using tap water

[Johnni]

Hi
I a few occasions my lenses became extremely uncomfortable and i had to take them out or they come out themselves. As i had no solution with me i have used tap water to clean them and put them back in on a few occasions that this has happened.
Can someone explain to me the dangers of using tap water and how it may have afftected my eyes.
Thankfully i am more comfortable with my lenses and they dont come out anymore but have i done any damage?

[Michael P]

Hi Johnni.

I must admit to having rinsed my lenses with water, for many many years, contrary to the instructions of the optometrists at Moorfields, without adverse affect; I should add I no longer do this.

You risk getting an eye infection and I suspect the risk could increase depending on where you live. I have seen slides of horrendous eye infections and some can cause blindness. My advice is definitely do not use water unless in an emergency. Saliva is probably even more of a no no.

[Johnni]

can tap water increase the rate of degredation of the cornea at all?

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi Johnni and welcome!
As Michael says, the risk with tap water is infections. There is a particularly nasty bug called acanthamoeba which may be in the water and infection with this can lead to blindness. If you've now stopped using tap water, then you won't have done any harm. But the message to everyone is, DON'T use tap water to clean or lubricate lenses. Our eyesight, even if not perfect, is still precious!
Anne

[Johnni]

Hi Johnni and welcome!
As Michael says, the risk with tap water is infections. There is a particularly nasty bug called acanthamoeba which may be in the water and infection with this can lead to blindness. If you've now stopped using tap water, then you won't have done any harm. But the message to everyone is, DON'T use tap water to clean or lubricate lenses. Our eyesight, even if not perfect, is still precious!
Anne

Hi Anne
I did some reading about acanthamoeba and wondered if it has a slow onset in terms of pregressing. I mean although i did use ta water in the past but stopped can the bug still be present but not yet see any symptoms?.

[Anne Klepacz]

Sorry Johnni - didn't mean to panic you! But I'm sure most of us have been guilty of not following all the instructions about using solutions sometimes (and I include myself in that) and although we mostly get away with it, it's really not worth the risk! Nothing I've been able to find on the net answers your question about how long these bugs can sit around without doing any damage. I don't know if any of our optoms can help on this one. I imagine that if you have no symptoms you're fine - but don't take that as definitive! Glad you're now being careful though.
Anne

[Johnni]

You did'ny worry me Anne lol. Just wondering how long the bug can stay in the eye as i also can;t find any info on the net. I don't have any symptoms but read it is hard ti ytreat and remove which is why i was enquiring that maybe it can 'dig in' in a way and cause damage even if i am using a solution.
thx for the advice anyway

p.s for got to ask what is the risk factor in contacting this bug if using tap water, is it high or minimal?

[Andrew MacLean]

Johnni

Welcome to the forum. Let me hold up my hand; I have used tap water to rinse my lenses.

In some parts of the world it is probably reasonably safe or it probably presents an acceptable risk, in others it is probably true that this is not the case. What it comes down to is the microbes that go into your eye along with tap water. Some of these are benign, others not.

All the best

Andrew

[Amarpal]

The risk of infection is probably relatively low, but never risk it. As always, its better to be safe than sorry. I understand why you do it though! Nowadays, I carry around a small bottle of solution just in case. When I know I might be out for long and there is nowhere to wash my hands beforehand, I take alcohol hand rub disinfectant stuff just in case.