Can You Wear SofLens 59s in the Shower?

pathfinder · #1 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008, 02:23 PM

Can any germs that are present in the water you shower in get into your eyes? Can they live in hot water such as you might use for a shower?

radan · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 11:43 PM

The eye health risks associated with swimming in your contact lenses depend on the body of water. In all cases, the contact lens provides an environment for microbial colonization, but the risk of infection is much higher in stagnant water than in a chlorinated pool or the ocean. For this reason, contact lenses should never be worn in lakes and rivers, and lenses exposed to this potentially harmful water should be disposed of immediately. The Acanthamoeba organism is especially dangerous and can survive in the space between the contact lens and the eye. Proper lens maintenance reduces the chance of contamination, since protein and lipid buildup provides a site for the microorganism to attach. Once attached to the lens, however, Acanthamoeba is resistant to most disinfecting systems. Acanthamoeba keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea, is almost exclusively associated with contact lens wear in water and can be visually devastating. If you need vision correction while swimming in lakes and rivers, try a pair of prescription swimming goggles.

Pools do not harbor as many microorganisms as lakes and rivers, so the risk of infection is lower. If worn in the pool, contact lenses may absorb chlorine and cause eye irritation. This discomfort is temporary and can be relieved with artificial tears. You may notice that your lenses are difficult to remove after swimming in a pool or taking a shower. Wait at least 30 minutes to allow the water concentration in the lenses to neutralize before removing them. An opposite phenomenon occurs when swimming in the ocean; the high salinity of seawater may cause lenses to float off your eyes. The ocean contains more contaminants than the pool, so close your eyes when you go underwater, or wear swimming goggles. Use UV protected goggles to avoid sun damage. Never swim on beaches with warning signs for contaminated water, and maintain proper lens care to avoid eye infection.

If you are planning to wear your contact lenses in the water, make sure you have an extra pair of lenses, lens solution, and glasses. Swimming goggles are the best way to avoid contamination. If you do expose your lenses to pool or ocean water, disinfect them as soon as possible. Again, if you directly expose your lenses to stagnant water, dispose of them entirely. Daily disposables are a sensible type of lens to use if you are an active swimmer. Rigid gas permeable lenses should not be worn in any kind of water because they are much more likely to float off your eyes than soft contact lenses. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience lasting eye redness, irritation, pain, or sensitivity to light after wearing your contact lenses in water.

Joeyrosschandler · #3 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radan

The eye health risks associated with swimming in your contact lenses depend on the body of water. In all cases, the contact lens provides an environment for microbial colonization, but the risk of infection is much higher in stagnant water than in a chlorinated pool or the ocean. For this reason, contact lenses should never be worn in lakes and rivers, and lenses exposed to this potentially harmful water should be disposed of immediately. The Acanthamoeba organism is especially dangerous and can survive in the space between the contact lens and the eye. Proper lens maintenance reduces the chance of contamination, since protein and lipid buildup provides a site for the microorganism to attach. Once attached to the lens, however, Acanthamoeba is resistant to most disinfecting systems. Acanthamoeba keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea, is almost exclusively associated with contact lens wear in water and can be visually devastating. If you need vision correction while swimming in lakes and rivers, try a pair of prescription swimming goggles.

Pools do not harbor as many microorganisms as lakes and rivers, so the risk of infection is lower. If worn in the pool, contact lenses may absorb chlorine and cause eye irritation. This discomfort is temporary and can be relieved with artificial tears. You may notice that your lenses are difficult to remove after swimming in a pool or taking a shower. Wait at least 30 minutes to allow the water concentration in the lenses to neutralize before removing them. An opposite phenomenon occurs when swimming in the ocean; the high salinity of seawater may cause lenses to float off your eyes. The ocean contains more contaminants than the pool, so close your eyes when you go underwater, or wear swimming goggles. Use UV protected goggles to avoid sun damage. Never swim on beaches with warning signs for contaminated water, and maintain proper lens care to avoid eye infection.

If you are planning to wear your contact lenses in the water, make sure you have an extra pair of lenses, lens solution, and glasses. Swimming goggles are the best way to avoid contamination. If you do expose your lenses to pool or ocean water, disinfect them as soon as possible. Again, if you directly expose your lenses to stagnant water, dispose of them entirely. Daily disposables are a sensible type of lens to use if you are an active swimmer. Rigid gas permeable lenses should not be worn in any kind of water because they are much more likely to float off your eyes than soft contact lenses. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience lasting eye redness, irritation, pain, or sensitivity to light after wearing your contact lenses in water.

Hey, that's a great copy-and-paste job there, radan, and it's even semi-relevant, but it really doesn't answer the question about showering with contacts in, does it?

pathfinder · #4 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeyrosschandler

Hey, that's a great copy-and-paste job there, radan, and it's even semi-relevant, but it really doesn't answer the question about showering with contacts in, does it?

Joeyrosschandler, you're so sarcastic you might want to call yourself Chandlerjoeyross.

You're right, though. Radan obviously just found an article about swimming with contacts--which is not very much like showering in contacts--and copied and pasted most, if not all, of the article. It was a nice try, but a bit sloppy in my opinion.

Joeyrosschandler · #5 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pathfinder

Joeyrosschandler, you're so sarcastic you might want to call yourself Chandlerjoeyross.

You're right, though. Radan obviously just found an article about swimming with contacts--which is not very much like showering in contacts--and copied and pasted most, if not all, of the article. It was a nice try, but a bit sloppy in my opinion.

