Let’s be honest—how many of us have jumped in the pool and then remembered we still had our contacts in? It seems harmless, but that little mistake could land you in the optometrist’s chair with a painful eye infection.
If you wear contact lenses and swim, you’ve most likely asked yourself: Can I just leave my contacts in for a quick swim, recalling I’ve done it before and was fine? Unfortunately, the truth is it’s not alright to swim with contact lenses on.
“Dr. Joy Lam, a trusted optometrist at Refine Optometry in Palo Alto, warns patients: ‘Swimming with contacts might feel harmless, but the risk of serious condition like an Acanthamoeba infection isn’t worth it.”
Let’s explore why this is a bad idea, what to do if it happens, and how to protect your eyes the right way.
Why Swimming with Contact Lenses is a Bad Idea?
Here’s the plain fact: wearing contacts while swimming can cause discomfort and even long-term eye injury.
Clean water may look fine in swimming pools, lakes, or hot tubs, but it carries bacteria, viruses, and other tiny germs. Wearing contact lenses in such water traps these dirty particles between the lens and your cornea, an ideal breeding ground for infection.
A potentially dangerous condition known as Acanthamoeba infection can happen, although it is rare. It’s an infection caused by a microscopic water-dwelling organism, and it can result in:
- Blinding pain
- Blurry vision
- Ulcers on the cornea
- Blindness due to scarring
It can be very difficult to treat and even in some instances, may need a corneal transplant.
What Happens When You Swim with Contacts?
Suppose you forget or opt to wear your contacts into the water. What’s the worst that might occur? Here are a few very real possibilities:
1. Infection
Bacteria, fungi, and parasites can attach to your lenses and grow. Since the lenses are on your eyes, the organism has a longer contact time, which may result in an infection.
2. Irritation
Chlorine, salt, and pool chemicals may stick to your lenses and cause irritation to your eyes. You may experience redness, dryness, or grittiness.
3. Lens Displacement or Loss
It is not rare for swimmers to lose a contact lens during swimming. Even if it does not come out, water may displace the lens out of position resulting in blurry vision and discomfort.
What Do Optometrists in Palo Alto Recommend?
The best thing to do? Remove your contact lenses before swimming.
If you depend on vision correction, there’s a better option: prescription swim goggles.
These advanced goggles:
- Offer clear underwater vision
- Keep water out of your eyes
- Shield yourself from chlorine and debris
- They are reusable and safe for your eye health
An eye doctor in Palo Alto can assist you in getting swim goggles that match your prescription and requirements. They’re a good idea for both recreational swimmers and competitive athletes.
What to Do If You Swim with Contacts by Mistake
It occurs. Perhaps you dove in without realizing it or left your case behind at home. If you find yourself swimming with your contacts, these are the steps to take:
1. Take them out as soon as possible
As soon as you remove yourself from water, remove your contacts. Don’t wait for irritation to develop.
2. Disinfect Correctly
If you use reusable lenses, clean and thoroughly disinfect them with a new contact lens solution, not water. Never reuse lenses that could have come into contact with water without first disinfecting them. We suggest using a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning system as it’s more effective in killing organisms.
3. Throw Away Daily Disposables
If you were using daily disposable lenses, discard them immediately. These are not to be reused, especially after coming into contact with water.
4. Monitor for Symptoms
Be on the lookout (literally) for symptoms such as:
- Redness
- Pain
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
Should any of these arise, visit an optometrist as soon as possible. Early treatment can be the difference.
Better Vision Options for Swimmers
If you’re sporty and enjoy being in the water, there are alternative choices to wearing contacts while swimming. Try:
• Prescription Swim Goggles
They are secure, long-lasting, and provide crystal-clear underwater vision. Ideal for both recreational and competitive swimmers.
• Daily Disposable Contacts
While we do not advise swimming with contact lenses, if you accidentally swim with them, you can just discard the daily disposable lenses afterwards.
• LASIK Surgery
And just plain tired of glasses and contacts altogether, there’s permanent vision correction through LASIK. Ask your eye care professional in Palo Alto if you are a candidate.
Eye Care Tips for Swimmers
Taking care of your eyes is simple when you understand what to do. Simply follow these guidelines:
- Don’t wear contacts while swimming or showering.
- Wash and dry your hands before handling your eyes or lenses.
- Don’t clean lenses with tap water.
- Clean lenses with the proper cleaning solution (not saliva or water).
- Visit your optometrist regularly for eye exams and contact lens checks.
Your eyes are fragile, and water contact puts you at risk of infection even if you don’t feel a thing afterwards.
Why Does It Matter?
Prying your eyes open during the swim may not do any harm, as long as everything is okay the first time or two. However, all it takes is one exposure to the wrong bacteria or parasite to result in serious, possibly permanent, damage.
Trust professional advice from locals. Your eye health is Refine Optometry’s priority. Our skilled optometrists in Palo Alto provide tailored advice for every facet of eye care, ranging from everyday lens maintenance to extended vision correction options.
Final Thoughts
Bypassing the process of removing your lenses prior to swimming isn’t worth risking. Sure, it might be a minor inconvenience, but the risk to your eyes is significant.
If you’re an avid swimmer and require vision assistance, discuss safer options with your Palo Alto eye doctor, such as prescription swim goggles or LASIK. Your eyes will appreciate it.
Want customized guidance regarding contact lenses and eye health? Schedule an appointment with Palo Alto optometry clinics such as Refine Optometry and receive the specialized help you require to safeguard your vision in and out of the water.