{"id":93563,"date":"2022-05-18T10:03:29","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T08:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.arenaswim.com\/?p=93563"},"modified":"2022-05-18T10:03:29","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T08:03:29","slug":"can-you-swim-with-contacts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.arenaswim.com\/us\/fitness-wellness-us\/can-you-swim-with-contacts\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Swim With Contacts, and What Are the Risks?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you wear contact lenses, you might wonder, \u201cCan you swim with contacts?\u201d The <\/span>FDA makes it clear<\/span><\/a> that you should not expose contact lenses to any type of water, making swimming while wearing them seem like a challenging task.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, you can’t go swimming without seeing well, so today, we want to shed light on what there is to know about swimming with contact lenses and the other options available to you. After all, swimming is an excellent <\/span>cure for stress<\/span><\/a>, so you shouldn’t let your vision inhibit your ability to participate in the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

We’ll start by covering the potential risks to your eye health that come with exposing contact lenses to water. After that, we’ll move into what symptoms you should look out for if you think you have an eye infection. Then, we’ll review the options you have if you must wear contacts while swimming. Finally, we’ll cover alternative solutions to wearing contact lenses.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Potential Risks of Swimming With Contacts<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re wondering if you can swim with contacts, the FDA\u2019s answer is not unless you keep all types of water away from your eyes. The FDA does not advise exposing your contact lenses to any type of water, including tap water, fresh water, or saltwater. It also recommends removing your contact lenses before entering a swimming pool or hot tub.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact lenses can absorb water and hold bacteria, viruses, microbes, and pathogens, creating a risk for eye infection. If contact lenses are exposed to water, your eyes may also experience abrasions to the cornea and general irritation.<\/span><\/p>\n

One microorganism to be concerned about is called the <\/span>Acanthamoeba<\/span><\/a>. While infection is rare from this microbe, these amoebas are found in all types of water, and wearing contact lenses can increase the risk of an eye infection. The infection caused by exposure to this amoeba is called Acanthamoeba keratitis, which can result in permanent vision loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you wear contacts and experience any irregular symptoms in your eyes, like inflammation or eye irritation, you should consult a healthcare professional immediately for an eye exam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch Out for an Eye Infection<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you find that your contacts have been contaminated with water, it is a good idea to know what eye infection symptoms to watch out for. If you have any of the <\/span>symptoms listed below<\/span><\/a> after swimming with contacts, reach out to your doctor for more information.<\/span><\/p>\n