May I use water instead of a cleaning product to clean my lenses?
A sometimes occurring and annoying situation: what should I do when I suddenly realize I no longer have lens care product at home? Can I use water in a dropper while waiting to purchase a new product in the store?
However tempting it may be to clean your lenses with plain water, please don't. You are only saddling yourself with the risk of a serious eye infection or, in severe cases, even blindness.
So never clean your contact lenses with plain water.
The danger of water
Ordinary tap water may seem like a safe alternative to classic lens care products, but in reality, it is a dangerous choice. Water, and even drinking water, can contain numerous microorganisms, some of which pose a serious risk of serious eye problems.
A certain microorganism, a protozoa known as the acanthamoeba, is known to even lead to blindness. This amoeba is found in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and even in dirty contact lens cases.
This amoeba is a protozoa found in both soil and fresh water.
This amoeba is known to be able to cause a serious eye disease called amoebic keratitis, a type of eye infection. This infection is also very painful and is known to lead to blindness.
Anyone can get this disease, but it is much more common in lens wearers, accounting for up to 85% of all cases of this disease.
What about using filtered water?
Ordinary tap water is certainly not an acceptable choice for cleaning your lenses, nor is bottled water. In any case, avoid using plain water, even when filtered.
Microorganisms can be present in both filtered and bottled water. Even distilled water is never completely free of microorganisms. Lens cleaning products contain special cleaning agents that can help deactivate these harmful microorganisms.
Can I wear lenses in the shower or swimming pool?
It is best not to clean your lenses with water, which is why you should not wear your lenses in the pool or in the shower. The same microorganisms found in water are also present in pool and shower water. If water gets into your eyes while swimming, you may have the same problems you would experience if you cleaned your lenses with water.
Clean your lenses thoroughly
Water is not a safe choice for caring for and cleaning your lenses, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't clean them often. You should clean your lenses daily using an approved product specifically designed for contact lenses.
Follow all instructions provided by your doctor or manufacturer to thoroughly clean and care for your lenses to the letter.
The procedure for cleaning and caring for your lenses may vary depending on the type of product used and the type of lenses you wear.
Most products require light rubbing of the lenses to clean them thoroughly. Always wash your hands before handling your lenses and dry them thoroughly with a clean towel. Carefully follow all instructions your eye doctor has given you regarding the care and cleaning of your lenses.
Also, clean the case in which you store your lenses every day with another care product or hot water.
You must let the jars air dry well before using them again. The jars should be replaced regularly, at least every three to six months. It is even recommended to discard an old product after each use and fill the jar with clean, previously unused liquid.
Don't just remove the top of an old product to refill it with a new product. Also always replace the bottles within the time frame specified by the manufacturer or doctor.
Choosing the right products for cleaning and caring for your lenses
There are numerous products for cleaning and caring for your lenses available on the market, making it difficult to choose the right product for you. If you need help, your eye specialist is the right person to give advice.
He or she can recommend a particular product that will suit your type of lenses well. The lens manufacturer will also have certain recommendations regarding the products for care and cleaning.
Always follow these instructions carefully as they are not given lightly. Different types of care products usually also have different procedures for cleaning the lenses and you should not simply ignore them.
Always make sure you have enough stock of care products.
Check regularly whether you need new products and get them if necessary. This way you can avoid suddenly running out of products when the shops are closed and being tempted to just use water, the dangers of which we have described above.
Be sure not to use plain water to care for your lenses. Even bottled water can contain numerous dangerous microorganisms that can cause eye infections and even permanent damage to your eyes and vision. There are rules and protocols for using care products for your lenses for a reason.
These are not given lightly, as they will help you protect the health of your eyes and your vision.