It is generally not recommended to wear contact lenses in a swimming pool. While it might seem convenient for clear vision, it poses several risks to your eye health.
Here’s why:
- Risk of Infection: Pool water, even with chlorine, can contain bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, including a dangerous parasite called Acanthamoeba. These can get trapped in or on your contact lenses and cause serious eye infections, such as Acanthamoeba keratitis, which can be painful, difficult to treat, and in rare cases, lead to blindness.
- Irritation and Discomfort: Pool chemicals, like chlorine, can irritate your eyes, and this irritation can be worsened when wearing contact lenses. Soft contact lenses can also absorb water and change shape, leading to discomfort and blurred vision.
Lens Loss: There’s a higher chance of your contact lenses falling out while swimming due to water movement.
The FDA recommends that contact lenses should not be exposed to any type of water, including swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs, showers, and even tap water.
If you must wear contact lenses while swimming, here are some precautions you can take:
- Wear tight-fitting waterproof goggles: This will help to minimize water contact with your lenses.
- Use daily disposable lenses: If you do wear contacts, consider using daily disposables and discard them immediately after swimming. This reduces the risk of trapped contaminants.
- Clean and disinfect your lenses immediately after swimming: If you are not using daily disposables, remove your lenses as soon as you get out of the pool and thoroughly clean and disinfect them with fresh contact lens solution for the recommended time (usually several hours or overnight).
- Consider prescription goggles: If you swim frequently, investing in a pair of prescription goggles is a safer option for clear vision.
If you experience any eye irritation, redness, pain, blurred vision, or light sensitivity after swimming with contact lenses, remove them immediately and consult an eye doctor.
In conclusion, while it might be tempting to keep your contacts in for better vision in the pool, it’s best to avoid it to protect your eye health. Consider alternatives like prescription goggles.