Updated: January 16, 2026
It’s safest not to wear contact lenses while swimming. Pool, lake, and ocean water can carry germs that may get trapped against your eye under the lens, raising the risk of serious infection. Water and chemicals can also irritate your eyes and make lenses feel uncomfortable or difficult to remove.
Do and Don’t:
- Don’t swim, shower, or use a hot tub while wearing contacts whenever possible, since water exposure increases infection risk.
- Do choose prescription swim goggles as the safest way to see clearly in the water.
- If you must wear contacts, use tight-fitting swim goggles, avoid submerging without protection, and remove lenses as soon as you’re done.
- If water touches your lenses, discard daily disposables or clean and disinfect reusable lenses overnight before wearing them again.
- Remove lenses and seek prompt eye care for pain, increasing redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or sudden blurry vision.
Avoiding water exposure with contact lenses is one of the simplest ways to lower the risk of irritation and potentially serious eye infections.
Disclaimer: This information is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References:
Healthy Habits: Keeping Water Away from Contact Lenses. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/healthy-habits-keeping-water-away-from-contact-lenses.html. May 27, 2025.
Does swimming with contacts lead to infection? American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). https://www.aao.org/eye-health/ask-ophthalmologist-q/does-swimming-with-contacts-lead-to-infection. July 24, 2016.
Contact Lenses. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/contact-lenses. October 28, 2019.
