Can You Put Contacts in Water?

Overview

Contact lenses are thin plastic discs worn over the cornea. They are beneficial for correcting eye conditions such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) presbyopia (aging eyes) and astigmatism (distorted vision). According to The Regional Eye Center, 25 million people in the United States wear contacts, and most of them are near-sighted. For some individuals, contact lenses present a more attractive alternative to glasses, though they require special care.

Function

According to The Regional Eye Center, contact lenses can provide a better sight experience because they move with your eyes and are non-obstructive, as the frame of a pair of glasses might be, Additionally, contacts do not fog up, get rained on or splattered on. Vision distortions that can occur with glasses are less common with contact lenses. But despite all of these reasons, some people simply wear them for appearance's sake.

Disadvantages

While contact lenses are popular for the above reasons, there are some disadvantages to wearing them. Initially, a longer examination and more frequent follow-up visits are required.Contacts are also more high-maintenance than a pair of glasses and require a great deal of care. Cleaning and storing them properly is important.

Care

Contact lenses must be cleaned, rinsed and disinfected upon removal. Cleaning solution should be used to loosen any debris that may have collected. A disinfectant solution should then be used to kill microorganisms that can cause eye infections. Contact lenses should not be put in water because tap water contains microorganisms and contaminants that can be harmful.

Potential

A potential for serious eye infections exists with the use of homemade saline solutions. Other possible contaminants include cream soaps and saliva. Cleaning lenses with either is not recommended by The Regional Eye Center, just as using water on them is not appropriate.

Warning

Caring for your contact lenses as suggested by your eye-care professional should reduce the risk for possible infections. However, according to The Regional Eye Center, the following symptoms could indicate a problem associated with the use of contact lenses. If irritation and redness, fuzzy or blurred vision, discomfort or pain occurs while wearing the contacts, they should be removed promptly. If symptoms persist, seek help from an eye-care professional.