Showering with contact lenses in is one of the most common daily habits that eye care professionals advise against, yet many wearers do it regularly without fully understanding the risks. Whether you have just forgotten to take them out before stepping in, or have been doing it for years without obvious problems, the case against this habit is clear. This guide covers all lens types, including coloured contact lenses, and tells you exactly what to do if you have already showered with them in.
No. You should not shower with contact lenses in. Tap water contains microorganisms including Acanthamoeba, which can adhere to lenses and cause serious eye infections. Shower water also causes soft lenses to swell and change shape, making them uncomfortable and difficult to remove. This applies to all lens types, including coloured contact lenses and extended wear lenses.
Why You Cannot Shower with Contact Lenses In
The question seems reasonable on the surface: UK tap water is treated, you drink it safely, and you wash your face with it every day. The problem is that your eyes are not your skin. They are significantly more vulnerable to contamination, and contact lenses create a surface against the cornea where microorganisms can concentrate and remain rather than being washed away. For a broader overview of how external environments affect lens safety, our guide on contact lens safety covers the full picture.
Tap Water Is Not Safe for Your Eyes
UK tap water is treated to meet drinking water standards, not the stricter sterility required for eye contact. It contains low levels of bacteria, fungi, and amoebae that are harmless to your digestive system but potentially dangerous when trapped against your cornea by a contact lens. The most serious of these is Acanthamoeba, a microscopic organism found in tap water, showerheads, domestic water tanks, and other water sources.
The College of Optometrists in the UK advises that contact lenses should not be worn during any water-based activity, including showering. If Acanthamoeba adheres to a contact lens and reaches the cornea, it can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but serious infection that may cause permanent corneal damage and, in the most severe cases, poses a long-term threat to vision.
What Shower Water Does to Your Lenses
Soft contact lenses are designed to work with the specific chemistry of human tears, not plain water. Tear film contains a precise balance of salts, enzymes, lipids, and proteins that keep lenses stable and comfortable on the eye. When tap water contacts a soft lens, it disrupts this balance. The lens absorbs the water and swells, losing its correct optical shape and pressing more tightly against the cornea.
A swollen lens causes blurred vision and discomfort, and its changed fit can scratch the corneal surface, which in turn makes infection easier. Shower products compound the problem: shampoo, conditioner, and soap residue trapped beneath a swollen lens causes chemical irritation that persists even after the lens is removed.
The table below compares the risk profile of common water sources for contact lens wearers.
| Water Source | Acanthamoeba Risk | Chemical Risk | Lens Deformation Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower / tap water | Medium | Medium — soaps, shampoo | High — swells and distorts rapidly |
| Hot tub / jacuzzi | High | High — heavy chemicals | High — heat accelerates deformation |
| Swimming pool | Medium-high | High — chlorine residue | Medium — chlorine absorbed into lens |
| Sea water | Medium | Low | High — salt osmosis distorts lens shape |
| Steam room | Medium | Low | Medium — humidity causes gradual dehydration |
All five environments in this table present a meaningful risk to contact lens wearers. Hot tubs and jacuzzis carry the highest overall risk because warm temperatures accelerate bacterial growth and the chemical load is higher. Shower water presents a lower but still significant risk because exposure is daily and the lens absorbs water quickly at typical shower temperatures. No water source is safe for contact lens wear without additional protection such as watertight goggles.
Does This Apply to Coloured Contact Lenses?
Coloured lenses are standard soft hydrogel lenses and swell, deform, and absorb microorganisms in the same way as any other soft lens when exposed to tap water. The rule is identical: remove coloured contact lenses before showering, every time. For guidance on responsible daily coloured lens wear, our article on wearing coloured contacts daily covers the key wearing principles.
There is one practical consideration specific to coloured lens wearers that is worth noting. If a coloured lens becomes stuck to the eye after water exposure and swelling, it can be more visually difficult to locate the lens edge than it would be with a clear lens. The removal protocol below is especially important in this case, and attempting to remove a stuck coloured lens without rewetting drops first is more likely to cause discomfort or corneal abrasion.
What to Do If You Have Accidentally Showered with Contact Lenses In
Accidental exposure happens to almost every contact lens wearer at some point. The important thing is to respond correctly and promptly rather than hoping the lenses were unaffected. The steps below apply to all lens types including coloured lenses.
Step-by-Step Removal Protocol
- Get out of the shower and dry your hands completely. Never attempt to remove contact lenses with wet hands. Use a clean, dry towel and ensure your fingertips are fully dry before touching your eye.
