Wearing contact lenses in daily activities brings convenience and aesthetics to many people. However, according to ophthalmologists, the habit of wearing contact lenses when exposed to water such as bathing, soaking in a tank or swimming can pose a serious risk to vision.
Dr. Neha Yadav, a resident physician at PGIMS Rohtak Branding Institute (India), warned that wearing contact lenses when exposed to water is not safe.
bathwater, whether it is tap water, swimming pool water or stream water, can contain dangerous parasites. One of them is Acanthamoeba, a single-celled animal that can cause severe corneal inflammation, even leading to vision loss if not treated promptly.
Corneal ulcers: Complications that cannot be overlooked
According to Dr. Simakurthy Sriram at sankara Eye Hospital, Hyderabad (India), corneal ulcers are a serious form of damage to the surface of the eye, which can occur due to scratches, infections or improper use of contact lenses.
Typical symptoms include eye pain, redness, heavy tearing, or sudden loss of vision. He stressed that the risk increases if users handle contact lenses incorrectly, such as washing them with tap water or wearing them while bathing and swimming.
In particular, people with pre-existing corneal scratches or immunodeficiency are the most vulnerable group.
Acanthamoeba's coronary arthritis: A rare but dangerous disease
Although rare, Acanthamoeba's coronary arthritis is one of the most dangerous eye infections. Dr. Sriram said that this condition causes corneas to become ulcerated and turn yellow, often causing severe pain. However, symptoms are easily confused with common eye inflammation.
Dr. Sudhakar Potti, Medical Director at sankara Eye Hospital, Guntur (India), added that diagnosing acanthamoeba-related coronary inflammation is very difficult. It is necessary to perform in-depth tests such as cornea shaving or culture to accurately determine the presence of amoeba. The treatment process is not simple, often prolonged and requires close monitoring from a specialist. In some severe cases, the patient may have to undergo cornea transplant surgery.
What should you do to protect your eyes?
The best way to prevent it is to avoid wearing contact lenses when in contact with water. In addition, it is necessary to ensure proper cleaning of the glass with a specialized solution and store it in a clean container. If there are any signs of infection such as red eyes, pain, photophobia or reduced vision, users should see an ophthalmologist immediately.
