For those who wear contact lenses, the convenience they offer can make you feel like they’re suitable for almost any activity. However, when it comes to swimming, wearing contact lenses is a decision that can have serious consequences for your eye health. While it might seem harmless to take a quick dip in the pool, ocean, or even a hot tub with your lenses in, doing so can expose you to several risks, ranging from mild discomfort to severe infections and long-term damage.
Risk of Infections
Water—whether it’s from a pool, lake, ocean, or even tap—is teeming with microorganisms. One particularly dangerous organism is Acanthamoeba, a microscopic amoeba found in natural bodies of water, hot tubs, and poorly maintained swimming pools. If it comes into contact with your eyes, it can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but serious infection that can lead to permanent vision loss.
Contact lenses create the perfect environment for this amoeba to latch onto your eye. The lens traps water against your cornea, giving the organism time to adhere and potentially penetrate the eye’s surface. Treating Acanthamoeba keratitis often involves months of intensive therapy, and in severe cases, a corneal transplant may be required.
Chemical Irritation
Swimming pools are often treated with chlorine to kill bacteria and keep the water clean. However, chlorine doesn’t eliminate all microorganisms, and it can also irritate your eyes. When you wear contact lenses in chlorinated water, the lenses can absorb and retain these chemicals, prolonging the irritation. This can result in redness, dryness, and a gritty feeling in your eyes.
Saltwater from the ocean is no better. The salt can cause your lenses to dehydrate, making them uncomfortable and increasing the risk of scratches on your cornea.
Blurry Vision and Lens Damage
Swimming in contact lenses can also affect your vision and the integrity of the lenses themselves. Water can cause your lenses to warp or stick to your eye, leading to blurry vision or discomfort. In some cases, lenses may even tear, which can pose additional risks if fragments remain in your eye.
What About Goggles?
While wearing swim goggles can reduce the risk of water exposure, it doesn’t entirely eliminate the danger. Water can still seep in, especially if the goggles don’t fit perfectly. If you absolutely must swim while wearing contact lenses, consider daily disposable lenses and wear snug-fitting, waterproof swim goggles. Immediately discard the lenses after swimming and thoroughly rinse your eyes with a sterile saline solution.
Best Practices
The safest option is to avoid wearing contact lenses altogether while swimming. If you swim regularly, consider investing in prescription swim goggles or consulting your eye care professional about LASIK surgery.
Conclusion
Your eye health is not worth compromising for the convenience of wearing contact lenses while swimming. The risks of infection, irritation, and long-term damage far outweigh the temporary clarity they provide. Always prioritize your safety and protect your eyes—they’re the only pair you have.