Can you shower with contact lenses on?
That's an easy one: The answer is NO. We can’t say this emphatically enough, contacts should never be worn in the shower, because there’s a risk that you’ll get water in your eyes, and that can cause a serious, vision-threatening eye infection.
Key takeaways:
- You should never shower with contact lenses on
- Water can warp your lenses and lead to serious eye infection
- If your contacts come into contact with any kind of water, throw them away and use a fresh pair
Why you should never shower with contacts
If we need water to survive, shower in it, and wash our hands in it, why is it such a no-no for contacts to come into contact with it? Well, here are a few key reasons.
Most water isn't germ-free
The water that comes out of your tap is typically safe to drink because it’s treated, and tested often, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe for your eyes. A microbe called Acanthamoeba is quite common in many sources of water like drinking water, swimming pools, lakes, rivers, saunas, hot tubs, and more—and it can be particularly dangerous for your eyes. Acanthamoeba can cause an eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis, which can be very painful and may even lead to blindness.
Water can warp your lenses
Of course, there are other kinds of water that don’t have bacteria or any additives in it, like distilled water or laboratory-grade sterile water, but your lenses shouldn’t touch that either. Contact lenses are made to stay moist with your natural tears, and the tears that coat your eyes are made of more than just water. When contact lenses come into contact with water, they can swell or change shape, leading to distorted vision or lenses that generally don't sit on the eye as they should.
Contacts are made to work with tears, not water
The three layers that make up your eye's tears
A mucin layer
This is the innermost layer. It helps to protect the front surface of the eye (cornea) and provides lubrication so the lid can glide over the cornea.
An aqueous (watery) layer
This is the middle layer, helping with nourishment, hydration and protecting the cornea.
A lipid (oily) layer
This outer layer helps lubricate your eye and helps prevent your tears from evaporating.
What if you accidently shower with your contacts on?
It doesn’t matter if you’re using disposable lenses or reusable lenses, if you accidently shower with your contacts on, take them off, throw them away and put on a brand new lens. If the water made your contact lenses difficult to remove, use lubricating eye drops to help loosen the lens on the eye, then remove with clean, dry hands. If the contacts continue to stick to your eye, contact your eye doctor immediately.
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Always thoroughly wash and dry your hands prior to handling your contact lenses.
The information provided on this page and across the entire Acuvue.com experience is designed to offer educational insights into eye health, referencing expert advice from reputable medical and government organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Optometric Association and the National Eye Institute. While we research, report, and review the content on Acuvue.com and its extended social media to deliver accurate and up-to-date vision, vision care, and vision correction information, we do not make any assurances, and content accessed on or through Acuvue.com and its extended social media is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any eye conditions or health issues. This brings us to our #1 eye health tip: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance and care.
