Wearing contact lenses at the beach presents challenges that compromise both lens comfort and eye health. The environment, combining water, wind, sand, and intense sun exposure, requires contact lens wearers to take additional precautions. While wearing contacts is possible, it significantly increases the risk of infection, irritation, and potential vision-threatening complications. Understanding the specific hazards of the seaside environment is necessary before deciding to keep your lenses in.
Why Ocean Water and Contacts Do Not Mix
Ocean water contains microorganisms, bacteria, and parasites that pose a significant threat when trapped against the eye by a contact lens. The lens absorbs water and holds these contaminants directly against the cornea. This dramatically increases the risk of serious eye infections, even from a small splash or brief submersion.
A severe, though rare, risk is Acanthamoeba keratitis, a parasitic infection found in ocean water and other natural sources. This organism adheres to the lens material and can cause a painful, difficult-to-treat corneal infection that may lead to vision loss. The high salt content of seawater can also cause the contact lens material to tighten or warp, leading to irritation and potential damage to the cornea. Contact with any water while wearing lenses should be avoided, especially when swimming.
Managing Wind, Sand, and Sun Exposure
Beyond the biological risks of water, the physical environment introduces several non-pathogenic challenges for contact lens wearers. Fine grains of sand can be easily blown into the eye by the wind, becoming lodged beneath the contact lens. If the eye is rubbed, this trapped debris can cause painful corneal abrasions or scratches on the lens itself.
The combination of dry heat and wind rapidly accelerates the evaporation of the tear film, leading to lens dehydration. When the lens dries out, it feels sticky, uncomfortable, and may adhere tightly to the eye, making removal difficult and increasing irritation. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are intensified at the beach due to reflection off the sand and water. While some contact lenses offer built-in UV protection, they only shield the area they cover, leaving surrounding tissues exposed to radiation that contributes to photokeratitis and long-term eye damage.
Essential Safety Practices for Beach Visits
If wearing contacts at the beach is unavoidable, switching to daily disposable lenses is recommended. These lenses are designed to be worn once and immediately discarded after exposure, eliminating the need for cleaning and reducing the risk of carrying contaminants. Always carry a backup pair of glasses, a fresh, sealed case, and sterile contact lens solution, in case irritation requires immediate removal.
Before handling your lenses, wash and dry your hands thoroughly with soap and water away from the sand and wind. If your lenses are exposed to water or if irritation occurs, remove them immediately. Discard the contaminated pair if they are dailies, and replace them with a fresh lens or switch to glasses. Protective eyewear is necessary, meaning sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays must be worn to protect the entire eye and surrounding skin from the intensified UV exposure.