Wearer lenses are known for logistical challenges that can come with situations such as travel or spending a night abroad. Another field in which communications can be held? swimming.
Experts say it should not be swimming with your contacts in your eyes, but should people with poor visibility be forced to move in the swimming pool, lake, or ocean who are unable to see or spray in their glasses?
How poor swimming in your contact lenses? HuffPost request from eye health experts to break the risks concerned and what you should do instead.
What happens if you swim in your contacts?
“It is bad swimming in your contacts,” Dr. James KellyI tell the eye specialist and the founder of Kelly vision, HuffPost. “Water – whether from a swimming pool, perimeter, lake, or a hot tub – it contains bacteria, fungi and parasites that can be congestion under your communication lenses, which increases the risk of serious eye infections. What is the most anxiety is acanthamoeba, which is a rare infection but may threaten visibility and that can cause severe pain, corneal ulcers and even blindness.”
Bacteria such as Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Serratia Marcelscens are other sources of swimming infections, as well as glandular viruses.
“The adhesive lens works like a” sponge “that creates these chemical organisms and material Dr. Thomas J. StoxkermanzOptical specialist, medical writer and references for the vision. “Contact lenses and contact lenses can cause small corrosion on the surface of the eye that allow microorganisms to penetrate the surface of the eye more easily.”
During swimming (or bathing), these microorganisms can be attached to contact lenses.
“Then they can infect the cornea – the net membrane in the front of the eye – and they cause ulcers, or a serious eye infection that can lead to a scar or even can trust in the eyeball,” said Stoxkermans.
Without a quick treatment, you may also have a permanent loss of vision.
It is bad enough to think about developing a painful infection that may blind you, but what makes the situation like acanthamoeba is the worst is the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment.
He said: “Sometimes in the early stages, it can seem like many other things, which makes the diagnosis difficult, so patients usually bring us when it is very late after they pass through many service providers.” Dr. Masako ChenEye doctor at New York and Ear in Mount Sinai. “You have to find a corneal specialist familiar with this, which can be a challenge even in the main cities and is much more difficult in rural areas.”
If the infection becomes very bad, it indicated that they may have to grow the cornea to replace the entire cornea, then other surgeries to follow up after that.
“ACANTHAMOEBA is very difficult because there are some available medications, but it is not common so it may be difficult to obtain it sometimes,” Chen added. “You may have to go to a compound pharmacy and pay the pocket of medicines. There are also medicines agreed upon by the corneal professionals that patients should be available, but they are not available in the United States, so sometimes they have to go to Europe or we hope there is a friend who can help you.”
In addition to these logistical challenges, experts and patients said that ACANTHAMOAIBA is one of the most painful cases of eye that you can try.
“I am sure that there are people who say,” well, I swim in contacts, and this is completely good. “But I think these people were lucky. I know what I saw that it is not a good idea and does not deserve risk. “
There are other concerns besides infections
“The water can cause contact with contact lenses and change the shape – which may cause the lenses to stick to the eye and cause the cornea to be crushed and irritated,” he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, ” Dr. Ella FakorovichOphthalmologist and founder of the Basific Live Institute.
Basically, contact lenses sit on the tear film, which is the protective layer of clear liquids (or tears) that cover the surface of the eye. The tear film contains the concentration of salt or ashes, so exposing contact lenses to the water with different climates can lead to discomfort and damage to the surface of the eye.
“The lenses are distorted from exposure to water that has a different salt concentration for the tear film, so it will not correspond to the shape of the eye,” explained Stoxkerman. “Contact lenses are designed to suit the shape of the cornea so that they do not move excessively or adhere to the eyeball. Chloros or sea water can change the shape of the adhesive lens, causing it to fit it badly.”
The antiseptics usually in the nigella water can also form problems. For example, chlorine or bromine may soak in contact lenses and irritate your eyes, causing redness and destination.
“When these antiseptics are linked to nitrogen in sweat and urine, the secondary cleansing [DBPs] It is formed like triclorine. “DBPS is a common cause of eye irritation, especially when wearing contact lenses.”
Although tears naturally wash some of these chemicals from your eyes, it has made it clear that this does not happen with contact lenses, which absorb chemicals and allow them to constantly disturb the surface of the eye.
Contact lenses is another concern about swimming with them in your eyes.
Kelly said, “The scrambled or salt water can float from your eyes,” adding that solid contact lenses, such as solid gas and hardening, are likely to calm down.
