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Why Using Water to Clean Your Contact Lenses Can Destroy Your Vision
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Moneycontrol•10-10-2026, 08:01
Why Using Water to Clean Your Contact Lenses Can Destroy Your Vision
- •Never use tap, bottled, drinking, or even boiled water to clean or store contact lenses because water is never sterile and can carry harmful microorganisms.
- •Water exposure increases the risk of serious, vision-threatening corneal infections since contact lenses sit directly on the eye.
- •Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses to prevent transferring unwanted germs and bacteria to your eyes.
- •Avoid sleeping with your lenses in or wearing them for more than 10 to 12 hours a day to prevent oxygen deprivation and discomfort.
- •Remove your lenses immediately if your eyes become red, irritated, or painful, and consult an ophthalmologist before wearing them again.
Key Questions Answered
Tap water, bottled water, drinking water, boiled water, and saliva are never sterile. Using them to clean or store contact lenses can introduce harmful microorganisms to the eye and significantly increase the risk of serious, vision-threatening infections.
Contact lenses should generally not be worn for more than 10 to 12 hours a day unless a specialist specifically recommends a different schedule. Wearing them longer can lead to dryness, discomfort, and other eye issues.
If your eye becomes red, watery, irritated, or painful, or if you experience discharge or vision problems, you should remove the lenses immediately. You should not put them back on even if symptoms improve until you consult an ophthalmologist.
