Showering With Contacts Why Its A Bad Idea

Many contact lens wearers treat their lenses like permanent fixtures—forgetting they require careful handling and protection from environmental hazards. One common but dangerous habit? Showering while wearing contacts. While it might seem harmless, exposing your lenses to tap water introduces serious risks to your eye health. From bacterial contamination to corneal damage, the consequences can be severe—even leading to permanent vision loss in rare cases. Understanding why this practice is so risky empowers you to make safer choices for your eyes.

The Hidden Dangers of Water and Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are designed to sit directly on the surface of your eye, absorbing moisture and oxygen to maintain comfort and clarity. But when exposed to water—especially tap or shower water—they become traps for microorganisms. Unlike purified saline solutions, tap water is not sterile. It contains bacteria, amoebas, and other pathogens that can adhere to the lens surface and transfer directly onto your cornea.

One particularly dangerous organism is Acanthamoeba, a microscopic amoeba commonly found in water sources including tap water, showers, and even tap-fed humidifiers. When it attaches to a contact lens and reaches the eye, it can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis—a painful, difficult-to-treat infection that may lead to corneal scarring or blindness if not caught early.

“Water and contact lenses should never mix. Even a few drops from the shower can introduce harmful microbes that the eye isn’t equipped to handle.” — Dr. Lena Patel, Optometrist and Corneal Specialist

How Water Damages Contact Lenses and Eyes

Beyond biological contaminants, water itself alters the physical properties of contact lenses. Most soft lenses are hydrogel-based, meaning they absorb liquids. When submerged in water, lenses can swell, warp, or tighten on the eye, causing discomfort, blurred vision, or mechanical irritation.

This distortion reduces oxygen flow to the cornea, increasing the risk of hypoxia—a condition where the eye doesn’t receive enough oxygen. Chronic hypoxia can lead to neovascularization, where new blood vessels grow into the cornea, impairing vision and complicating future lens wear.

Tip: Always remove your contacts before any water exposure—even washing your face or swimming in a chlorinated pool.

Common Scenarios That Increase Risk

It’s easy to underestimate everyday situations where water meets lenses. Here are some frequent but overlooked risks:

• Quick morning showers: Many people leave lenses in overnight and hop in the shower without thinking. This brief exposure is enough for contamination.
• Facial cleansing: Splashing water on your face while wearing contacts carries the same risks as showering.
• Hot tubs and baths: Warm, standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria and amoebas, making it especially hazardous.
• Napping in lenses then showering: Extended wear already stresses the cornea; adding water exposure multiplies the danger.

Mini Case Study: A Preventable Infection

Sarah, a 28-year-old teacher, wore her bi-weekly contacts continuously, including during her nightly showers. After two weeks of mild eye irritation, she developed intense pain, redness, and light sensitivity in one eye. Diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis, she required months of antiseptic eye drops, a therapeutic contact lens, and close monitoring. Her recovery was slow, and she experienced permanent corneal scarring affecting her night vision. Her optometrist confirmed the likely source: daily shower exposure to tap water.

Sarah’s case is not unique. According to the CDC, contact lens wearers who expose their lenses to water are significantly more likely to develop microbial keratitis. The good news? Nearly all such infections are preventable with proper hygiene.

Do’s and Don’ts: Protecting Your Eyes Around Water

Do’s	Don’ts
Remove contacts before showering, bathing, or swimming	Never rinse lenses or store them in water
Wash and dry hands thoroughly before handling lenses	Avoid wearing lenses while sleeping (unless prescribed)
Use fresh solution daily in your lens case	Don’t top off old solution—always replace it
Replace your lens case every 1–3 months	Don’t use expired or opened solution
Consider daily disposables for convenience and safety	Don’t shower or swim with any type of soft contact lens

Step-by-Step Guide to Safer Contact Lens Habits

Changing your routine takes consistency, but these steps can dramatically reduce your risk:

1. Evening removal: Take out your contacts before starting your nighttime routine, well before turning on the shower.
2. Designated storage: Keep your lens case on a dry vanity away from the sink or shower to avoid accidental splashes.
3. Pre-shower cue: Make removing lenses part of your pre-shower ritual—like taking off jewelry or tying up hair.
4. Back-up glasses: Keep a pair of prescription glasses in your bathroom for post-shower use if needed.
5. Daily disposables: Switch to daily lenses if you struggle with cleaning routines—no storage or solution needed.
6. Weekly deep clean: Scrub your lens case with clean fingers (not tap water), rinse with solution, and air-dry upside down on a clean tissue.

Tip: Label your lens case with the date you started using it to remember when to replace it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear contacts in the shower if I keep my eyes closed?

No. Even with closed eyes, water can seep under your eyelids, especially in a steamy environment. Additionally, touching your face during the shower increases the chance of transferring contaminated water to your eyes.

What if I only wear them for a quick rinse?

Exposure time doesn’t eliminate risk. A single incident of water contact can introduce pathogens. The severity depends on what organisms are present—not how long the lens was wet.

Are some lenses safer in water than others?

No. All soft contact lenses absorb water and can trap microbes. Rigid gas permeable lenses also pose risks when exposed to unsterile water. No FDA-approved contact lens is safe for showering or swimming.

Expert Recommendations for Long-Term Eye Health

Eye care professionals consistently emphasize prevention over treatment when it comes to contact lens safety. “The cornea has limited defenses against foreign pathogens,” explains Dr. Alan Zhou, an ophthalmologist specializing in infectious eye disease. “When you wear contacts in the shower, you’re bypassing one of the body’s primary protective barriers. It’s like leaving your front door open in a high-crime neighborhood.”

He recommends that patients adopt a “water-free zone” rule: no lenses allowed during any activity involving water. For those who frequently forget, switching to daily disposable lenses removes the temptation to reuse or sleep in them—and eliminates the need for cleaning altogether.

Conclusion: A Small Change for Lifelong Vision Protection

Showering with contacts might seem like a minor convenience, but the potential cost to your vision is far too high. By simply removing your lenses before stepping into the bathroom, you drastically reduce the risk of infection, discomfort, and long-term damage. Healthy habits compound over time—each day you protect your eyes adds up to years of clear, comfortable vision.

💬 Ready to make the switch? Start tonight: take out your contacts before your next shower. Share this tip with someone who wears lenses—it could save their sight.