Symptoms can include redness, itchiness, blurred vision, minor swelling, and watering in the eyes.
In a case like this, please consult your eye-care professional to diagnose this issue.
4. Diagnosing the Root Cause
Self-diagnosing the cause of blurry contact lenses can be effective in resolving the problem quickly. Many issues relating to blurry contact lenses are easy to resolve as they simply require cleaning and readjusting, but some issues will require professional evaluation.
Self Assessments
- Unclean lenses: Make sure to properly clean and store your contact lenses after each use, be thorough with your cleaning, and use enough lens solution to clean every part thoroughly.
- Overuse of contact lenses: Be mindful of how long you wear your contact lenses, most lens distributors recommend not wearing contacts for more than 8 hours.
- Not fitting properly: If your lenses aren’t fitting properly, it’s due to a faulty prescription, make sure to bring them to your optometrist and get yourself an updated prescription.
When to visit an eye care specialist
If your blurriness continues despite following the Self-assessment steps above, it might be time to consult your local optometrist.
They might want to test your eyes for allergic reactions, corneal abrasions, dry eye syndrome, or lens alignment, depending on your astigmatism.
5. Solutions and Treatment
The solution to most blurriness problems with contact lenses is easy to fix if you know how to properly clean and store your contacts. However, some problems require long-term strategies and even professional assistance.
Following are some easy solutions and strategies that can help you resolve most lens-related problems so you can continue wearing your contacts:
a. Updating Prescriptions Regularly
It should be common practice to renew your lens prescription every so often because as your body grows and changes, so do your eyes. Some symptoms that might indicate it's time to update your prescription is if you have frequent headaches or eye strain while wearing contacts.
b. Proper Lens Hygiene Practices
Proper hygiene is necessary if you use contact lenses, even a slight contamination of bacteria can cause an infection which can lead to further complications. Following are some practices that you should incorporate:
- Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses whether you’re putting them or taking them out.
- Use the recommended contact lens solution when cleaning your contact lenses and the lens case.
- Replace your contact lens case every 3 months to prevent any sort of contamination growth.
c. Managing Dry Eyes
To prevent dry eye syndrome, you can use rewetting eye drops or artificial tears, both of which serve a similar purpose which is to moisten your eyes so your contact lenses do not cause irritation and discomfort.
Eye drops might be a little inconvenient; however, they are a perfect solution if you’re out in public. If you’re in your home or workplace, you can use a humidifier to tackle the dry air. Additionally, take breaks during your screen time to give your eyes some rest.
d. Ensuring Correct Lens Fit
Only applicable if you have Astigmatism or Keratoconus eye disorder. If your lenses are moving excessively or they don’t fit properly, it’s better to have your eye care professional help with refitting.
Do not get irritated and apply pressure to set them in place, these lenses are designed to correct themselves without an external force.
e. Addressing Allergies and Sensitivities
If you experience excessive redness, a burning sensation, or watery eyes while wearing contact lenses, you may have an allergy or sensitivity. Although these conditions are rare, they are more likely to be caused by a specific type of lens material or the contact lens solution. It’s a good idea to schedule a comprehensive eye exam to better understand your eye health.
- Ideally, use daily contact lenses to avoid any contamination that might accumulate over a long usage.
- Use a recommended lens solution, one that is preservative-free to minimize the irritation factor.
6. Preventive Measures
A preventative eye care routine is key to maintaining proper eye health and avoiding any recurring issues. The following are some healthy habits that you should follow to clear your vision.
a. Establishing a consistent lens replacement schedule.
Strictly follow the replacement cycles of your contact lenses, wearing contact lenses for more than the designated lifespan could lead to irritation or corneal abrasions.
Disposable Lenses or daily contact lenses are only good for one use and should be removed and discarded as such.
Monthly lenses should be replaced after a month, if not sooner. Even if they feel comfortable and okay to wear, please avoid them at all costs.
Bi-monthly or reusable contact lenses are usually good for up to 2-3 months, however, make sure to clean them properly after each use and store them in a sealed container.
b. Adopting a balanced diet to support eye health.
If you often feel your eyes are dry when wearing contacts or while using your screen for long periods of time; your eyes could be suffering from the dry eye syndrome. This sense of inflammation can cause dizziness and headaches. Incorporate omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and zinc into your meals to support tear production and reduce inflammation.
c. Incorporating breaks during screen time to reduce eye strain.
Staring at your computer/mobile screens can reduce the natural lubrication of your eyes, simply because you tend to blink a lot. If you regularly wear contacts, you should take adequate breaks from your screen time to reduce strain.
d. Staying hydrated to maintain adequate tear production.
For anyone who suffers from chronic diseases, using prescription rewetting eye drops can help reduce dryness and inflammation. Please keep them close while wearing contacts.
7. Conclusion
Blurry contact lenses are and can be very frustrating, but in most cases, they are easily preventable and treatable. By understanding the cause behind blurry contacts, seeking professional advice, and adopting healthy habits, you can prevent many issues that might stand between you and a clearer vision. The following is a summary of the key points discussed in the article above, highlighting the main guidelines covered for each issue:
- Outdated and incorrect prescriptions could be the root cause of blurry contacts, so renew your prescription.
- Lens contamination and protein deposits are easily avoidable by cleaning your contacts after each use. Also, never use your contacts beyond the recommended time.
- Dry eye syndrome is easily solved simply by regularly using rewetting eye drops while wearing contacts.
- Toric lenses for astigmatism are designed to sit at the right position to properly refract light, try adjusting your contacts, and if it’s not working, visit your optometrist.
- If you have an allergic reaction to your contacts, it could be time to visit your optometrist and seek professional advice. You could be allergic to your lens cleaning solution or the material of your contacts.
Follow the official Primal Contact Lens Wear and Care Guidelines for Using, Storing, and Caring for your contact lenses.
