Tap water might seem clean enough to rinse or store your contact lenses in a pinch, but doing so can lead to serious and painful eye infections. Even clear, drinkable tap water contains microscopic organisms that can cause severe damage to your eyes.
Whether it's rinsing your lenses, cleaning your case, or storing your contacts overnight, water should never come into contact with your lenses, only sterile contact lens solution should.
The Hidden Danger in Tap Water
Tap water often contains a microorganism called Acanthamoeba. While harmless if swallowed, it becomes extremely dangerous when it comes into contact with the eye. When trapped between your eye and a contact lens, this organism can infect the cornea and lead to a rare but sight-threatening condition known as Acanthamoeba keratitis.
This infection can cause intense pain, redness, blurred vision, and in severe cases, permanent vision loss or the need for a corneal transplant. Even with treatment, recovery can take months.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Acanthamoeba keratitis is often linked to improper contact lens hygiene, especially rinsing or storing lenses in tap water or homemade saline.
Why Tap Water and Contacts Don't Mix
Tap water isn't sterile. It can contain bacteria, fungi, and protozoa that thrive in moist environments like your contact lens case. Contact lenses act as a barrier, trapping these organisms against the eye's surface and creating the perfect conditions for infection.
Even filtered or bottled water is unsafe, no type of water is sterile enough for contact lens use. Only saline and disinfecting solutions designed for contact lenses are safe to use.
What to Do in an Emergency
If you ever find yourself without your contact lens solution, resist the urge to use water or saliva as a substitute. Instead, remove your lenses and store them safely until you can clean and disinfect them properly. It's better to go without your lenses than risk an infection.
Once contact lenses dry out, they should be replaced rather than reused. The material can change shape or develop micro-cracks, increasing infection risk even after disinfection.
Keep Good Hygiene Habits
- Use only approved contact lens disinfecting solutions
- Wash and dry your hands before handling lenses
- Clean and replace your lens case regularly
- Avoid wearing lenses in water, including pools, hot tubs, and showers
Read more about swimming with contact lenses
The Bottom Line
Tap water should never touch your contact lenses, no matter how clean it seems. The risks are simply too high. By following safe handling practices and using proper cleaning solutions, you can keep your eyes healthy and avoid painful, and potentially sight-threatening, infections.
