What happens if I swim in contact lenses?

Question

I'm not planning to swim for ages under water or anything, but I was just wondering if it'd cause any problems if I got an eye full of water!

Answer 1

I don't think it can actually hurt your eyes to swim with contacts in.  If I go swimming in my contacts and get an eye full of water, my contact usually slides out of place and I have to blink or move it around to fix it.  Be careful that your contact doesn't actually fall out!

Answer 2

The only thing holding your lens into your eye is the surface tension of the liquid - the same way a pond-skater can skim across the surface of a puddle without falling through.

If you were to open your eyes under water the lens would just drift away, but otherwise they would stay put.

The other problem is that the chlorine in the pool might make your eyes sore and puffy, which would be doubly unpleasant if you had contact lenses in.

Answer 3

you would have to be very very very small to swim in a contact lense!!!

Answer 4

The chlorine could cause your contacts to glue to your eyes and then they would have to be surgically removed... or they could fall out and there goes a few good dollars...

Answer 5

I would take them out while you are swimming and put them back in later. It is not advisable to wear contacts while swimming or being in water. Soft contacts will absorb anything they can! If you swim while wearing contacts you can get an eye infection called Acanthamoeba. "Acanthamoeba is a microbe that is very common in the environment, including in tap water. It has two forms: the trophozoite and the cyst. The infective form is the trophozoite, which can change into a cyst and survive a long time. These trophozoites and cysts can stick to the surface of your contact lenses and then infect your eye."

Apparently this infection is difficult to treat and can cause blindness so i think its best to prevent it and not wear contacts while swimming.

Answer 6

Wear goggles, that way no water can get into your eyes and do any harm

Answer 7

They will wash right out of your eyes.

If you are going to swim wearing contacts then wear goggles over your eyes.

Answer 8

i would try swimming in a pool rather than a lense

Answer 9

Yeah, I lost mine when i opened my eyes. Other than wasting a new pair of lenses, I had no issues.

Answer 10

I suppose they could float out underwater if you had your eye open but I've been swimming underwater with mine and it didn't happen.  If water gets in your eyes I doubt they will fall out, maybe just do that horrible thing where they crumple up under your eyelid. Make sure you take them out and disinfect them after swimming because pool water's dirty.

Answer 11

I agree with the guy wear swimming goggles to be on the safe side.

Answer 12

Its best not to swim with your lenses in.  If you open your eyes under the water they are likely to come out of your eyes and you'll have lost them.  

If you feel you need to wear lenses, then make sure theyre old ones, as they get really dry cause your closing your eyes all the time.  When you come out the pool, keep your lense out for a while cause your eyes will feel dry and sticky! If that makes any sense!!

I'd reccomend just going for a blind swim! haha x*x

Answer 13

If they come out you probably want find them.

Answer 14

I swim with my contacts in, but after swimming in them a couple of times they get foggy and i have to change them.  I don't think it is the best thing for our eyes, but i do it anyways.  I would just advise not opening your eyes under water.

Answer 15

Nothing !! I am a lifeguard, I swim with contacts in all the time to no ill effect. I use a acuview type disposable contact, sometimes after swimming my eyes are red due to chlorine exposure, but this would happen with or without contacts. My contacts have never come off in the water. I have never had a eye infection. I've been doing this for about ten years. Clean and disinfect your contacts every night. This goes for pool water only.