Can tap water damage eyes?

[Mary_Ann9]

Can washing eyes many times a day with tap water harm my eyes? The place where I work is very hot and there is too much dust in air, so I have to do so. Thanks.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Theoretically water is hypotonic to the cornea and if left in prolonged contact could cause some problems . However just washing your face with your eyes closed you are not going to do any damage.

[Mary_Ann9]

Thanks Dr, but what about letting some water to get into?
Water give me relief from eye dryness although I have tried many of products.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Lots of people do that and rarely is it a problem

[Mary_Ann9]

Thanks! I am going to wear contact lenses soon. If washed my face with eyes closed (still some drops can get into when I open them and I feel with these cold drops in such a hot environment) with contact lenses, would that be OK or I might get infected? Sorry for repeating.

[MrPresley]

A dusty work environment is not compatible with wearing contact lenses.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Our practice has taken care of some very serious cornea ulcers from tap water, shower water, river-pond-swimming pool water getting on soft contact lens. Not many people wear GPC anymore so haven't seen in a while. With contacts best to only use CTL wetting solution approved for your contact.

[Mary_Ann9]

Thanks!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[MrPresley]

It seems like my optometrist has always been of the opinion that hard lenses generally can provide superior correction to soft lenses, and that as long as the wearer tolerates them well RGP is the way to go. I’ve never had soft lenses to make such a comparison, and mine have also always been daily wear/non-disposables.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[MrPresley]

I have used tap water to rinse my contacts prior to inserting them for decades without issue.

[Mary_Ann9]

Thanks.