Wearing contact lenses brings comfort, cosmetic enhancement, and visual freedom, but this convenience also comes with strict hygiene rules. One of the most common and dangerous mistakes wearers make is exposing lenses to water. Can you put your contacts in water? Whether it’s tap water, bottled water, swimming pool water, or even distilled water, all forms of water can damage contact lenses and threaten eye health.
This guide explains exactly why water and contact lenses are incompatible, how exposure harms your eyes, and what you should do instead to keep your vision safe, especially when using premium medical-grade lenses like Bella.
Can You Put Your Contacts In Water?
Water may seem harmless, but no type of water is safe for contact lenses, including colored and prescription-colored lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices designed to stay sterile, oxygen-permeable, and hydrated only in approved disinfecting solutions.
Premium brands’ lenses are crafted as medical-grade optical devices that require controlled, sterile environments. When water touches a lens, that sterile condition disappears instantly.
Putting contact lenses in water causes:
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Microorganisms to attach to the lens
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Lens swelling and deformation
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Loss of disinfecting solution from the lens surface
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Increased risk of corneal infections
This is why eye-care authorities such as the U.S. FDA, CDC, and American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly warn against water exposure.
This sets the foundation for understanding the deeper dangers of water–lens interaction.
Why Are Water and Contact Lenses a Dangerous Combination?
Can you put your contacts in water? Even though water looks clean, it contains microscopic organisms, minerals, and impurities that can attach to lenses and enter your eye. Understanding these risk factors helps users appreciate why even premium lenses require premium hygiene routines.
Water carries microorganisms (Acanthamoeba, bacteria)
Tap water, well water, lake water, and even bottled water are not sterile. They often contain Acanthamoeba, a microorganism that can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but vision-threatening infection.
Contact lenses absorb these pathogens like a sponge. When placed on the cornea, the organisms can penetrate the eye and cause severe damage, sometimes requiring a corneal transplant.
Water changes the lens shape and causes swelling
Soft contact lenses contain hydrophilic materials that absorb water. When exposed to non-sterile water, they swell and warp.
A misshapen lens:
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Feels uncomfortable
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Causes blurry vision
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Scratches the corneal surface
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Creates openings for infection
Water removes the disinfecting solution from the lens surface
Approved solutions contain antimicrobial agents that keep lenses safe. Water washes these away, leaving the lens unprotected and allowing bacteria to multiply.
Water increases the risk of corneal infections and abrasions
A swollen lens moves less naturally with blinking, leading to micro-abrasions in the cornea. These tiny scratches provide an entry point for harmful microorganisms.
When lenses are crafted with medical-grade pigment encapsulation and advanced hydration systems, they offer exceptional comfort, but even this innovation cannot counteract the risks of water exposure. Proper hygiene remains essential.
What Should You Do If Your Contact Lenses Touched Water?
If a lens comes into contact with water, the safest first step is to remove it immediately. Continuing to wear it increases the risk of irritation or infection, especially because the lens may already have changed shape or collected microorganisms.
For reusable lenses, the recommended next step is full disinfection using approved multipurpose or peroxide-based solutions. Peroxide systems are particularly effective because they break down harmful microorganisms and offer deep disinfection, although they must be neutralized according to the product instructions before the lens can touch the eye again.
If the lens was fully submerged in water, for example, during swimming or accidental soaking, replacement is strongly advised. Unfortunately, no cleaning method can reliably eliminate the risk of Acanthamoeba after full exposure. Although it may feel wasteful to discard a lens, doing so is far safer than risking long-term damage to your eye.
Can You Use Water as a Substitute for Lens Solution?
The answer is an unequivocal no. Water cannot clean, disinfect, or store contact lenses safely. It can hydrate the lens temporarily, but hydration alone does not sterilize or protect against microorganisms.
Your lenses only maintain their sterile, controlled hydration in medically approved solutions. Substituting water or any household liquid compromises safety, comfort, and long-term lens performance. Hydration and sterilization are two separate functions, and water cannot fulfill the essential sterilization role that multipurpose or peroxide solutions provide.
How Should You Properly Clean and Store Your Contact Lenses?
The safest routine starts with using only approved multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide-based solutions. These are formulated to clean, disinfect, and remove deposits while maintaining the lens structure and hydration.
It is important to replace the solution daily rather than topping off the old solution, as reused solution can harbor bacteria and proteins. Additionally, the lens case should be cleaned regularly and replaced every one to three months to prevent microbial buildup. Consistently following these steps ensures that lenses remain sterile, comfortable, and safe for daily wear.
When Should You Consider Switching to Daily Disposable Lenses?
Daily disposable lenses are ideal for users who frequently expose lenses to water, whether through swimming, showering, or other activities. They eliminate the need for cleaning and storage altogether, providing a fresh, sterile lens each day.
Those who struggle to maintain rigorous cleaning routines or who have sensitive or allergy-prone eyes may also benefit from switching to daily disposables. For example, Bella daily colored lenses offer the convenience and safety of single-use lenses while delivering vibrant colors and prescription options, reducing the risk of contamination or irritation from water exposure.
How Bella Lenses Ensures the Safety of Colored and Prescription Lenses
Bella Lenses are manufactured using state-of-the-art sterile processes, ensuring that each lens is free from harmful microbes. Their pigment encapsulation technology prevents color pigments from leaching onto the eye surface or cornea, maintaining both safety and aesthetic appeal.
Additionally, hydration retention systems preserve the lens’s moisture and comfort, but these systems require maintenance with approved solutions. Even premium, medical-grade lenses like Bella Lenses must be cared for using proper cleaning and storage methods to ensure they perform safely and comfortably over time.
In Conclusion
Can you put your contacts in water? Water and contact lenses are a risky combination. Even brief exposure can introduce microorganisms, alter lens shape, and remove protective disinfectants, increasing the risk of infections and corneal damage. Premium lenses like Bella Lenses are carefully designed for sterile hydration and medical-grade performance, but their safety relies on using approved solutions and proper hygiene routines.
Users can minimize risk by following cleaning protocols, avoiding water exposure, and considering daily disposables when necessary. By understanding these safety guidelines, contact lens wearers can enjoy clear, comfortable, and vibrant vision without compromise.
FAQs - Can You Put Your Contacts In Water?
Can you shower while wearing contact lenses?
It is not recommended. Even brief exposure can introduce microorganisms and compromise lens safety.
Can you swim with contacts?
Swimming with lenses increases the risk of infections, especially from bacteria or Acanthamoeba present in water.
Is saltwater safer for contacts than tap water?
No. Saltwater is also non-sterile and can damage lens material or hydration balance.
What if I have no solution? Can I use saliva or water?
Absolutely not. Saliva and water cannot disinfect or safely hydrate lenses.
Can water damage colored lenses more than clear lenses?
Yes. Water can distort lens shape and affect the color pigment, especially if it is not encapsulated properly.
Do water-damaged lenses cause blurry vision?
Yes. Lenses that have absorbed water or lost hydration may swell or change shape, leading to blurry or uncomfortable vision.
