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Can I swim with contacts?
May 14, 2013

Dr. Rania Mousa General Medicine
NO,Swimming with contact lenses should be avoided whenever possible to help prevent bacterial contamination of your eye. Swimming with contacts can result in eye infections, irritation and potentially sight-threatening conditions such as a corneal ulcer.
The FDA recommends that contact lenses should not be exposed to any kind of water, including tap water and water in swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs and showers.
Water can be home to countless viruses and dangerous microbes. One of the most serious is the Acanthamoeba organism, which can attach to contact lenses and cause the cornea to become infected and inflamed. This condition, called Acanthamoeba keratitis, is associated with wearing contact lenses while swimming and can cause permanent vision loss or require a corneal transplant to recover lost vision if not treated early enough.
Swimming with contacts can irritate and even damage your eyes.
IF YOU WANT TO swim wearing them then Wearing swim goggles(the glassess put on eye while swimming for diving too) is a safer way for you to see clearly both above the surface and underwater.
If water gets in your eyes when swimming, you should remove, clean and disinfect your contact lenses as soon as possible to reduce your risk of eye irritation and infection.
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Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Swimming with contact lenses should be avoided whenever possible to help prevent bacterial contamination of your eye. Possible complications range from eye infections, irritation and potentially sight-threatening conditions such as a corneal ulcer (infection of the cornea which results in scarring and probably loss of vision).

The FDA recommends against contact lenses exposure to water, including tap water and water in swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs and showers.

Water can be the habitat of numerous vicious germs. One of the most serious is the Acanthamoeba organism, which can attach to contact lenses and cause corneal inflammation and infection. This condition (Acanthamoeba keratitisan) can result in permanent vision loss or require a corneal transplant to recover lost vision if not treated in a timely manner.

Swimming with contacts can irritate and even damage your eyes. Wearing swim goggles is a safer way for you to see clearly both above the surface and underwater.
If water gets in your eyes when swimming, you should remove, clean and disinfect your contact lenses as soon as possible to reduce your risk of eye irritation and infection.
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Dr. Pierre Mardelli Ophthalmology
Swimming with contacts can result in eye infections, irritation and potentially sight-threatening conditions such as a corneal ulcer. They should not be exposed to any kind of water, including tap water and water in swimming pools, lakes, hot tubs and showers. Removing your contact lenses before swimming is highly advised.

Regards,
Pierre G, Mardelli
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