Why Do My Contacts Feel Filmy?

Maybe your vision looks slightly hazy. Maybe you keep blinking trying to clear your contacts, but they still don’t feel completely clean. Or maybe your contacts were perfectly fine when you first put them in, and a few hours later they suddenly feel coated, dirty, or just kind of gross.

A filmy feeling can happen for a bunch of different reasons, like dry eyes, deposits building up on your contacts, makeup or skincare products getting on your lenses, allergies, or simply wearing your contacts for too long.

There Could Be Buildup on Your Contacts

Throughout the day, things from your tears can collect on the surface of your contacts.

Your tears naturally contain proteins, oils, and other substances, and some of that can end up depositing onto your lenses while you wear them. Once enough buildup develops, your contacts may start to feel filmy or make your vision look slightly cloudy.

You might notice this more with bi-weekly contacts or monthly contacts since you're wearing the same lenses multiple times.

This is also one of the reasons properly cleaning your contact lenses is so important if you wear reusable contacts.

Your Contacts Could Be Getting Dry

Sometimes what feels like a film on your contacts is actually dryness.

Your contacts sit on the tear film covering the surface of your eyes. Every time you blink, your tears are redistributed across your eyes and contacts.

When that tear film isn't staying stable, the surface of your contacts may start to feel dry, hazy, or almost coated.

If your contacts are feeling dry, try giving your eyes a break from your contacts for a little while and switching to your glasses. You can also ask your eye doctor about contact lens-safe rewetting drops or whether a different type of contact might be more comfortable for your eyes.

Makeup or Skincare Could Be Getting on Your Contacts

Moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation, mascara, eyeliner, makeup remover, and even products left on your fingers can easily end up on your contacts.

Wash and completely dry your hands before touching your contacts, especially after applying skincare products or doing your makeup routine.

Your Eyes Could Be Producing More Mucus Than Usual

Your eyes naturally produce a small amount of mucus, but irritation or allergies can sometimes cause more of it.

That mucus can stick to your contacts and make them feel filmy, sticky, or cloudy.

You might notice this happening more during allergy season or on days when your eyes are already irritated.

If your eyes are feeling irritated, take your contacts out and wear your glasses for a while instead of continuing to wear a lens that doesn't feel right.

If your eyes are red, painful, unusually sensitive to light, producing a lot of discharge, or just feel significantly different than normal, take your contacts out and talk to your eye doctor.

You Might Be Wearing Your Contacts Too Long

The longer a contact sits on your eye, the more time there is for the lens to dry out or collect deposits. You also shouldn't stretch your contacts beyond their prescribed replacement schedule.

If you wear a two-week lens, replace it according to the schedule your eye doctor prescribed. The same goes for monthly contacts.

If your contacts regularly start feeling filmy after you've had them in for a certain amount of time, don't force yourself to keep wearing them. Switch to your glasses and talk to your eye doctor if it keeps happening.

Your Contact Lens Solution Could Be Part of the Problem

Always use the contact lens solution recommended for your lenses and follow the instructions from your eye doctor and the solution manufacturer.

And never rinse your contacts with tap water. Water isn't sterile and should never be used to clean, rinse, or store contact lenses.

Why Does My Contact Feel Filmy Right After I Put It In?

If your contact feels filmy almost immediately after you put it in, there are a few things that could be going on.

There may have been something on your fingers when you handled the lens. The contact could also have makeup, oil, or debris on it, or your eye may already be dry or irritated.

If you're wearing a reusable lens and something seems off, follow the cleaning instructions for your specific lenses and solution before putting it back in.

If you're wearing a daily disposable and the lens seems damaged, dirty, or uncomfortable, it's always better to throw it away and start with a fresh one rather than trying to clean and reuse it.

Why Does Only One Contact Feel Filmy?

If one contact feels completely normal and the other one feels filmy, the problem may be specific to that lens or eye.

There could be debris on the contact, the lens could be damaged, or that eye may simply be drier or more irritated at the moment.

If the same eye keeps giving you problems even when you switch to a fresh contact, mention it to your eye doctor.

What Should I Do If My Contacts Feel Filmy?

If a contact suddenly feels dirty, filmy, or uncomfortable, wash and dry your hands and remove it.

If it's a reusable contact, clean and disinfect it exactly as directed before wearing it again. If it's a daily disposable, use a fresh lens.

And if your contacts constantly feel filmy even when they're fresh, it may be worth talking to your eye doctor. Your current lens material, fit, replacement schedule, or another issue with your eyes could be contributing to the problem.

There are a LOT of different contact lens options, and a lens that works amazingly for one person's eyes isn't necessarily going to feel the same on yours.

Can I Prevent My Contacts From Feeling Filmy?

You can't necessarily prevent it every single time, but good contact lens habits can definitely help.

Wash and completely dry your hands before touching your contacts. Keep makeup and skincare products away from your lenses. If you wear reusable contacts, clean and store them properly and replace them on schedule.

Finally, don't try to stretch a pair of contacts longer than they're supposed to last before replacing them. Your contacts should generally feel comfortable enough that you don't really notice them most of the time.

FAQ

Why do my contacts feel like they have a coating on them?

A coated or filmy feeling can sometimes come from deposits, oils, makeup, mucus, or dryness affecting the surface of your contacts.

Why do my contacts feel filmy at the end of the day?

Dryness and deposits can become more noticeable the longer you wear your contacts. If your lenses consistently feel good in the morning and filmy later in the day, talk to your eye doctor about what you're experiencing.

Can protein buildup make contacts feel filmy?

Yes. Components of your tears, including proteins, can deposit on contact lenses. Proper cleaning and replacing reusable lenses on schedule can help limit buildup.

Can I rinse filmy contacts with water?

No. Don't rinse your contacts with tap or bottled water. Water isn't sterile and can expose your eyes to microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections.

Should I replace a contact if it feels filmy?

If you're wearing a daily disposable and something seems wrong with the lens, throw it away and use a fresh one. For reusable lenses, follow the proper cleaning and disinfection instructions for your contacts and solution. If the problem keeps happening, talk to your eye doctor.

When should I be concerned?

Take your contacts out and contact an eye care professional if the filmy feeling is persistent or is accompanied by significant redness, pain, light sensitivity, discharge, swelling, or worsening vision. Sudden or significant changes in vision shouldn't just be assumed to be caused by your contacts.