Can I clean my contact lens with purified water? I'm at work and I feel like something is in my eye...?

Question

and I have no solution with me to clean my lens. I meant to bring an extra contact lens with me today, but forgot. So I'm at work, and then I have class tonight, so I won't be home until around 10 p.m. (it's 2 p.m. now). Also, I live 45 minutes away so there is no chance of me running home to fix the problem. What do I do? Can I use purified water to rinse my lens and then put it back in my eye? My vision is too bad to take it out and leave it out, and I don't have any glasses with me. Help!

Answer 1

This is probably too late for you but here's the reason to NEVER use tap water - and I would highly advise not using "purified" water either.  Below is some information about Acanthamoeba infections and keep in mind this is one of the hardest infections to treat and often leads to a corneal transplant.

Please look at the photo link and read the text below:

http://galery.eyenews.ru/corn/cor_09/cr-...

"Acanthamoeba keratitis is becoming more prevalent amongst people who wear contact lenses, especially soft lenses. Acanthamoeba keratitis is an infection of the cornea caused by a minuscule water-borne ameba. People who are diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis frequently suffer corneal ulcerations, which can eventually lead to severe vision loss and blindness.

The organisms that trigger the infection can be found in most environments including domestic tap water, chlorinated swimming pools, hot tubs and bottled water. People’s nasal passages can also contain these organisms.

Risk factors for infection in contact lens wearers are:

Use of tap water during lens care (to rinse lenses or the storage case)

Wearing lenses while swimming (without goggles), showering or in hot tubs

Use of ineffective lens care solutions

Failure to follow lens care instructions "

Answer 2

Puried water is free of all particles and debris so it should work OK temporarily.  I mean, it still migtht make your lenses kind of burn your eyes slightly since it is still tap water and not the proper neutralized water for rinsing them.  Hellll, push comes to shove, I have used plain 'ol tap water for a night or two when I run out of solution to rinse mine; I just put up with the burn for a few minutes, and then I was OK.  (You know what I mean--like when you're showering with your lenses in and the water gets in your eye and your eyes burn a little.)

Answer 3

Yes, you can use purified water to rinse your contacts, and then put it back in your eye (i do it all the time). But don't rinse them for too long or else it will get hard and when you put it back in your eye it will feel uncomfortable.

**(just in case you do rinse them for long, if it feels uncomfortable when you put it back on, just make your eyes watery and theyll stop)