You have the sunblock, the towel, and maybe even the earplugs or ear drops – but don’t forget to remove your contacts! This summer when you or your child goes swimming, make sure they are not swimming in their contact lenses. It is easy to forget to remove your contacts before swimming and it may seem like “no big deal” but swimming with contacts can increase the risk of developing a severe, vision threatening eye infection known as microbial keratitis.1
Don’t Risk Your Child’s Vision for a Swim
Microbial Keratitis is an infection of the eye that can occur from bacteria or other micro-organisms infiltrating an open wound and being allowed to spread farther into the eye.1 The eye’s built-in epithelial barrier and immune response combats bacteria every day. The body’s natural tear flow and blink cycle are excellent ways to flush these bacteria out of the eye before an infection can occur.2
With all the different bacteria that can exist in pool water, swimming in contact lenses may expose you or your child to higher risk of infections.3 Microbial keratitis can progress very rapidly with complete corneal destruction occurring within 24–48 hours.4 It is vital that a patient experiencing the symptoms of this infection get a diagnosis and treatment immediately. Some of the symptoms of microbial keratitis are:
- •Reduced vision.
- •Eye pain.
- •Redness of the eye.
- •Sensitivity to light.
- •Discharge or excess tears from the eyes.4
Avoid Daytime Contacts by Using Overnight Vision Correction
There are many people who suffer from nearsightedness that need glasses or contacts to see clearly, even when they swim. There is a solution called Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses which unlike conventional contacts are worn overnight. Paragon CRT® gently reshapes the curvature of the cornea while you or your child sleeps. In the morning remove the lenses for improved vision that lasts all day without the need for glasses or daytime contacts.
With overnight vision correction there is complete freedom from glasses or daytime contacts. Nothing is worn on the eye during the day so you or your child can swim and splash without any worry. Don’t let daytime contacts ruin your pool time!
Interested in Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses?
Contact lenses you can wear at night? AND you don’t have to wear anything during the day? Sound too good to be true? It’s not! Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses are FDA approved for overnight wear.5 Parents have trusted Paragon CRT® in over 50 countries!6 There is no age limit for the lenses4 and 92% of Paragon CRT® wearers report that their experience meets or exceeds their expectations.7
Paragon CRT® Contacts can only be prescribed by a certified eye doctor. Many doctors even offer free screenings for Paragon CRT® patients. Find a certified doctor near you by using our doctor locator tool!
[1] Por YM, Mehta JS, Chua JL. Acanthamoeba keratitis associated with contact lens wear in Singapore. Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;148:7-12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19403109
[2] Pelletier, J. and Capriotti, J. (2010). Ophthalmology Management - Contact Lenses & Keratitis: What’s the Connection?. Ophthalmology Management. https://www.ophthalmologymanagement.com/issues/2010/june-2010/contact-lenses-keratitis-whats-the-connection
[3] Lam JS, Tan G, Tan DT, Mehta JS. (2013) Demographics and behavior of patients with contact lens-related infectious keratitis in singapore. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24254236
[4] Al-Mujaini, A., Al-Kharusi, N., Thakral, A., & Wali, U. K. (2009). Bacterial Keratitis: Perspective on Epidemiology, Clinico-Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 9(2), 184-195. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
[5] FDA Approval Letter - CRT - 06/18/2002
[6] Paragon Vision Sciences, Data on file, 2017
[7] Paragon Vision Sciences, Consumer Survey, Data on File, Oct 2018