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Contact lenses can be a fantastic alternative to glasses, offering the freedom to ditch the specs without worrying about breaking them or coordinating colours with your outfit. It's easy for wearing contact lenses to become second nature, and you might even forget they're in until it's time to remove them at the end of the day.

However, one doctor has warned that caution is still needed when wearing contacts. In fact, certain activities should never be undertaken if you regularly wear contact lenses without removing them first. In a TikTokvideo shared by Doctor Suraj Kukadia, also known as Dr Sooj online, he revealed that swimming with lenses in could seriously harm your eyes.

The video kicked off with a clip of a woman swimming, accompanied by text reading: "Me swimming with my contacts not knowing that seven hours later I would temporarily lose vision in one eye for six months."

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Dr Sooj then spent the remainder of the video explaining why swimming with contact lenses in can be hazardous.

He warned: "Swimming while you're wearing contact lenses is a real risk. Particularly in lakes, lagoons, hot tubs, and even swimming pools. It massively increases your risk of infection.

"Water can contain a bug called Acanthamoeba. It's a microscopic organism that can attach to your contact lenses and can get trapped on the surface of the eye, and can cause a serious infection called Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

"It's incredibly painful, it's really hard to treat, and in some cases, it can cause permanent vision loss. If you do have to wear contacts in the water, please use daily disposable lenses and throw them away immediately afterwards."

The medic suggested swapping contact lenses for prescription goggles whilst swimming.

What is Acanthamoeba keratitis?

According to Moorfields Eye Hospital, Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is an extremely painful corneal infection triggered by the Acanthamoeba organism.

Acanthamoeba exists in water sources including lakes, seas, and rivers, but is also present in household tap water, swimming pools, hot tubs, soil, and air.

These organisms typically pose no threat to humans, as we encounter them daily through washing, swimming, or drinking water, however they become problematic when they infect the cornea.

This occurs most frequently amongst contact lens wearers as the organism can become lodged against the eye, though anyone with a corneal wound is at risk of developing the infection.

Symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis

In the initial stages of the infection, inflammation can cause the cornea to become irregular, potentially impacting your sight. You might also experience light sensitivity and watery eyes.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is typically treated with antiseptic eye drops, which may need to be administered as often as every hour during the first few days. If you suspect you have Acanthamoeba keratitis, it's crucial to get in touch with an eye care professional or your GP immediately.

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