If you wear contact lenses, then you know that they are a convenient and pleasing alternative to spectacles. While they are generally safe, it is advisable to practice caution while sleeping, swimming, during monsoon season, and even while travelling, say experts.
The contact lens market in India is evolving and growing rapidly. According to figures from the data-gathering platform Statista, India’s contact lens market is growing both in revenue and volume. Revenue in the contact lenses market amounted to $183.52 million in 2025 and the volume is expected to reach 171.2 million pieces by 2029.
Reasons for growth
According to Bhuvan Chanana, head and senior consultant, Retina Services, Bharti Eye Foundation and Hospital, “Cases of myopia are increasing in children and the sole reason today is the sudden increase in screentime both for entertainment and educational purposes.”
Myopia is a vision condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred and, the condition is becoming increasingly common in children, say doctors.
Aeshal Fatima, a 21-year-old law student started wearing contact lenses while she was in school. Replacing spectacles with lenses was a huge relief for her. “The lenses were hassle free and gave me confidence in my appearance. I started wearing lenses at the age of 15 during a school function and there was no going back,” she says, adding however, that incidence of small tears or losing a lens are issues one has to learn to deal with.
Doctors say that while lenses are a go-to choice for youngsters and older adults alike, they come with some small risks. While many enjoy the ease of wearing contact lenses, sometimes, their proper care and maintenance is overlooked.
Lens care protocol
What are the risk factors for lens wearers and what preventive measures can be taken?
Unhygienic practices lead to infections. If you do not clean, care and disinfect your contact lenses correctly, you have a high chance of contracting an eye infection.
According to the U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, “contact lens wear is linked to higher risk of keratitis or inflammation of the cornea”. This can occur when germs invade the cornea and often happens when contact lenses are worn for too long or are not cared for correctly. Although the risk is minimal, this might even lead to blindness or the need for corneal transplants in some cases.
Other complications can be dry eyes, allergies including contact lens-induced allergies. The American Academy of Ophthalmology lists sleeping in contact lenses, microbes build up under the lens and not keeping lenses or cases clean, or reusing or topping off contact lens solution as some major reasons for eye infections.
The monsoon problem
There is a higher risk of eye infections for contact lens wearers during the monsoon season. Rainwater is often contaminated with bacteria, so, doctors say that it may be better to wear glasses while walking or driving in the rain. On the practice of wearing lenses while swimming or during rains, experts advise caution. “It is advisable to not wear lenses at all or wear daily disposable lenses while swimming or when out in the rain,” says Dr. Bhuvan Chanana.
“One should be very careful with hygiene practices and always wash hands with soap and water and use a clean towel before touching contact lenses,” he says, adding that expiry dates must always be checked to avoid any complications.
Rashmi Shirwant, consultant ophthalmologist at Manipal Hospital, Goa, explains that “people are more susceptible to infections such as conjunctivitis if they are swimming with contact lenses”. So, it is advisable to “wear proper eye gear and protect contact lenses from water.”
Prioritise care
Experts also advise caution while travelling and sleeping. Dr. Rashmi emphasises that “wearing contacts overnight is a bad idea. When the whole cornea is covered with a contact lens, the cornea may swell up, which can lead to infections.”
Users of coloured lenses should be cautious too. Wearing coloured lenses, a trend fashionable about a decade ago, has come back into fashion, with social media promoting its use as well. The risks associated with coloured lenses are not very different from regular contacts. However, “when you buy coloured contacts from a store, you may not know about their quality approvals or they may not be the right fit which can lead to scratches on your eye and may increase the chance of infections,” says Dr. Rashmi.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that the chemicals used to colour over-the-counter tinted contact lenses include chlorine and can be toxic to eyes.
Whether you are new to using contact lenses or are using them for cosmetic purposes, proper care and hygiene are key.
(Nabeela Khan is a Delhi-based health and science journalist. nabeelainayati@gmail.com)
Published – August 18, 2025 12:24 pm IST