US Woman Loses Vision After Swimming Wearing Contact Lenses: Ophthalmologist Says Why It Happened, Suggests Tips

Recently, a 23-year-old woman lost her vision in Alabama after taking a swim without removing her contact lenses. The woman, a native of Texas (United States), contracted a parasitic infection, acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Rare and often misdiagnosed, AK is caused by an amoeba and is a corneal infection that can result in vision loss. We asked an ophthalmologist about the dangers of swimming with contact lenses on, and what to do to prevent this situation.

Why Is It Dangerous To Swim Wearing Contact Lenses?

Dr. Rahul Singh, MBBS, MS, DNB, ICO, Department of Ophthalmology, Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital (NIIMS), Noida International University, shared with us how swimming while wearing contact lenses can be vision-threatening.

He said, "Water from a pool, lake, or ocean is contaminated with various bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens. When an individual wears contact lenses, it can trap contaminants against the surface of the eye, which leads to serious eye infections such as conjunctivitis and keratitis." 

Dr. Singh added that swimming pool water also contains chlorine, "which can lead to dryness, redness, discomfort, and itchiness in eyes."

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So if one wears contact lenses while taking a dip, it "can also lead to blurred vision or permanent loss to the eyes," shared the doctor.

Doctor Suggest 4 Steps You Can Take To Avoid This Situation

As per Dr. Singh, you can take the following four precautions to reduce the risks:

Avoid wearing contact lenses while swimming: The safest solution to reduce the risk is to not wear contact lenses while swimming. Instead, an individual should opt for prescribed goggles that restrict direct contact of contaminants with the eyes.

Use waterproof goggles: If an individual is required to wear contact lenses daily, wearing tight-fitted and waterproof goggles can be beneficial as they protect eyes from exposure to water.

Use daily disposable lenses: If an individual must swim with contact lenses, choosing disposable lenses is a good option. These can be discarded after each swim to reduce the risk of contamination.

Take a shower after swimming: After a dip, use clean water to flush out irritants. If you experience redness, pain, or vision changes after swimming, consult an eye care professional as soon as possible.

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