Which practice best reduces infection risk related to water exposure when handling contact lenses?

• A. Rinse lenses with tap water before insertion.
• B. Wear lenses while swimming to avoid eye irritation.
• C. Remove lenses before swimming or showering and avoid contact with tap water.
• D. Use hot water for cleaning.

Answer: (C)

Water exposure with contact lenses can carry microbes from the environment into the eye, and tap water is not sterile. When a lens sits in water, microorganisms can become trapped between the lens and the cornea, increasing the risk of serious infections such as Acanthamoeba keratitis. The safest practice is to remove lenses before swimming or showering and avoid contact with tap water altogether. If you need to handle lenses, use sterile solution and never rinse or soak them in tap water. Hot water can also warp or damage lenses and doesn’t reliably reduce contamination. This approach minimizes the chance that any water-borne organisms reach the eye through the lens.