Table of Contents
When preparing for hurricanes, most people naturally think of water, food, and flashlights. For contact lens wearers, eye care has an additional box in their storm checklist.
Floods, evacuations, power outages, and limited access to clean water make it harder to maintain contact lens safety during hurricane season. But with a little planning, you can protect your eyes before, during, and after storms.
Contact Lens Safety Deserves Your Attention During Hurricane Season
Natural disasters disrupt daily routines. Contact lens wearers especially feel this because of the challenges that hurricane season puts their eyes through. Below are some of the most common risks they face:
Exposure to Contaminated Water
Hurricanes often lead to floods and compromised water supply. Exposing your contacts to floodwater or washing your hands with dirty tap water before handling your lenses increases the risk of bacterial infections.
U.S. FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY
Don't expose contact lenses to tap, bottled, distilled, lake, or ocean water.
Dust and Debris
Strong winds and post-hurricane cleanups mean dirt, dust, and other airborne debris are up in the air. They can easily get trapped under lenses and may cause painful corneal scratches.
Loss of Cleanliness and Power
Cleaning and storing lenses safely is difficult without electricity and clean running water. Even the simple act of washing hands is a challenge.
What to Do Before Hurricane Season Begins
Stock On Contact Lens Supply
How many lenses do you have on hand? You should have enough to get you through the season. Hurricanes cause disruptions, especially in the logistics department. Buy in advance to avoid such delays.
Save Prescription Details
Save copies of your prescription details in physical and digital formats. Make sure they contain the following details:
- Lens Name
- Power
- Base Curve
- Diameter
- Toric or Multifocal Values
Pack Contact Lens Care Supplies
Store your lenses, glasses, solution, and other eye care items in a dry bag or waterproof pouch. This protects them from rain, leaks, and floodwater.
Add These to Your Contact Lens Emergency Kit
Don’t face storm season without these:
Backup Glasses
These should be up-to-date. They don’t require sterile solution, and they keep irritation down.
Extra Lenses
Have at least one extra unopened pack. Go for disposable daily contacts since they don’t need overnight storage or cleaning.
Fresh Solution
Water isn’t a substitute.
U.S. FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY
Discard leftover solution after each use. Don't reuse!
Clean Contact Lens Case
A spare, unopened, or recently replaced case is recommended.
Rewetting Drops
This should be labeled for contact lens use. This will help with hurricane-related conditions.
Eye Doctor Contact Details
Save your eye doctor’s phone number. Have written and digital copies in case one source gets lost.
Why Don’t Contacts and Water Mix During Storms?
Water may be a universal solvent, but it isn’t always clean.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), contact lenses and water don’t work together. The latter can introduce organisms to the former, even during activities like showering or swimming.
Some may assume bottled water is a safe alternative for contact lens cleaning solution, but it isn’t. It’s not sterile, and wearers shouldn’t use it to rinse or store their pairs.Â
Floodwater is especially dangerous for contact lenses. It can host chemicals, sewage, debris, and sharp objects.
When Glasses Are the Safer Option
You may want to swap your contacts for specs when these cases happen:
Power Outages
Poor lighting makes contact lens care harder. You don’t have light to see and inspect them, and you can’t wash them properly.
Evacuations
Evacuating to safer areas may mean hurried packing, sharing bathrooms, cramped car trips, and a lack of privacy. All this can make you forget safe contact lens handling, so glasses are a smarter choice because you don’t need to touch your eyes as much.
Flood Cleanups
Hands, air, and surfaces are naturally dirty after floods. Should protective glasses be required, follow safety guidelines and wear the proper protective gear.
Irritated Eyes
If your eyes turn red, feel painful, gritty, watery, and extra sensitive to light, remove your contacts immediately and call your eye doctor.
CDC ALERT
Microbial keratitis symptoms include eye redness, light sensitivity, watery eyes, worsening pain, discharge, and sudden blurry vision.
How to Handle Contact Lenses During Evacuations
Managing contact lenses in emergencies requires massive caution to protect your eyesight. Follow these guidelines to keep yourself out of danger:
1. Avoid debris and smoke.
Evacuation areas can expose people to dust, smoke, and chemicals. Irritants can trap these irritants and infect the cornea.
2. Pack backup glasses.
Your evacuation kit should have a pair. Keep that spare in an easy-to-find pouch so you won’t have to rummage deep into your go bag.
3. Don’t transfer solution into random containers.
Different containers may introduce your solution to different chemicals and contaminate it.
4. Don’t sleep in your contacts.
Evacuation is tiring, so some may forget to take off their contacts. Don’t forget to take them off, unless you’ve been prescribed to wear them overnight.
Eye Safety Before, During, and After a Storm
Keep your eyes out of danger by following these:
Before a Storm
Restock contacts before severe weather forecasts.
Check how many lenses you have left and replenish your stocks when needed.
Check lens supply expiration dates.
Throw out expired solution and other lens care items and buy new ones so you’ll have supplies that’ll last you through storm season.
During a Storm
Stay away from floodwater and heavy rain.
Floodwater is contaminated with highly hazardous bacteria and debris. Corneal infections or ulcers may happen when it gets into your eyes.
Avoid water exposure.
Don’t shower, bathe, or swim when wearing your contacts. Tap water and natural bodies of water may carry dangerous parasites that may grow and get trapped under your lens, infecting your eyes in the process.
Don’t touch or handle your lens with unwashed hands.
Dirty hands introduce storm-related bacteria and dirt directly into the cornea.
Don't do DIY disinfecting.
Never use tap water, bottled water, or saliva for cleaning contact lenses.
After a Storm
Don't "top off" solution.
Old contact lens solution should never be reused and topped off with a newer one. Get rid of it and start fresh.
Throw contaminated cases.
If you suspect your case has floodwater or dirt on it, don’t think twice about discarding it. Contamination may not be visible, but don’t wait for the obvious to practice good contact lens hygiene.
Address pain or redness immediately.
Remove your contacts and consult your eye doctor ASAP.
Avoid long wear schedules.
Don’t wear your contacts for extended periods. Your eyes will be more stressed, especially after exposure to environmental pollutants.
Protect Your Eyes Before Storms Hit
Contact lens safety during hurricane season entails preparation. Don’t wait until the eleventh hour to restock or face logistical problems.
Need to restock lenses? Lens.com can help you order ahead. You don’t have to scramble when a storm is nearby.
Disclaimer:Â This content is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References
Hurricane Preparedness. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep. Date Accessed: May 20, 2026.
Contact Lens Solutions and Products. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/contact-lenses/contact-lens-solutions-and-products. Date Accessed: May 20, 2026.
Healthy Habits: Keeping Water Away from Contact Lenses. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/healthy-habits-keeping-water-away-from-contact-lenses.html. Date Accessed: May 20, 2026.
What Causes Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/causes/index.html. Date Accessed: May 20, 2026.
