Eye care professionals strongly advise against wearing contact lenses while opening your eyes underwater. Lenses are designed for the eye’s natural saline environment, not water from pools, lakes, or the tap. Exposure to any water source, even briefly, introduces risks ranging from immediate discomfort to severe, sight-threatening infections. Always remove contacts before engaging in activities that involve water exposure to the eyes.
Immediate Effects of Water on Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses are hydrogel materials designed to absorb and hold water. When exposed to non-saline water, osmotic pressure causes the lenses to absorb water and swell, immediately altering their shape and fit. This change in physical dimensions can lead to tight adherence to the cornea, making the lens difficult to remove and causing discomfort.
The swelling of the lens can trap debris or microorganisms between the lens and the cornea. This tight fit and foreign material can cause micro-abrasions on the delicate corneal surface. These small scratches create an entry point for pathogens present in nearly all water sources.
Water from a pool, ocean, or tap is hypotonic compared to the natural tear film. This difference in salt concentration causes the lens to change shape, resulting in blurred vision and physical discomfort. The lack of proper salinity can also compromise the lens material and irritate the eye.
The Severe Risk of Waterborne Infections
The most significant danger associated with water exposure is the introduction of microorganisms that cause severe eye infections. Water, including tap water and natural bodies of water, is not sterile and often harbors various bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
A particularly dangerous organism is Acanthamoeba, a microscopic amoeba commonly found in water sources worldwide. This parasite causes Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a rare but devastating eye infection that primarily affects the cornea. Contact lenses create a favorable environment, allowing the microorganisms to adhere readily to the lens surface.
The Acanthamoeba can attach to the lens surface within seconds, and the contact lens acts as a vector, holding the pathogen against the eye. If the cornea is compromised by the ill-fitting, water-swollen lens, the amoeba can invade the tissue. Acanthamoeba keratitis is difficult to treat, often requiring months of specialized agents, and can lead to permanent vision loss or necessitate a corneal transplant.
Action Plan Following Water Exposure
If water accidentally enters your eyes while wearing contact lenses, immediate action is necessary to minimize infection risk. Remove the lenses as soon as possible after exiting the water, ensuring your hands are washed and thoroughly dried before handling them.
If wearing daily disposable lenses, discard them immediately. Reusable lenses should be cleaned, rubbed, and rinsed thoroughly with a fresh, sterile disinfecting solution. However, standard solutions may not eliminate all pathogens, including Acanthamoeba cysts, making discarding the lenses the preferred choice.
Never rinse the lenses or the lens case with tap water, as this reintroduces potential contaminants. After removing the exposed lenses, wear glasses and monitor your eyes closely for developing symptoms. Consult an eye care professional immediately if you notice redness, excessive pain, light sensitivity, or blurred vision, mentioning the water exposure for appropriate testing and treatment.