Pool Water vs. Daily Disposables: How to Swim Safely in Encino This Summer

Swimming is a refreshing way to stay active during a warm Encino summer, but contact lens wearers need to take extra precautions before entering the water. Chlorinated pools may look clean, yet pool water can still contain microorganisms and other substances that should not become trapped between a contact lens and the eye.
 

Daily disposable contact lenses offer convenience and a fresh lens each day, but they do not make swimming in contacts risk-free. Understanding the safest options can help you enjoy the pool without putting your eye health or vision at unnecessary risk.
 

Why Contact Lenses and Pool Water Do Not Mix

Soft contact lenses can absorb water, change shape, swell, and adhere more tightly to the eye. This may cause irritation or small scratches on the cornea, creating an opportunity for microorganisms to enter the eye. Water exposure can also trap bacteria and other contaminants beneath the lens.
 

One concern is Acanthamoeba, a microorganism found in various water sources. Although Acanthamoeba keratitis is rare, it can cause a painful and difficult-to-treat corneal infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends removing contact lenses before swimming, showering, or entering a hot tub.
 

Chlorine does not eliminate every potential risk. It may also leave the eyes feeling red, dry, or irritated, particularly for people who already experience sensitivity while wearing contacts.
 

Are Daily Disposables Safer for Swimming?

Daily disposables are replaced after one day of wear, which removes the need to clean and store the lenses overnight. They can be a convenient, hygienic option for many Encino patients when used as directed. Woodley Optometry offers contact lens exams and fittings for daily disposables, monthly lenses, multifocal contacts, gas-permeable lenses, and scleral lenses.
 

However, a daily replacement schedule does not make a lens safe to wear in pool water. Daily disposables can still absorb water and hold microorganisms against the cornea. The safest approach is to remove your contacts before swimming and use properly fitted prescription swim goggles when vision correction is needed.
 

How to Protect Your Eyes at the Pool

Planning ahead can make swimming safer and more comfortable. Contact lens wearers should:
 

• Remove contact lenses before entering a pool, hot tub, lake, or ocean
• Consider prescription swim goggles for clear underwater vision
• Wear tightly fitted goggles even when swimming without contacts
• Keep clean backup glasses and a protective case nearby
• Wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling lenses
• Never rinse contacts or lens cases with tap or pool water
• Replace any daily disposable lens that has been exposed to water

Prescription goggles are especially helpful for people with stronger prescriptions who cannot comfortably navigate the pool area without vision correction. The CDC specifically identifies them as an option for contact lens wearers involved in swimming or water sports.
 

What to Do After Accidental Water Exposure

If pool water reaches your contact lenses, leave the water and remove the lenses as soon as you can safely wash and dry your hands. Daily disposable lenses should be thrown away rather than reinserted. Reusable lenses require proper cleaning and disinfection according to your eye doctor’s instructions, but replacement may be recommended depending on the exposure.
 

Watch for increasing redness, pain, light sensitivity, excessive tearing, discharge, or blurred vision. These symptoms should not be dismissed as ordinary chlorine irritation, particularly when they persist after the lenses have been removed. Prompt evaluation is important when an infection or corneal injury may be present.
 

Find the Right Contact Lenses for Your Summer Routine

A professional contact lens exam helps determine which lens material and replacement schedule best match your prescription, eye health, comfort, and lifestyle. At Woodley Optometry, we provide full-service contact lens fittings and training for patients of different ages and visual needs in Encino and the San Fernando Valley.
 

Schedule your contact lens exam with Woodley Optometry at 16055 Ventura Blvd., Suite 690, Encino, CA 91436, by calling or texting (818) 862-4800.