We are often asked this question…

Can I Swim with my Contact Lenses?

You should avoid swimming in your contact lenses to prevent bacterial infections or other infections due to parasites such as acanthamoeba. Some eye infections, such as acanthamoeba keratitis can cause serious corneal ulcers and even blindness.

The FDA recommends never exposing your contact lenses to any kind of water, including tap water, swimming pools, lakes, oceans or hot tubs.

At Primary Eyecare Center, we offer prescription swim goggles and other protective Rx-able sports eyewear. The safest option is to swim with prescription goggles. This is the least risky option. If you decide to swim with contact lenses, daily disposables are the safest way to go. These lenses are the most hygienic form of contact lens wear available. They are worn and thrown away at the end of the day. It is best to throw these contacts away as soon as you get out of the swimming pool to minimize your risk since they soak up chemicals and possibly micro-organisms in the water. Leaving the contacts on after swimming is very risky. You should never swim with your eyes open in the water, especially while wearing your contact lenses.

Rigid gas permeable contacts (RGPs) should never be worn while swimming. They are more likely to pop out of the eyes while swimming. Soft contact lenses often remain on your eye when swimming, however, they will easily absorb chlorine or bacteria, which can increase your risk of eye problems, including infection. Chlorine also causes punctate keratitis (cell death of the surface cells of the cornea). This can predispose the cornea to infection by bacteria or other parasites present in the water or on your contact lenses.

See an optometrist immediately if you experience lasting redness, eye irritation or sensitivity to light after swimming in the water.