Blurry contact lenses can have many causes. Dirt on the lenses is the most common cause, especially if oils or other ingredients have left a film on the lenses. Establishing a daily habit of good contact lens hygiene will help prevent blurriness from occurring. Cleaning your contact lenses properly can help make your vision clearer and extend the life of the lenses. Blurry contacts can also be caused by dry eyes, some medications and certain medical conditions. Cleaning the lenses should be the first step to try for restoring clear vision.
Wash your hands thoroughly before handling contacts, using soap and warm water, focusing especially on your fingertips. Avoid using lotion or soaps that can leave a filmy residue on your lenses. Trim your thumb and index fingernails so they do not tear or break the lenses.
Remove the first blurry contact from your eye or take it out of the contact lens case.
Turn the lens right-side-up, so it forms a bowl shape on the tip of your index finger.
Squeeze a drop or two of your doctor's recommended contact cleaning solution or all-purpose solution on the lens. Squeeze another drop under the lens so that the solution is on both sides of the contact.
Gently rub the lens between your thumb and index finger, making sure the solution covers both sides of lens. Rubbing gently to clean is recommended, even for "no rub" solutions, which can leave stubborn protein deposits if the lenses are not rubbed. If you're using a disinfecting solution that's not meant to go in your eye, rinse the lens with a wetting or all-purpose solution after cleaning it.
Gently place the cleaned lens into the proper eye. Repeat the cleaning process with the other lens.
Rinse the contact case with more cleaning solution -- never use water or saline solution -- and let the case and lids air dry.
Tip
Do not reuse solutions, nor add new solution to old solution left in the case. Some over-the-counter eyedrops are designed to clean your lenses while you're wearing them. Follow the directions, and be careful not to touch the dropper tip to your eye or lashes, which can contaminate the drops.
Warning
Blurry vision can be a sign of serious illness. If the above steps have not cleared your blurry contacts, call your doctor to determine whether an eye infection or other illness or condition is causing the blurriness.
References
Writer Bio
Barbara Bean-Mellinger is a freelance writer who lives in the Washington, D.C. area and writes about food for eHow.com and leaf.tv. She started baking on her own at age nine, creating appetizers at 10, and making family meals by 14. Barbara holds a B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh, where she often cooked elaborate meals and desserts for friends.
