People wearing lenses for vision correction often wonder whether or not it would be safe to swim with contacts. In fact, you may get the impression that wearing lenses would enable you to see things better under the water. Particularly, it would prevent you from colliding with other swimmers, or the walls. However, you must note that wearing contacts in water can prove to be dangerous in several ways. Whether you choose to swim in a lake or a pool with your lenses on, you may end up facing different types of eye issues. So, if you choose to swim with your lenses, make sure to use swimming goggles too.
What may happen if you swim with your contact lenses?
• Firstly, it is recommended not to go swimming with your contact lenses. Given that the water may be contaminated, it can lead to bacterial infections in your eye. Besides, the lake or pool water might contain dangerous microbes and viruses. You might also experience irritations and even get a corneal ulcer.
• In general, it is advised not to expose your contact lenses to any type of water. Reputed brands like Miacare also recommend their users not to expose them to showers, hot tubs, and swimming pool water. Water serves as the host for different types of contaminants, which can cause serious damage to your eyes.
• The texture of certain soft lenses is porous. As a result, bacteria and chemicals tend to get inside the lenses. When these external elements press against the eye surface, you are likely to experience irritation. Sometimes, it may also lead to an infection.
• Chances for the contact lenses to fall out are high, in case you keep your eyes open for a few seconds under the water. Infection being the first cause, this is yet another reason for which opticians recommend wearing goggles under the water. Get prescription goggles, if you have weak eyesight to fix the problem.
Risks associated with swimming while wearing your contact lenses
If you wear your contact lenses while swimming without wearing goggles, you may experience the following types of issues in your eyes.
• Corneal scratch or abrasion
• Dry eyes, particularly when you swim in salt or chlorinated water
• Infection in your eyes
• Corneal ulcers
• Inflammation in the eyes, or uveitis
• Red eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Pain in the eyes
• Excessive teary or watery eyes
• Increased sensitivity to light
In case you experience any of these conditions after swimming with your lenses on, do not ignore your eyes. Since early diagnosis can prevent serious eye issues, see your optician immediately.
Safety tips to follow while swimming with contacts
To prevent any kind of damage or irritation to your eyes, try to swim without contact. Established brands like Miacare advise their clients to follow the following precautions, in case they decide to swim with their contact lenses on.
1. Use goggles: Make sure to wear a tight-fitting swimming goggle when you go to the pool or lake. Waterproof goggles are recommended for this purpose, as it would prevent water from entering your eyes. In case you are a regular swimmer, get a pair of goggles prescribed, so that it wouldn’t be necessary to wear the lenses while swimming.
2. Removing the contacts: Immediately after you finish swimming, make sure to take off the contacts from your eyes. Before you put on the lenses or glasses again, use clean water to rinse your eyes.
3. Cleaning your contacts: Within 24 hours of exposing your lenses to pool or lake water, you need to disinfect the same using a solution. Use only recommended and prescribed solutions for cleaning your lenses.
4. Use disposable lenses: For regular swimmers, it would be wise to opt for disposable lenses, so that they can simply throw them off after swimming. In case you are using daily disposables, you may consider putting on a fresh pair.
5. Preventing dry eyes: Exposure to water in swimming pools may result in dry eyes, given that most of the pools have chlorinated water. Therefore, you must use rewetting drops or artificial tears before going to swim and after leaving the pool.
The bottom line
Many contact lens users are unaware of the risks associated with wearing these lenses under the water. So, the best thing is to avoid swimming with your contact lenses. Even if a very little amount of water gets into the eyes, chances are high that you would get an infection. The bacteria and other microorganisms present in water tend to get stuck under the lenses. This may lead to corneal ulcers or keratitis. Under these circumstances, the cornea gets swollen up. Infection from water may have different outcomes, ranging from temporary discomfiture to permanent visual impairment.
In case you decide to go swimming with your contact lenses on, never miss out a pair of waterproof goggles. The best way to prevent infection is to use daily disposable lenses. However, you may be using weekly, biweekly, or monthly lenses to save costs. In this case, make sure to clean and disinfect your lenses as soon as possible.
Choosing the best contact lenses for swimming
Many people go for cheaper alternatives, buying contact lenses from local brands. This is dangerous for their vision, and you cannot afford to risk your eyesight. It is recommended to purchase the lenses from a reputed contact lens brand like Miacare. Besides, you can also get your routine eye checkups from these professionals. Depending on your budget and requirements, you can customize the type of lenses. For swimmers, daily disposables would be the best option. Although these lenses cost higher, you would be free from the hassles of cleaning and disinfecting the lenses.
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