With summer in full swing, more people are spending their time swimming at beaches and pools. While this is a fun activity, people who wear contact lenses need to take certain precautions before diving into the water. That’s because, according to optometrists, swimming while wearing contacts can  cause recommend understanding the connection between swimming and contact lenses.

Why Is Swimming With Contacts Dangerous?

Whether you are swimming in the saltwater of the ocean or a chlorinated pool, if you have contacts in, you could face a variety of problems. Most lenses are porous, and this allows all sorts of contaminants found in the water to seep through and get into your eyes.

Some of these concerns are bugs and pathogens that can cause damage to the cornea, infections, or ulcers. It can also allow chlorine to come into contact with your eyes, which causes severe irritation.

If you have a pair of contacts with soft lenses, these chemicals and bacteria can cause the contacts to tighten against your eye and make them more difficult to remove. For all of these reasons, the FDA says that contacts shouldn’t be exposed to any type of water while swimming.

How Can You Protect Yourself From These Problems?

Eye doctors say that simply wearing contact lenses doesn’t mean a person can never go swimming. Instead, you just need to take certain precautions before doing so. If at all possible, always avoid wearing contacts while swimming.

If you must wear them, though, always wear protective goggles over your eyes. This simple vision care tip helps to keep the water off your contacts and keeps your eyes protected. Immediately after swimming, remove the contacts immediately and soak them in a contact solution for at least 24 hours to remove any bacteria or chemicals that have become lodged in the lenses.

You can also choose to go swimming in daily contacts that can be discarded afterward. The best way to ensure you’re protected during summer swim sessions is to alternate between two pairs of contacts so that one pair can soak in the cleaning solution while you wear the other pair. You could also wear glasses while soaking your contacts.  

 

For more help staying safe while swimming with contact lenses this summer, contact the experts at Van Keuren OD in Elyria, OH. This local optometrist and his staff have extensive training in providing the perfect glasses and contacts to local residents. They’ll work with you to ensure you have the right set of contacts, and provide you with all of the necessary information to ensure both you and your contacts are safe all year long. Schedule an appointment by calling (440) 365-2021 or learn more about their services online.