ACUVUE^® Blog

Can you shower with contact lenses on?

By Dr. Giovanna Olivares, OD, FAAO; Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Director & Staff Writer

Medically reviewed on January 21, 2026; Updated on

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Published on August 21, 2024

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4 minute read

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 regulated 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 such as drinking water, swimming pools, lakes, rivers, saunas, hot tubs, and more. And it can be particularly dangerous for your eyes. It 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 feel comfortable in your eyes, and the tears that coat your eyes are made of much more than just water. When water gets on contact lenses, they can swell, potentially creating discomfort or distorted vision.

What if you accidently shower with your contacts in?

It doesn’t matter if you’re using disposable lenses or reusable lenses, 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.

Stay dry out there

Contact lenses are great for a lot of things—active lifestyles, unobstructed vision, versatility—but contact with water is another story. Don’t fret though, it’s like anything else. Once you get used to the fact that you have to take them out before you get wet, it becomes second nature.

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