Bandage contact lenses (BCLs) are specialized therapeutic devices designed to protect the eye’s surface and promote healing, not to correct vision. Changes in visual clarity are a common and expected experience when a patient is fitted with a BCL. Since the primary focus of these lenses is treatment and comfort, they often do not enhance visual acuity and may cause a temporary decrease in how clearly a person sees. This blurriness or fluctuation is explained by the lens’s function and the eye’s healing process.
How Bandage Contact Lenses Aid Healing
A bandage contact lens is a soft, clear lens placed directly onto the cornea, the dome-shaped front surface of the eye. Unlike standard contact lenses designed for vision correction, the BCL acts as a physical shield, similar to a bandage on a skin wound. This protective barrier isolates the injured corneal surface from the abrasive rubbing of the eyelids during blinks.
By preventing friction, the lens reduces pain and discomfort, allowing delicate corneal epithelial cells to regenerate and heal. The lens also helps maintain a stable, moist layer of tears and therapeutic eye drops directly on the corneal surface. This retention of moisture and medication accelerates the recovery process following corneal abrasions, surgeries like PRK, or other surface irregularities.
Why Vision Fluctuation is Common
The blurriness experienced with a BCL is a side effect of the healing process and the lens’s physical presence, not a failure of the treatment. A primary contributing factor is corneal edema, which is the temporary swelling of the cornea due to fluid buildup. The cornea receives oxygen primarily from the air, and even breathable BCLs can restrict this flow, especially during sleep. When the cornea swells, its light-focusing properties change, resulting in hazy or blurry vision.
Vision also fluctuates because the lens is designed for protection and comfort, not optimal optics. BCLs are often thicker or made of materials that prioritize oxygen permeability and extended wear over clear vision. The space between the lens and the healing cornea can accumulate debris or disrupt the natural tear film. This creates a temporary, unstable layer that scatters light, making fluctuating visual clarity a normal part of wearing a therapeutic lens.
Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Attention
While some blurriness is normal, certain symptoms indicate a complication requiring immediate contact with an eye care professional. A serious warning sign is the sudden onset of severe, throbbing eye pain not managed by prescribed medication. Persistent, thick, or colored discharge, rather than simple watering, can indicate a developing infection, such as microbial keratitis.
A sharp decline in vision that does not resolve with blinking or eye drops is also concerning, contrasting with the expected mild fluctuation. Extreme redness that intensifies rapidly or the sensation that the lens has moved, folded, or fallen out warrants an urgent check-up. These symptoms suggest an issue that could compromise recovery and must be addressed quickly to prevent long-term damage.
Vision Recovery After Lens Removal
Once the specialist determines the cornea has sufficiently healed, the bandage contact lens is removed, typically after a few days to a week. Patients may notice their vision is still slightly hazy or momentarily worse right after removal, as the corneal surface adjusts to the air and eyelid friction. This initial blurriness is usually brief and is a normal part of the final adjustment period.
Visual clarity improves substantially as the corneal surface fully normalizes and the newly formed epithelial cells smooth out. Stable, crisp vision is usually achieved within a few weeks to a month. Minor fluctuations can persist for up to two or three months, and follow-up appointments are necessary to monitor final visual acuity and ensure a complete recovery.