If water has touched your contact lenses, take them out as soon as you can. The CDC advises removing contacts before showering or swimming; after water exposure, discard them or clean and disinfect them overnight before wearing them again. The next decision depends on the lens type and whether your eye develops symptoms.
- Notice water exposure
- Wash hands and remove lenses
- Discard or disinfect overnight
- Seek eye care for pain or vision changes
Why even shower water matters
Tap, pool and lake water are not sterile. Water can change the shape of a soft lens and make it stick to the eye, potentially irritating or scratching the cornea. Water exposure also creates a route for germs; the rare but serious infection Acanthamoeba keratitis is one concern.
Chlorinated pool water is not contact-lens solution. Do not rinse or store lenses or cases in tap water. Use the care system prescribed for your lenses and follow the manufacturer and eye-care professional's instructions.
What to do with the lens
Wash and dry your hands, then remove the lens as soon as possible. Discard a daily disposable lens. For a reusable lens, the CDC says to throw it away or clean and disinfect it overnight before reuse, following the lens and solution instructions. A quick tap-water rinse does not substitute for disinfection.
If a lens seems stuck, do not pull hard. Follow your eye-care instructions for removal and seek help if removal is difficult or painful. Prescription goggles can be a useful option when you need clear vision while swimming.
Watch the eye, not just the lens
Eye pain, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or excessive tearing after exposure warrant prompt assessment by an eye doctor. Stop wearing contacts while seeking care. These signs do not diagnose Acanthamoeba infection on their own, but the CDC lists them among its possible symptoms.
No symptoms does not make an uncleaned lens safe to reinsert. Equally, a brief splash does not mean an infection is inevitable. Act on the exposure and any change in how the eye feels or sees.
A worked example
Suppose you shower with reusable contacts and notice on the commute. As soon as practical, wash and dry your hands and remove them. Wear glasses if available; either discard the lenses or disinfect them overnight as directed. If one eye later becomes painful, red or blurry, do not put the lenses back in—contact an eye doctor promptly.
Common questions
Can bottled water rinse my contacts?
No. The CDC advises against rinsing or storing contacts in water; use the appropriate lens-care solution.
What if I need vision for swimming?
Remove the lenses and consider prescription goggles. Ask your eye-care professional about individual options.
Can I reinsert them if my eyes feel fine?
Not without the prescribed overnight cleaning and disinfection, or discarding the lenses.
Official sources checked
This is general information; individual circumstances and product or agency instructions may differ.