Around 75% of Americans wear glasses or contact lenses. It’s not surprising that the question comes up frequently: “Can you surf with contact lenses?” The short answer is that you shouldn’t, but you can. Simply put, it’s a question of risk management.
While surfing, wearing contact lenses comes with certain dangers, but it is up to you if you want to take those risks.
The Risks of Surfing With Contact Lenses
Contact lens wearers should not surf because most doctors advise against it. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that being in the ocean increases the risk of infection. Bacteria may attach themselves to your contact lenses and cause an infection on your cornea.
Although the likelihood is low, permanent vision loss is a possible worst-case outcome.
Not only is sand irritating, but it can also get in your contact lenses and scrape against your cornea. This could cause you to lose vision; however, the chances of this happening are low.
Another issue is losing your contact lenses. If you’re being tossed about in the sea, it’s very likely that your contacts will fall out. This isn’t really dangerous, but it is inconvenient.
Data on Surfing with Contact Lenses
This topic has been researched by experts, and the result is that surfing with glasses does not pose a significant risk of vision loss.
According to Dr. Williams, an optometrist in Oceanside, California, there are some major disadvantages to surfing with contacts. She studied 61 contact lens wearers who surf for about 6 hours each week (or 309 hours per year).
According to Williams’ study, on average, surfers lose a contact lens every 2.7 years and feel discomfort every 1.7 years. Furthermore, the study found that surfers get an eye infection once every 29 years and experience contact lens abrasions only once per 18 years.
The majority of these eye diseases were minor. Williams inferred that an eye illness requiring medical treatment occurred once every 60 years as a result of her findings.
Her surfers were in the water for a combined 837 years without experiencing any blindness, according to the study.
Risk Prevention When Surfing with Contact Lenses
Although the chance of infection or visual damage is minor, while surfing with contact lenses, it is vital to exercise caution. Here are some recommendations for maintaining safe when wearing contact lenses in the water.
Wear Dailies
The cleaner your contacts are before going surfing, the better. You should also delete your contacts after you’ve been surfing. Rinse your eyes with a sterile, saline solution as soon as possible after removing your contacts.
Don’t Open Your Eyes Under Water
If you keep your eyes closed while underwater, sand won’t be able to enter and damage your contact lenses. Additionally, this will help your contacts stay in place rather than floating away or being lost. Ultimately, following this one step will dramatically reduce the likelihood of infection and losing a lens.
Don’t Rub Your Eyes
Grasping your eyes in the sea is likely to result in dirt or sand entering your contacts. This should be avoided at all costs.
Don’t Wear Contacts in Contaminated Water
Research the water quality before deciding whether to wear contacts or not. Beaches and local spots with heavy pollution increase your chances of getting an eye infection if you wear contacts in the water.
If You Feel Discomfort, Go to a Doctor
Seek professional medical help if you experience any pain or discomfort in your eyes while wearing contacts. Although it is rare, people have suffered from vision loss due to infection, so it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Prescription Goggles
Many athletes wear prescription goggles that are secured with elastic bands. Manufacturers now produce these for surfers as well. These are often equipped with leashes and detachable elastic straps. Prescription goggs are a fantastic, surfing-safe alternative to glasses or contacts if they are a must-have for your vision.
Surfing with Contact Lenses
Although medical doctors recommend against surfing with contact lenses, the data presents a small risk. Many surfers wear contact lens for years without any difficulties.
Surfing with contact lenses, if done properly and attentively, is quite safe. However, you should think about what is best for you and your level of risk tolerance.