How Safe Is It To Rinse Your Eyes With Tap Water?

Our eyes are among our body's most essential and sensitive organs. They can be exposed to different irritants, such as dust, smoke, and allergens, which can cause discomfort, redness, and even infections. As a result, many people turn to rinsing their eyes but the question is: how safe is it to rinse your eyes with tap water?

A man is washing his face in a sink while holding his face with his left hand and a ring on his right hand. He is wearing a white shirt and has a faucet on the sink. The faucet is open and has water flowing. The sink has a tiled wall behind it. The man's face is slightly blurry.

Is it Okay to Rinse Your Eyes with Tap Water?

The safety of rinsing your eyes with tap water mostly depends on whether or not you wear contact lenses.

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On the other hand, rinsing the eyes with tap water is not recommended for contact lens wearers. Tap water often contains microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and amoebae, that are usually harmless but can cause severe eye infections like acanthamoeba keratitis under certain circumstances. Contact lenses can trap these microorganisms against the eye's surface, increasing the risk of disease. If you're wearing contacts, you must avoid exposing your eyes to regular water, including while showering or swimming. If you need to rinse your eyes for any reason, it's recommended to use a sterile saline solution or contact lens solution specifically formulated for use on the eyes.

If your eyes are feeling dry, a lubricant like natural tears can help soothe dry eyes more effectively than water. Speak to your eye care professional for more information.

How to Properly Rinse Your Eyes

In case of an emergency, such as a foreign object, chemical, irritant or burn in the eye, here's how to rinse your eyes:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to avoid introducing germs into your eyes.
Use sterile saline or contact lens solution, specifically formulated to be safe for use on the eyes, and flush your eyes with it.
If you don't have saline or contact lens solution, you can use clean, lukewarm water. Avoid using very cold or hot, as it can be uncomfortable or even harmful to your eyes.
Tilt your head back, open your eyes, and pour the solution or water into the inner corner of your eye, letting it flow across your eye and out of the outer corner. If the irritant is only in one eye, tilt your head with the affected eye down, to avoid flushing the object into the other eye.
Repeat the process until your eye feels better, but avoid rubbing or touching your eyes with your hands or a cloth.

When to See an Eye Doctor

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should see an eye doctor as soon as possible:

Severe pain or discomfort in your eyes
Dry eyes
Blurred or decreased vision
Redness, swelling, or discharge from your eyes
Sensitivity to light
A foreign object stuck in your eye that you can't remove

These symptoms may indicate an eye infection, condition, or injury that requires prompt treatment to prevent complications. If you experience any unusual symptoms or discomfort in your eyes, don't hesitate to consult an eye doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Call us at Dr. Marian Kim and Associates in North York, Toronto at 416-222-1004 to schedule an appointment today.