Can Contact Lenses Cause Cataracts?

If you’ve noticed that your vision seems a little cloudier than usual, or you recently heard someone mention cataracts, you might be wondering whether wearing contacts every day has something to do with it. Contacts and cataracts affect two completely different parts of your eye. Contact lenses do not cause cataracts. Let's break down why that is.

Your contacts sit on the outside of your eye. Cataracts develop on your eye’s natural lens, which is an actual part inside your eye. Even though they both have the word “lens” in their names, your contact lenses do not interact with your eye’s natural lens. Because they affect two completely different parts of your eye, wearing contacts does not cause cataracts.

Contacts can cause other eye problems when they are not worn or cared for correctly. Sleeping in them, wearing the same pair for too long, exposing them to water, or not cleaning reusable lenses properly can lead to irritation or infection. Those problems affect the front surface of your eye, though, not the area where cataracts develop.

That said, you should not assume that every change in your vision is being caused by your contacts. Cataracts, dry eyes, an outdated prescription, and contact lens irritation can all make your vision seem blurry or cloudy. If the problem continues after you remove your contacts, it is a good idea to schedule an eye exam.

What Is a Cataract?

Inside your eye is a small, clear structure that helps focus light so you can see. Your eye doctor may call it the crystalline lens. Despite the name, it is not the same thing as the removable contact lenses you put in each morning.

A cataract develops when that clear structure inside your eye becomes cloudy. As the cloudiness increases, your vision may start to look blurry, hazy, dim, or less colorful.

Most cataracts develop as people get older. According to the National Eye Institute, the proteins inside the eye typically begin changing after age 40, although most people do not notice symptoms until later.

Why Contact Lenses Do Not Cause Cataracts

Your contacts sit on your cornea, which is the clear surface covering the front of your eye. They help light focus properly so you can see more clearly, but they do not reach the inside of your eye.

Cataracts develop behind the colored part of your eye. Since your contacts never touch that area, they cannot create the cloudiness that causes a cataract.

This is true whether you wear daily, biweekly, or monthly contacts. Wearing contacts for a long time is also not considered a cataract risk factor, as long as the lenses fit correctly and you follow your eye doctor’s instructions.

What Actually Causes Cataracts?

Age is the most common reason cataracts develop, but it is not the only factor.

Some people have a higher risk because cataracts run in their family. Diabetes, smoking, previous eye injuries, certain eye surgeries, and spending a lot of time in the sun without UV protection may also increase your risk.

Steroid medications are another known risk factor. This can include certain oral medications, inhalers, injections, and eye drops, particularly when they are used for a long time. If you take steroids for allergies, asthma, inflammation, or another health condition, do not stop taking them on your own. Your doctor can help you understand how the possible risks apply to you.

None of these factors means you will definitely develop cataracts. They simply make cataracts more likely to develop or may cause them to appear earlier.

Why Do My Contacts Make My Vision Look Cloudy?

Contacts can make your vision look cloudy, but that does not mean they are causing cataracts.

Sometimes the explanation is pretty simple. Your contacts may be dry, dirty, damaged, or inside out. If you wear reusable lenses, proteins and other deposits can collect on the surface over time. Your vision can also become blurry if you are wearing a pair longer than you are supposed to or if your prescription has changed.

Dry eyes are another common reason contacts stop feeling as clear as they did earlier in the day. You might notice that your vision improves for a moment after you blink or use rewetting drops approved for contact lenses.

If putting in a fresh pair fixes the problem, the cloudiness was probably related to the contacts themselves. If your vision still looks cloudy after taking them out, schedule an eye exam so your doctor can find out what is causing it.

How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Cataract and a Contact Lens Problem?

Cataracts usually develop gradually. You may notice that your vision looks hazier than it used to, colors seem faded, or you need brighter light to read. Driving at night may become more difficult because headlights create more glare, and updating your glasses or contact lens prescription may not make your vision completely clear.

A problem with your contacts is more likely to cause dryness, redness, irritation, watering, or the feeling that something is stuck in your eye. The blurriness may improve when you blink, remove the lens, or put in a new pair.

There can be some overlap between these symptoms, so you do not need to figure it out on your own. An eye doctor can examine your eyes and determine whether the problem is your contacts, your prescription, dry eye, a cataract, or something else.

