With the school and end-of-year holidays, attendance at beaches, swimming pools and nautical clubs tends to increase across the country. In this scenario, a common question among contact lens users is whether they are safe to use in these environments.
The answer involves more risk than you imagine. According to ophthalmologist Willian Breno, coordinator of the Contact Lenses specialty at CBV Hospital in Olhos, part of the Vision One network, “contact of the lens with water can alter certain properties of the material. This can compromise the transmissibility of oxygen, reduce the durability of the lens and make it more prone to tearing. But this is not the main point.”
Beyond the effects on the device, the main risk is exposure of the eyes to microorganisms. “The main reason to avoid using contact lenses in aquatic environments is infections. Bacteria such as Pseudomonasmushrooms and, mainly, Acanthamoeba (an amoeba present in water) can cause very serious infections of the ocular surface,” he warns.
Swimming pool water, in addition to the microbiological risk, contains irritating substances. “Swimming pools often contain chlorine, which in itself is already irritating to the ocular surface. And, in the case of contact lenses, there are two factors: chlorine can irritate and also modify the properties of the lens, in addition to the risk of contamination,” he explains. Seawater, although it does not contain chlorine, presents another challenge in addition to contamination by microorganisms. “This is salt water and salt can cause dehydration of the lens. This compromises the hydration level of the material, which is developed precisely to keep the ocular surface comfortable,” warns Dr. Willian.
Symptoms of infections or irritations after inappropriate use of lenses in an aquatic environment are varied. “Redness, gritty feeling, eye pain, blurred vision and sensitivity to light may occur. In some cases, especially in infections caused by Acanthamoeba“, the disease is prolonged, can last for weeks and, since it is not so intense at the beginning, many delay seeking treatment”, explains the ophthalmologist. He said symptoms can be confused with conjunctivitis or other benign conditions, making early diagnosis difficult.
Among lens types, soft lenses pose the highest risk. “The soft lens absorbs more water than the rigid lens and is more prone to the deposition of microorganisms. We observe many more infectious conditions linked to the use of soft lenses in water than with rigid lenses,” he asks. However, none of them should be used in contact with water, whether in a swimming pool, at sea or even in the shower..
Use in aquatic environments is in no way considered safe, but there are guidelines for exceptional cases. “If for some reason the person really must use them, there are some tips. Not opening the eyes underwater and wearing tight-fitting swimming goggles help create a barrier. Another option is to use daily disposable lenses, which should be thrown away immediately after use,” he recommends.
Even with these precautions, the risks are not eliminated. According to Dr. Willian, safe use is simply not using contact lenses in an aquatic environment. He points out that a single drop can contain a significant amount of microorganisms. “We are talking about very small structures. Even with protection, there is a risk of contamination.”
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