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Original poster

Question for long time contact lens wearers

117 replies

TellerTuesday · 22/08/2024 07:42

I've been pondering this for a few weeks but really interested on hearing from others.

I have worn contact lenses for around 20 years. Started with monthly ones and have had daily disposables for the last 10 years plus.

DD has just started using them. When she was having the 'training sessions' etc she was told how important it is not to swim in them, to take them out before washing her face etc, I have honestly never been told this.

When I first started wearing them, I am convinced that they were marketed as more convenient than glasses because you could swim in them and so on, even seem to remember an advert on the tv for lenses with a swimmer.

I've had yearly contact lens checks at the opticians and nobody has ever told me that I shouldn't be getting my face wet with them in. The lady in specsavers looked aghast when I said this. I put mine in on a morning and keep them in until late evening, swim with them in (although I don't actually go underwater) but now I'm worried I need to stop and it would take some major adjusting to.

Just wondered if any other long time wearers had totally missed this, did the guidance change at some point and I just wasn't aware? A quick google strongly advises against getting the face wet when wearing them but it's something I'd never thought about as I'd been doing it for years.

OP posts:
DappledThings · 22/08/2024 08:06

I've been wearing them for over 30 years, was always told about not swimming etc. Started on hard gas-permeable ones and moved onto daily disposables about 15 years ago.

I can't shower in them anyway, the slightest bit of water gets near them and they immediately feel tight and like they do if you accidentally sleep in them so I have to take them out anyway.

Flavabobble · 22/08/2024 08:07

First started wearing them 40 years ago, stopped about 10 years ago and have been aware of the dangers for at least the last 20/25 years, it's no big secret.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
OpalSpirit · 22/08/2024 08:07

Saw a story recently of a lady who lost her eye to an infection from wearing them in shower.
All the comments were very unsympathetic as everyone knows contacts should not ever be worn near water.
Never heard it before this.

CurvyKale · 22/08/2024 08:07

I've also had contacts for years. I started with gas permeable hard lenses and was told not to swim or shower in them as the risk was I would lose them. I was advised to get daily disposable ones to swim in.

I switched to monthly disposables a few years ago. I also asked about prescription sports glasses (told they don't do my prescription) and the optician told me to wear my lenses. I queried it as I've also read the horror stories and she said she always wears her lenses in the local lake for swimming...

I wear daily disposables plus goggles for swimming and with sunglasses for water sports and take them out as soon as I'm home.

LizzeyBenett · 22/08/2024 08:18

It's really important that water doesn't get under the lense when you wear them can cause infection but I was never told that it was a friend that told me makes perfect sense though

OolongTeaDrinker · 22/08/2024 08:21

I swim with mine but only with decent goggles. I think you are right though, 20+ years ago the advice to not swim with them wasn’t a thing, but it definitely has been for at least the last 10 or so years.

LoquaciousPineapple · 22/08/2024 08:30

I wear extended wear lenses. Specsavers website says you're meant to take them out for showers but no one has ever told me that. And it seems to defeat the object of extended wear lenses if I have to take them out every day anyway.

FuglyBitch · 22/08/2024 08:36

Been wearing lenses for over 25 years and I’ve always been told not to swim or shower in them, due to risk of infections/blindness. I used to wear goggles with them in otherwise i couldn’t see a thing. But I’ve just purchased a pair of prescription goggles and it’s worked really well, I don’t have to worry about the risks when water splashes into my eyes

shockeditellyou · 22/08/2024 08:48

I’ve been told that if I want to swim in my lenses, buy a few packs of daily disposables and take them out and bin them straight after swimming.

TheTripThatWasnt · 22/08/2024 08:57

At my last lens check up I had to sign a disclaimer saying that I was fully aware that I shouldn't wear them anywhere near water (swimming, even with goggles, shower etc etc). I made a passing remark about how I only generally wear them for running, because you can't see through glasses when it's raining, and the optician said I shouldn't wear them if I'm out in the rain! Swimming I get. Showering I am resigned to (even though I always have my eyes closed under the water), but I draw the line at not wearing them in the rain. And that seemed somewhat ridiculous in this country.

What I don't get is how continuous wear lenses can still be prescribed if you can't wear them in the shower. The whole point of them was that you put them in and forgot about them (or it was when I wore them, about 15 years ago).

sofski91 · 22/08/2024 09:05

Cinemanachosyum · 22/08/2024 08:04

Please, please google Acanthamoeba keratitis.
I'm late 40s, been wearing contacts since 16 years old. Generally, very good with caring for my eyes and listening to what not to do.
This year January contracted Acanthamoeba keratitis- honestly one of the most painful things I have been through. I'm lucky not to have lost my sight in one eye. 8 months later, my eye is 'ok', not how it was before. The drops I had to use for treatment were harrowing, I may as well have been putting Bleach in my eyes!

You were putting bleach in your eyes - the treatment is 6 months of PHMB drops, in other words (and rather ironically) swimming pool cleaner! Absolutely horrible infection to get.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/08/2024 09:10

the optician said I shouldn't wear them if I'm out in the rain!

I was told this as well! I thought it was ridiculous, what are we supposed to do, put on a pair of goggles or quickly swap to glasses in the rain? I wear my lenses more if it rains as I hate having to clean my glasses!

Probsnot · 22/08/2024 09:14

Dw almost lost her eye to it. Please don't risk it.

She always wears contacts swimming, but is very careful and wears googles from changing rooms out. I've always laughed at her completely dry wearing googles to the pool.