Ljubaphoto via Getty Images
But what if you were wearing glasses?
You may wonder whether you can help protect your eyes by wearing suitable glasses to keep water away from your contacts.
“One studyHe pointed out that protective glasses reduce the risk of infection when wearing contact lenses,
It is important to make sure that your glasses fit properly and constitute a narrow seal around your eyes to prevent entry.
“Wearing anti -water swimming glasses can reduce the risk of water exposure, but it is not guaranteed,” Kelly said. “The water can still leak, and any pollution besieged under the lens is still a danger.”
So what should you do instead?
He said: “If you need to correct the vision frequently while swimming, the medical prescription glasses are the safest alternative.” Dr. Maria MonteroAssistant Director of Clinical Services at Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. “Most importantly, everyone’s eyes are different, so it is always better to follow the advice of an eye care professional and communicate with them with any questions.”
You can buy these special swimming glasses through your ophthalmologist or directly from sellers online with a valid prescription. These sellers usually offer a set of standard energy options, so you just have to look at the ball number on your medical prescriptions (usually resemble -4 or +2).
If the prescriptions are not the same for both eyes, you can buy a couple and exchange lenses. Instead, you can submit a special application for your careful medical prescription through an eye care specialist. This road may be more expensive, however.
“There are some people with very high prescriptions, and glasses are expensive or not made in these prescriptions,” Chen said. “But there are options for them as well. You can perform a refractive surgery, which will be LASIK or PRK, or this latest version called SMile.”
All swimmers, including those who suffer from good eyesight, should pay attention to other potential eye risks in the water.
“Ensure that swimming pools, hot ponds and bathtubs that you use are sufficiently disinfected,” said Stokkermans. “The presence of” pink template “or the invisible presence of microorganisms and DBPS in an insufficient nigella and hot tub water increases the risk of irritation and infections.”
What about hot baths?
Kelly said: “Hot ponds, steam rooms and sauna, such as ponds, are filled with bacteria, and warm water provides an ideal environment for microbial growth, which increases the risk of eye infections.” “In particular, hot ponds are famous for harboring bacteria such as pseudomonas aeruginosa and acanthamoeba, both of which can cause serious eye inflammation.”
Holding in a hot tub without immersing your face carries less risk than placing your head under the water while soaking it, but there are still possible concerns.
Kelly said: “Even if you do not cover your head, small spots or steam intensification can serve bacteria or parasites to your eyes,” Kelly said. “If these microorganisms are besieged under the lens, they can cause infections.”
In addition to water drops of stains and evaporated water, touching your eyes with wet hands can also be a problem.
Kelly said: “If your eyes are mistakenly rubbed with wet hands while wearing contacts, you can enter pollutants of water,” Kelly said.
He pointed out that steam and moisture can dry your contact lenses, “make them stick to the cornea and feel uncomfortable.” The warm and humid environment makes it difficult to remove contact lenses safely.
“Steam from hot baths may cause enlarged communications on the eye, which increases the risk of corneal lobes and irritation,” Faktorovich added.
What should you do if you get a swimming pool or a hot tub in your eyes while wearing contacts?
“If you get water in your eyes while wearing contact lenses, remove your contacts as soon as possible to reduce the risk of injury,” Monero advised.
If you are wearing the lenses that can be eliminated daily, ignore this husband after removing it. Think about wearing your glasses for the rest of the day or get a new pair of contact lenses after attending your eyes.
“If you are wearing alternative lenses for two weeks or monthly, be sure to clean it completely,” said Stockcker.
Use the appropriate contact lens solution – never click water – to rinse the reusable lenses.
Kelly recommended: “Rot for your eyes with salty tears or artificial tears to help remove any pollutants.”
Lubricant drops can help irritate irritation as well. Once you see your vision and your eyes look well, you can apply this new husband from the contacts. But pay attention to any problems that arise, especially if you notice a gray or white spot in the colored part of your eyes.
Kelly said: “A screen of symptoms such as redness, pain, light sensitivity or a foggy vision – this can indicate an infection, and you should see an ophthalmologist immediately,” Kelly said.
While you are in your life otherwise, know that you can reduce the risk of bacteria accumulating by wearing contact lenses that can be eliminated daily or solid pens of gas in addition to engaging in good cleaning practices.
“However, although these options are safer, there is no completely free connection lens if exposed to water,” Montero said. “Good hygiene – such as washing hands before handling the lenses, using the right lens solution only and avoiding touching water – is the best way to protect your eyes.”