Well, thanks for the agreement, pathfinder, but I'm no closer to the answer to my question. I didn't think it was very hard, but Radan's bogus posting may have fooled people into believing that their help was not needed here. So I'm going to restate the question. Is a good, hot shower hot enough to protect you from any nasties in the water that might infect your contact lens-ed eyes?

Knotlob · #6 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeyrosschandler

Well, thanks for the agreement, pathfinder, but I'm no closer to the answer to my question. I didn't think it was very hard, but Radan's bogus posting may have fooled people into believing that their help was not needed here. So I'm going to restate the question. Is a good, hot shower hot enough to protect you from any nasties in the water that might infect your contact lens-ed eyes?

I think most bacteria are killed at between 60 and 70 Deg C. That's 140-158 Deg F in old money for our American readers

The acanthamoeba kerititis, which is the potentially devastating one, is quite resistant to removal and I think you will find that 60-70 deg C is way above the temperature that people comfortably shower at.

But lets's put the risk into perpspective. Someone yesterday quoted the risk of acanthamoeba kerititis infection as 1 in one million contact lens wearers. The only cases of infection I have read about are to people cleaning their lenses in tap water and then inserting the lens into their eye.

So, although acanthamoeba kerititis could theoretically be found just about anywhere (salt, fresh, brackish, bottled, tap water, air, earth, etc). it is quite rare and actual infections very rare. These can be minimised by taking the normal sensible precautions and following good practice cleaning your contact lenses and case, with preferably a two step peroxide disinfecting solution (the one step peroxide system just doesn't cut it for killing acanthamoeba infections).

So, no, the hot shower water is not hot enough to kill the beasties, but I normally shower with my lenses in. If you want to be super safe, then take them out before you shower.

knotlob

Bootz · #7 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

I think most bacteria are killed at between 60 and 70 Deg C. That's 140-158 Deg F in old money for our American readers

The acanthamoeba kerititis, which is the potentially devastating one, is quite resistant to removal and I think you will find that 60-70 deg C is way above the temperature that people comfortably shower at.

But lets's put the risk into perpspective. Someone yesterday quoted the risk of acanthamoeba kerititis infection as 1 in one million contact lens wearers. The only cases of infection I have read about are to people cleaning their lenses in tap water and then inserting the lens into their eye.

So, although acanthamoeba kerititis could theoretically be found just about anywhere (salt, fresh, brackish, bottled, tap water, air, earth, etc). it is quite rare and actual infections very rare. These can be minimised by taking the normal sensible precautions and following good practice cleaning your contact lenses and case, with preferably a two step peroxide disinfecting solution (the one step peroxide system just doesn't cut it for killing acanthamoeba infections).

So, no, the hot shower water is not hot enough to kill the beasties, but I normally shower with my lenses in. If you want to be super safe, then take them out before you shower.

knotlob

Once again knotlob, you come through with a clear and well elucidated response to a question here on Lens 101. Thank you.

pathfinder · #8 (**permalink**) 01-27-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

I think most bacteria are killed at between 60 and 70 Deg C. That's 140-158 Deg F in old money for our American readers

The acanthamoeba kerititis, which is the potentially devastating one, is quite resistant to removal and I think you will find that 60-70 deg C is way above the temperature that people comfortably shower at.

But lets's put the risk into perpspective. Someone yesterday quoted the risk of acanthamoeba kerititis infection as 1 in one million contact lens wearers. The only cases of infection I have read about are to people cleaning their lenses in tap water and then inserting the lens into their eye.

So, although acanthamoeba kerititis could theoretically be found just about anywhere (salt, fresh, brackish, bottled, tap water, air, earth, etc). it is quite rare and actual infections very rare. These can be minimised by taking the normal sensible precautions and following good practice cleaning your contact lenses and case, with preferably a two step peroxide disinfecting solution (the one step peroxide system just doesn't cut it for killing acanthamoeba infections).

So, no, the hot shower water is not hot enough to kill the beasties, but I normally shower with my lenses in. If you want to be super safe, then take them out before you shower.

knotlob

Thank you for your response, Knotlob. With as many articles I've seen about the dangers of acanthamoeba infections, I got the impression that this is a fairly common occurrence, but judging by your posting here, I may have been over reacting. Thanks for putting my mind at ease.

Joeyrosschandler · #9 (**permalink**) 03-01-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

I think most bacteria are killed at between 60 and 70 Deg C. That's 140-158 Deg F in old money for our American readers

The acanthamoeba kerititis, which is the potentially devastating one, is quite resistant to removal and I think you will find that 60-70 deg C is way above the temperature that people comfortably shower at.

But lets's put the risk into perpspective. Someone yesterday quoted the risk of acanthamoeba kerititis infection as 1 in one million contact lens wearers. The only cases of infection I have read about are to people cleaning their lenses in tap water and then inserting the lens into their eye.

So, although acanthamoeba kerititis could theoretically be found just about anywhere (salt, fresh, brackish, bottled, tap water, air, earth, etc). it is quite rare and actual infections very rare. These can be minimised by taking the normal sensible precautions and following good practice cleaning your contact lenses and case, with preferably a two step peroxide disinfecting solution (the one step peroxide system just doesn't cut it for killing acanthamoeba infections).

So, no, the hot shower water is not hot enough to kill the beasties, but I normally shower with my lenses in. If you want to be super safe, then take them out before you shower.

knotlob

I did a little bit of research and I found that a "hot" shower can be anywhere from 105 to 120 degrees in "old money" as you so quaintly put it. That's considerably cooler than the 140-158 degrees you recommended for getting rid of those amoebas. So a hot shower may get youtr blood pumping, but you still run a slight risk of acanthamoeba kerititis infection.