Back in 2012, there was a story in the Daily Mail about a young woman named Jennie Hurst, who went for a swim with contact lenses on and some days later turned out one eye blind. Going blind from misuse of contact lenses is not an urban legend. The dangers of swimming with contacts are real, and they can happen to anyone who are not meticulous about their use and care of contacts. This is why doctors at Sugarland Eye & Laser Center, a top eye care clinic in Houston, Texas, advise against wearing of contact lenses when swimming.
Dangers of Swimming with Contact Lenses
Jennie’s blindness was caused by corneal infection called acanthamoeba keratitis. What happened was acanthamoeba, a microscopic parasite that thrives in soil, fresh water, pool water, hot tubs, and other habitats, got trapped between the lens and Jennie’s eyes. The parasite then burrowed into her eyeball, causing infection. The infection progressed very quickly. Three days after the swim, Jennie noticed that her left eye became red and sensitive to light. She also experienced slight tearing in the affected area. The fourth day after the swim, she felt the “most excruciating pain” in her left eye, prompting her to drive to the hospital.
Avoiding Risks
The risk for bacterial contamination of contact lenses is always present whenever you swim wearing a pair, and this can lead to eye irritation, infection, or in the case of Jennie, vision loss. The best way to avoid such risks is to follow the FDA advice not to swim with contacts. If you really need to see underwater, consider the following options:
* Single use lenses or daily use disposable lenses. Bring a few pairs with you, as well as your rewetting drops. After swimming, remove from eyes and discard. Rewet eyes with prescribed drops, and then put on a new pair.
* Swim goggles. Swim goggles can prevent water from dislodging contacts from your eyes, and also keep out pool or ocean water (hence, microscopic bacteria) from getting into your eyes.
* Prescription swimming goggles. These goggles have lenses customized to correct refractive error, allowing you to see underwater. They are like eyeglasses for underwater use.
Rigorous Care
If you’re a contacts wearer, it’s important to heed your optician’s recommendations with regards to use, handling, and care of your contact lenses. Care here would refer to how you should clean, disinfect, and store your contact lenses. Also do not extend use of lenses beyond the prescribed duration to prevent eye infection or other potential issues.
Consider LASIK
Wearing contacts brings back your 20/20 vision, but you need to put serious work into its care every day to reap its full benefits and avoid risks of infection. If you love to swim, lead an active lifestyle, or simply want to enjoy good vision without having to go through the hassles of using and caring for contact lenses, then consider getting refractive laser eye surgery. Visit your eye doctor to see if you are:
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