However for some reason once that wasn't enough

About 2 weeks after swimming in a private pool, She woke with a pain in her eye, went to A+E. A+E misdiagnosed her and gave her the wrong eye drops and didn't even ask about contact lenses as she was wearing her glasses and hadnt worn her contacts for a few weeks. Because it had been a while since swimming she never mentioned it and they never asked about any contact lenses wearing etc

They said they'd forward it on to eye specialists for a routine referral. Luckily they picked it up immediately because the form was filled out wrong. They called to ask some details that were missed and clocked she wore contacts

Called her in immediately that day to an eye specialist

She was on hourly eye drops (had to self administer over night) , and really nasty antibiotics. They suspected if she had started the antibiotics a few hours later that she would be admitted and needed antibiotics via drip, and with a routine referral or if she had continued to wait and see if the wrong eyedrops helped she would have lost sight in it

If you wear contacts and ever have any eye problems, please be really sure they understand you are a contact lense wearer.

It was pure luck that a mis spelt form saved her eyesight

Probsnot · 22/08/2024 09:19

sofski91 · 22/08/2024 09:05

You were putting bleach in your eyes - the treatment is 6 months of PHMB drops, in other words (and rather ironically) swimming pool cleaner! Absolutely horrible infection to get.

Show quote history

Urgh bad memories of having to wake DW every hour to put in such painful eye drops

ParadiseforBrownBears · 22/08/2024 09:24

I have worn them for 30 plus years. I wear the two weekly ones. Like you I put in first thing in morning, take out at night. I shower in them, wash face in them, I rarely swim but wouldn't take them out to swim either. I have regular check ups and never had an issue with them.

The only thing I do though is to use a peroxide cleaner every night - you know the one which has the metal piece in the lens case that then neutralises over night. My optician recommends this. Before I started doing this I would sometime get irritated itchy eyes after wearing lenses a long time. This is unnecessary though if you wear dailies - they are surely the safest anyway.

Blink282 · 22/08/2024 09:26

Well this thread is terrifying!
I will change my ways.

Sonolanona · 22/08/2024 10:28

I've worn contacts since I was 18... 56 now.
I don't remember being told not to swim in them when I was younger but I know I'm told not to now. However I'm very short sighted, and can't risk losing expensive glasses in the sea, or paddle boarding so I do wear them then but dispose and put glasses on immediately afterwards.
I don't shower with them in, but do occasionally fall asleep in them which feels horrible (nap not bed time!)
Having just googled however I may invest in some cheap prescription specs and a sports band!

Prometheus · 22/08/2024 10:43

I’ve worn monthly disposables since 2021 and was never told this advice either. I found out by reading threads like this on mumsnet about a year ago. I now don’t shower with lenses in but when I take the kids swimming I need to wear them as I’m -6 so pretty much blind without them.

DoopSnoggySnogg · 22/08/2024 10:45

I first got lenses in 2003 and I’ve honestly never been told this! I used to wear contacts in the shower all the time as it was the only way I could see to shave my legs. Also swimming on holiday, the beach etc. I don’t wear them as much nowadays. But this has freaked me out. Never again.

ButtSurgery · 22/08/2024 10:56

Always been told not to swim in them - I started wearing them around 2000.

My mate nearly lost her eyeball to an infection in 2003 so I've been absolutely neurotic about it ever since.

And whenever it comes up on MN, I'm told I'm paranoid and swimming is just fine... Don't care, I like my eyeballs as healthy as possible even if short sighted. I'm also never having laser surgery 😂

FiveShelties · 22/08/2024 11:04

I started using contacts around 1995 and have always been told not to swim or shower with them in. Three years ago I had cataract surgery and can now see really well without glasses or lenses, it is amazing to see properly whilst swimming.😁

HundredMilesAnHour · 22/08/2024 11:07

Another one who's been wearing lenses for 30+ years, of which the last 20 years has been daily disposables.

I shower first thing every morning and put my lenses in afterwards. And have usually removed by lenses by the time I wash my face at night. I don't swim much these days (hate it!) but had a period of intensive swim training years ago (as part of a gym/lifeguard requirement) and used to always wear goggles for it, and usually remove my lenses beforehand or if I'd kept them in, bin them afterwards.

I used to be a pretty serious rower and always wore eyewear (clear lenses if it wasn't sunny, dark lenses if it was) when on the water to prevent splashes getting in my eyes. But I've seen what Thames water does to a cut on your body so no way did I want that water getting in my eyes, lenses or not!

I'm surprised you weren't aware of any of this OP.

SoManyBadgers · 22/08/2024 11:13

I've been wearing contacts since 1990 and only became aware of the dangers of water in the eyes in recent years. I don't swim so that isn't an issue for me. I also don't get my face or hair wet in the shower so I assume that's ok? I wash my hair without contacts in but mainly because getting any water on them makes them instantly uncomfortable.

One of the pieces of advice that has changed and which confuses me is around hand washing and handling contact lenses. You're now supposed to dry your hands after washing them and before handling the lenses. Unless you have a blower hand dryer in your home how is this practical? Drying on a towel would introduce all kinds of bacteria, fluff etc to the hands and therefore the eyes, paper towels and tissues are covered in fluff and lint too. So I'm afraid I do insert my lenses with slightly damp fingers as I can't work out any way not to!

Gazelda · 22/08/2024 11:25

I've been wearing lenses for about 35 years. Always known not to swim or shower with them in.

Sometimes I do though. I keep my eyes shut and think 'it won't hurt just this once'

Until I got an eye ulcer. The most excruciating pain ever and terrifying to think I could lose my sight. Antibiotic drops every hour for 48 hours then 2-hourly for another few days and then twice daily for 2 weeks. Thankfully cleared up eventually.

Honestly, it's not worth the risk.