Obviously, you wear contact lenses to improve your eyesight. You expect them to provide you with clear, crisp vision. But unfortunately, sometimes, even if the prescription is accurate and your vision should be sharp, your eyesight becomes murky because the contacts themselves are cloudy. “Why does this happen?” you might be wondering. “Why do my contacts get cloudy?” Scroll down to solve the mystery.
Solving the Case of the Cloudy Contacts
Why do my contacts get cloudy? To determine the cause of this issue, you may need to take a closer look at your contact lens routine or schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. Let’s explore some common explanations for cloudy contacts:
Protein & Lipid Buildup
Our eyes naturally produce proteins and lipids; that’s not the problem. Over time, however, these proteins and lipids can accumulate on the surface of your contacts. This buildup can create a cloudy appearance and must be cleaned off if you don’t want to feel like you’re staring into a cloud all day.
Improper Cleaning
How do you clean your contacts? How often do you clean them? If you’re having trouble with cloudy contacts, discuss your contact lens hygiene routine with your eye doctor. You may need to switch to a different cleaning solution or refresh your memory regarding the cleaning process for contacts.
Overused Contacts
Contacts are designed to last for a specific period of time. Typically, you’ll be prescribed contacts that last either one day, two weeks, or one month. Check the product packaging if you’re not sure how long your contacts last. Sometimes, people assume they should replace their contacts monthly, but in actuality, their contacts are only designed to last half that time. This can lead to cloudy contacts.
Set a calendar alert on your phone or put a note on your physical calendar so you don’t forget to switch your contacts out on the right day.
It’s also important not to overwear your contacts in the course of a day. Most contacts are designed to be worn for 14 to 16 hours or so. If you wear them longer than that — especially if you have an issue like dry eyes — you might find them uncomfortable.
Environmental Factors
Cloudy contact lenses may result from exposure to an environmental irritant, such as smoke, dust, powder, or even wind. These can create a cloudy layer on the surface of the contact, disrupting your vision.
Water Exposure
Swimming with contacts should be avoided as it increases your risk of bacterial contamination and, in rare cases, sight-threatening microbes. Not to mention the fact that wearing contacts in water — including swimming pools, showers, hot tubs, and more — can cause a cloudy residue to form on the surface of your contacts.
Makeup or Skincare
Have you recently switched to a new eye shadow or powder? Do you wear a lot of skincare products? That cloudiness you’re experiencing might be caused by makeup or skincare products interacting with your contact lenses. Try paring down your skincare and makeup routine for a few days to see if you notice a difference.
Dry Eyes
A well-hydrated eye self-lubricates, which helps wash away protein buildup and environmental irritants. But if your eyes are dry, they might struggle to keep your contacts clean. Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor if you suspect this might be the issue so that you can receive treatment for your dry eyes. You may need to use preservative-free lubricating eye drops to keep your eyes hydrated throughout the day.
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Your eye doctor can help you get to the bottom of this annoying issue. In most cases, you’ll be able to resolve it by reassessing your contact lens cleaning routine, switching to a new contact solution, being prescribed a new contact lens product, or avoiding certain environments or products.
Are you wondering, “Why do my contacts get cloudy?” Or perhaps you’re in need of a new contact lens prescription? If you live near southwest Missouri, contact Heffington’s. Since 1975, the Heffington family has been assisting the Springfield community with top-quality eye care and affordable eyeglasses and contacts. One of the unique features of our family-owned business is that we manufacture lenses at our own laboratory, giving us total control over the service and pricing, and we’re happy to pass our savings on to you. To learn more about our products and services, please get in touch with us online, send an email to asktheexperts@heffingtons.com, or give us a call at 417-869-3937 (Optiland location) or 417-882-3937 (House of Vision location). We look forward to hearing from you!