Will wearing contact lenses during swimming cause damage to the vision?

Question

Hello doctor,

I swam wearing contact lenses and water splashed onto them, then I continued to wear them for about 3 hours afterwards. I did not realize until I looked it up that this can be dangerous. What are my chances for any vision damage? should I get it looked at right away? Or wait until I feel irritation?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Swimming with contact lenses can damage your cornea, which is the circular black part of the eye. This can lead to irritation but also blurry vision and pain. The cause for this is mainly the cleaning agent used in swimming pools. I would suggest you to please stop using your contact lenses if you have any irritation, do not use them until you have no discomfort in your eye. Wash your eye with clean drinking water or mineral water - this will help remove any chemicals in your eye. Use tear supplements - these are safe and available over the counter. For example, refresh tears and eye drops and use them four times a day for a few weeks. I would suggest consulting an opthalmologist in case you have blurry vision or pain in your eyes. Eyes have become red, swollen, or have symptoms of watering from your eyes. The irritation in your eyes is worsening despite using tear supplements. I hope this helps. Thank you.