Can I wear my contact lenses when I go swimming?
While a lot of people like wearing contacts for sports activities, swimming is one that should
be skipped while wearing contact lenses. The Food and Drug Administration advises not wearing
contact lenses while swimming because of the danger of contamination from bacteria and
chlorine, which can result in an eye infection. Soft contact lenses actually absorb chemicals
from the water in which you are swimming.
Another swimming-related problem is that contact lenses can adhere to the eye after swimming.
If that happens, the contact lenses can usually be loosened by applying several drops of rewetting
solutions or saline
in the eye, suggests the Cleveland Clinics' Cole Eye Institute. If they do not loosen within a
half-hour, contact your eye care professional.
Learn about eye infections in our Health Encyclopedia.
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