Can Wearing Contacts Incorrectly Damage Your Eyes?

Contact lenses do not cause cataracts, but wearing them incorrectly can still damage your eyes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that improper contact lens wear can increase the risk of keratitis, which is inflammation of the cornea. In some cases, germs can infect the cornea and cause microbial keratitis, a serious eye infection that needs to be treated quickly.

To protect your eyes, replace your contacts according to the schedule your eye doctor gave you. Daily lenses should be thrown away after one use. Biweekly lenses should be replaced every two weeks, and monthly lenses should be replaced one month after you open them.

You should also keep your contacts away from water, use fresh solution every time you store reusable lenses, and avoid sleeping in them unless your eye doctor has specifically prescribed them for overnight wear.

Can You Wear Contacts If You Have Cataracts?

Some people can continue wearing contact lenses after being diagnosed with cataracts. It depends on how much the cataract is affecting their vision and whether contacts can still give them the correction they need.

Your prescription may change as a cataract develops. At some point, glasses or contacts may no longer make your vision as clear as you need it to be. If that happens, your eye doctor may begin talking with you about cataract surgery.

Do not switch contact lens brands or change your prescription on your own. Your eye doctor will need to confirm that your contacts still fit correctly and are giving you the right vision correction.

Can You Wear Contacts After Cataract Surgery?

Many people do not need contacts for distance vision after cataract surgery because the cloudy area inside the eye is replaced with a clear artificial implant. However, the implant may not correct every part of your prescription.

Some people still wear reading glasses, regular glasses, or contacts after surgery. Contacts may be used to correct remaining nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a difference in prescription between the two eyes.

Your surgeon will tell you when your eye has healed enough to safely wear contacts again. Do not put a contact into a recently operated eye until your doctor says it is okay.

When Should You Call Your Eye Doctor?

Schedule an eye exam if your vision is becoming increasingly cloudy, colors seem less bright, glare is making it harder to see, or your current contact lens prescription no longer works as well as it used to.

If you experience sudden blurry vision, worsening eye pain, significant redness, unusual discharge, or sensitivity to light, remove your contacts and call an eye doctor right away. Those symptoms may be signs of an infection or another urgent eye problem rather than a cataract.

How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy While Wearing Contacts

Always follow the wearing and replacement schedule provided by your eye doctor. Do not try to make a box last longer by stretching each pair beyond its recommended replacement date.

Wash and completely dry your hands before touching your contacts. Keep them away from tap water, pools, showers, and hot tubs. If you wear reusable lenses, clean and store them using fresh contact lens solution rather than topping off the old solution already in your case.

Regular eye exams are also important, even when your contacts seem to be working perfectly. Your eye doctor can check the health of your eyes, update your prescription, and look for early signs of cataracts or other changes.

When it is time to reorder, you can shop for your prescribed contact lenses through Blue Planet Optics, upload your prescription from your phone, and have them shipped directly to your door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can wearing contacts for years cause cataracts?

No. Wearing contacts for years is not considered a cause of cataracts. Contacts sit on the outside surface of your eye, while cataracts develop inside the eye.

Can sleeping in contact lenses cause cataracts?

Sleeping in contacts does not cause cataracts. It can, however, increase your risk of a serious corneal infection. Unless your eye doctor has specifically approved your contacts for overnight wear, take them out before going to sleep.

Why does my vision look cloudy when I wear contacts?

Your contacts may be dry, dirty, damaged, inside out, or overdue for replacement. You may also need an updated prescription. If the cloudiness continues after you remove your contacts, make an appointment with your eye doctor.

Can contacts make an existing cataract worse?

Contacts are not known to make an existing cataract develop faster. They may simply become less effective at correcting your vision as the cataract changes.

Do cataracts make your eyes hurt?

Cataracts are generally painless. Eye pain, redness, discharge, or the feeling that something is stuck in your eye is more likely to be related to irritation, a damaged contact, or an infection and should be evaluated by an eye doctor.

What should I do if my vision suddenly becomes blurry?

Remove your contacts and check them for damage or debris. Do not continue wearing a lens that is torn or uncomfortable. If your vision remains blurry after removing your contacts, or you also have pain, redness, discharge, or light sensitivity, contact an eye doctor immediately.