The summer season is upon us, and with that comes the temptation to take a dip in the pool to cool off. For contact lens wearers, this raises the question of whether it is safe to wear contacts while swimming.
Swimming With Contact Lenses
While the short answer is no, there are many factors to consider when it comes to the safety of wearing reusable contact lenses or daily disposable lenses in a swimming pool. In this blog post, we'll explore the risks of wearing contacts while swimming, and what you can do to protect your eye health.
Types of Water
First and foremost, it is a good idea to understand the different kind of water you may come into contact with while swimming. This includes chlorinated pool water, hot tubs, tap water, lake water, and ocean water. The body of water you swim in can greatly affect your chances of infection and other serious eye problems.
Hot Tubs
Hot tubs can also pose a risk to contact lens wearers. The high temperatures of the water can cause the lenses to dry out and stick to your eyes, leading to discomfort and potential corneal abrasions. Hot tubs can create an environment that is conducive to the growth of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. The warm, moist conditions in a hot tub can provide an ideal breeding ground for these organisms, which can then come into contact with the eyes and potentially cause infections.
Contact lens wearers are at particular risk because the lenses can trap bacteria and other contaminants against the surface of the eye, increasing the risk of infection. In addition, hot tubs often contain high levels of chlorine or other chemicals that can irritate the eyes or damage the lenses.
To reduce the risk of infection and protect the health of your eyes, contact lens wearers should avoid wearing their lenses in hot tubs or swimming pools. Instead, they should wear prescription glasses, prescription goggles or consider getting prescription swim masks that can be worn over their lenses. If they do decide to wear their lenses in a hot tub, they should make sure to clean and disinfect them thoroughly afterwards and discard them if they become damaged or contaminated. In general, it is always important to practice good hygiene and follow an eye care professional's or doctor’s recommendations for lens care and replacement, in order to reduce the risk of eye infections and other complications.
Chlorinated Pool Water
Chlorinated pool water is perhaps the most common type of water that contact lens wearers come into contact with while swimming. However, wearing contact lenses in chlorinated pool water can be risky for several reasons. Firstly, the chlorine in the water can irritate the eyes and cause discomfort, especially if the lenses have not been properly cleaned or are damaged. Additionally, chlorine can also damage the lenses, causing them to become dry, brittle or cloudy, which can affect vision and increase the risk of infection.
Another risk of wearing contact lenses in a pool is that they can trap bacteria and other contaminants against the surface of the eye, increasing the risk of infection. This is particularly true if the pool water is not properly maintained and contains high levels of bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms.
To reduce the risk of infection and irritation, contact lens wearers should consider wearing prescription goggles or getting prescription swim masks that can be worn over their lenses. If they do decide to wear their lenses in the pool, they should make sure to clean and disinfect them thoroughly afterwards and discard them if they become damaged or contaminated.
Tap Water
Tap water should never come into contact with your contact lenses, as it can contain harmful microorganisms like the acanthamoeba organism.
Acanthamoeba is a type of single-celled organism that is commonly found in the environment, including in soil, water, and air. When Acanthamoeba come into contact with the eye, they can cause a condition called Acanthamoeba keratitis. This is a painful and potentially sight-threatening infection that can be difficult to treat.
Contact lens wearers are at particular risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis because they are more likely to come into contact with contaminated water. This can happen when lenses are cleaned or stored in fresh water, or when lenses are worn while swimming or showering.
The best way to prevent Acanthamoeba keratitis and other eye infections, contact lens wearers should always follow proper hygiene practices, including washing their hands before handling lenses, using only an approved contact lens solution, and avoiding contact with tap water. It is also important to replace with a new pair of lenses as recommended by an eye care professional and to schedule regular eye exams to ensure that the lenses are fitting properly and the eyes are healthy. Also always use a contact lens case when not wearing your lenses, unless you are wearing daily disposable contacts which can be thrown away after use.
Open Sea or Lakes
Wearing contact lenses while doing water sports, or swimming in the sea or a lake can also pose a risk of serious eye infection for contact lens wearers. Similar to wearing lenses in a chlorinated pool, exposure to natural bodies of water can expose contact lenses to various types of bacteria and microorganisms. These organisms can adhere to the lenses, increasing the risk of eye infections.
In addition, spending time in natural bodies of water is often less predictable than in pools and may contain debris, sand or other irritants that can come into contact with the lenses and cause discomfort or damage. Saltwater can also cause the lenses to dry out or become uncomfortable.
To reduce the risk of infection and irritation, contact lens wearers should also consider wearing prescription goggles or getting prescription swim masks that can be worn over their lenses. If they do decide to wear their lenses while swimming in the sea or a lake, they should make sure to clean and disinfect them thoroughly afterwards and discard them if they become damaged or contaminated, exchanging them for a fresh pair.
Summary
Swimming can be a fun activity, but for contact lens wearers, it can also pose risks to eye health. Exposure to bacteria and other microorganisms in pools and the sea can cause eye infections, making it important for contact lens wearers to take precautions.
Wearing a pair of prescription goggles or swim masks can be a good option, and lenses should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly after swimming. Ultimately, following proper hygiene practices and consulting an eye care professional if you experience any eye pain can help minimize the risk of swimming-related eye infections and ensure the enjoyment of swimming with contact lenses.