Can you swim with contact lenses? Whether you're an avid swimmer or you're just heading to the beach for vacation, the eye doctors at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates in Aiea, Hawaii, recommend removing your contact lenses while you're swimming.

Check out these reasons why swimming with contact lenses is so dangerous:

• Eye Infection: While swimming with contact lenses may seem harmless, you're putting your body at risk for infection. Regardless of whether you're in a pool, ocean, or hot tub, all water carries viruses and microbes that can infect your cornea and cause a serious infection.
• Irritation: If you've ever gone swimming while leaving your eyes open, then you know that this can be painful. Since contacts are meant to be applied to your eyes and kept dry at all times, this same effect can happen when you wear them in the pool, leading to eye irritation and inflammation.
• Vision Loss: In a worst-case scenario, you can lose your vision due to wearing your contact lenses in water. Most commonly, this is caused by a condition called acanthamoeba keratitis, which is an infected and inflamed cornea caused by an amoebae. If you're infected, you could suffer from complete vision loss.

Although it's not recommended, if you have to wear your contact lenses while swimming, Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates suggests using daily disposable lenses. This allows you to insert your contact lenses, spend the whole day swimming, and then—most importantly—remove and discard them at night.

For more information about contact lens safety, contact the best optometrist in Aiea—Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates. Call (808) 487-5500 to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor, or visit the optometrists online and on Facebook to learn more about contact lenses and eye care.