- Do not attempt removal immediately if the lens feels stuck. A swollen lens that has absorbed shower water will press more firmly against the cornea. Forcing it off can cause a corneal abrasion. Apply preservative-free rewetting drops approved for use with contact lenses and wait two to three minutes.
- Remove the lens using your normal technique once it moves freely. Do not pinch or drag a lens that still feels adhered. If it does not move after rewetting, apply a second round of drops and wait again.
- Daily disposable lenses: discard immediately. Do not reinsert a daily lens that has been exposed to shower water, regardless of how brief the exposure was.
- Monthly or bi-weekly lenses: clean thoroughly before any reinsertion. Rub the lens surface with multipurpose solution, rinse, and soak for a minimum of six hours. If the lens is visibly deformed, torn, or does not return to its normal shape after soaking, discard it. A lens that has permanently changed shape will not sit correctly on the eye.
This article is for informational purposes and does not replace professional eye care advice. If you experience any eye pain, increasing redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or any change in vision after showering with contact lenses, contact your optician promptly or call NHS 111. Do not reinsert lenses until your eyes have been assessed.
Symptoms to Monitor Over 48 Hours
The College of Optometrists advises that symptoms of serious eye infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis, may not appear immediately after water exposure. Monitor your eyes for the full 48 hours following accidental contact with shower water while wearing lenses.
Seek same-day optician review or NHS 111 guidance if you notice any of the following: persistent redness that does not resolve within a few hours, worsening eye pain or increasing discomfort, sensitivity to light that was not there before, a sensation of something in the eye that does not pass, any discharge from the eye, or any blurring of vision that does not improve after removing the lenses.
Keeping the contaminated monthly lens in a sealed case for up to a week after removal is worth considering, as your optician may be able to culture it if an infection develops. For guidance on solution types and care after water exposure, our guide to choosing the right contact lens solution explains the options.
Building a Pre-Shower Routine That Prevents Accidental Wear
The most reliable approach is making lens removal automatic before every shower rather than something you remember to do. Small environmental cues are more effective than relying on memory at the end of a busy day. For a broader understanding of when and how often to replace lenses, our guide on how often to replace your contact lenses is a useful companion piece.
Keep your lens case on the bathroom shelf next to the shower. Placing the case in the direct line of sight before undressing makes removal the default first step. Out of sight tends to mean out of mind.
Set a phone reminder labelled 'contacts out' at your usual shower time. This is particularly useful during the first few weeks of building the habit, or when your schedule changes and you shower at an unusual time.
For coloured lens wearers who wear lenses on specific occasions. Place a visible physical reminder at the bathroom door on days when you are wearing coloured lenses, especially if you wear them less regularly and removal is not yet automatic.
Keep a spare pair of daily disposable lenses in the bathroom. If you use daily lenses, having a spare pair in the bathroom cabinet means you can remove lenses before showering and insert a fresh pair immediately after without needing to return to another room. This removes the friction that often causes people to leave lenses in.
Can You Shower with Extended Wear Contact Lenses?
No. Extended wear lenses are approved for continuous wear including sleep, but this approval does not extend to showering or any other water exposure. The clinical approval for overnight wear relates to oxygen permeability and corneal health during sleep, not to water resistance. The infection risk from water exposure applies to extended wear lenses in exactly the same way as it applies to standard daily wear lenses. The College of Optometrists in the UK consistently advises removing all contact lens types before showering, regardless of their wear schedule or material.
A useful way to think about it is the optometrist's shorthand sometimes called the three Ss: no sleep, no shower, no swimming. All three create conditions where water, reduced oxygen flow, or inadequate lens care increase the risk of corneal infection or damage. Even if you have been wearing extended wear lenses overnight for months without incident, adding shower exposure introduces a different and unnecessary risk on top.
Looking for a coloured daily lens that fits easily into a remove-before-shower routine? Bella Daily coloured lenses are designed for single-day use with no cleaning required: Bella Daily Contact Lenses.
Final Thoughts
Showering with contact lenses is a habit that carries a genuine risk of serious eye infection, even when it has caused no obvious problems in the past. The absence of immediate symptoms does not mean the risk is not there. For all lens types, including coloured lenses and extended wear lenses, the advice from the College of Optometrists is consistent and clear: remove your lenses before you shower. A lens case on the bathroom shelf and a two-minute routine is a small price for the health of your eyes.
See more: Swimming with Contact Lenses: Risks, Rules and What UK Wearers Need to Know
