What are the effects of chlorine on contacts?

Question

I spent a good part of the day in the pool today and wore my contacts as usual. All went well untill about 3 hours after I got home. My eyes very really bothering me so I tried drops which actually seemed to make it worse. So, I went to take them out for the day so I could give my eyes a good rubbing and relief.

I had the hardest time I have ever had getting my contacts out despite all of the extra solution I had to use. I alomost had to pry them out!

What's the deal???

I though as long as my contacts didn't float away in the water that I was all good? No?

Help, cuz I'm about to do this for like a week solid on vacation in Jamaica.

Again, I've done this before and had no problems.

I am however using a new brand of contacts, O2Optix, I think, sumin like that.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

Ouch.

You need to be aware that your contact lenses consist of water which is why they must remain hydrated.  Swimming in them brings them into contact with the pool water and as such the chemicals/bacteria in the pool water is absorbed by the lenses which naturally being to dehydrated as you wear them.  After swimming in your lenses they become contaminated with the chemicals/bacteria and because they are in contact with your eyes start to irritate/infect your eyes later on.  Don't swim in contact lenses, if you must wear googles and minimise contact with your eyes and the water.

Answer 2

!!!!!!

Chlorine shoudn't touch contacts!

!!!!!!

It's like acid!

You can only wear contacts underwater if you are wearing goggles

THROW AWAY YOU CONTACTS AWAY IMMEDIATELY

YOU ARE AT RISK OF INFECTION

Answer 3

well first chlorine is not spouse to go near contacts and you are not spouse to put the contact solution right in your eyes and you need to make sure the eye drops that you use work with the type of contacts you have. some eye drops can not be used with certain types of contacts at all.

Answer 4

here is advice from a doctor

Q: Can I swim with my soft contacts in? How will chlorine affect my contacts? — N.H., Virginia

A: I highly recommend you wear goggles if you swim with soft contacts on your eyes. Although not usually a problem, there are all kinds of nasty bugs living in swimming pools (and hot tubs as well). One of these creatures, called acanthameba, can cause horrible pain and damage to your eye, very often necessitating a corneal transplant. And the water can change the way your lenses fit, making them too tight and causing severe eye health problems.

So, either take them out for swimming or wear goggles. Better safe than sorry. — Dr. Dubow