Can Heat from BBQ/Grill/Kitchen Burn Contact Lenses?

There has been a hoax circulating around for quite some time online that heat from BBQ/grill or kitchen whilst you are busy cooking can damage your eyes by melting your contact lenses. Though this sounds painful; you need not to worry since it only happens to be a misleading & irrational piece of false information.

True that soft contact lenses are made from plastic but modern innovation and breakthrough technology has led to the advanced manufacturing processes of contact lenses which make use of hydrogel material. These hydrogel contact lenses are water-loving lenses which absorb tears from eyes to stay supple & moist. Use of eye drops whilst wearing contact lenses retain the moisture in your eyes even when you are cooking or grilling. Contact lenses can’t turn dry just by the heat with which you are exposed to in the kitchen; thus they can’t burn or melt in your eyes either.

It is though safe to wear contact lenses in moderate heat i.e. the heat produced in kitchen and during in BBQ/grilling; one must stay vigilant about the other irritants present in the environment such as smoke, spices and vapors from onion etc. Sometimes these irritants when wearing contact lenses can disturb your eyes; making your vision blurred. This stimulates the urge of rubbing them which can further deteriorate the condition.

What is the Doctors’ Take?

According to Dr. Robert Kwok; “Contact lenses on the eyes won't melt during cooking or barbecuing (unless a cook has a severe or fatal accident in which his whole face is burned up). Cook's eyes don't get hot, and they automatically blink whenever hot air blows into their faces. A cook also knows not to have his face over a pot when he lifts the lid (avoid hot steam) nor too close to an oven door when he opens it (hot dry air).”

Long story short; wearing contact lenses whilst cooking is completely safe unless your eyes are not very sensitive to smoke and fumes. Though it has its own risks associated with wearing contact lenses; taking proper care of your eyes, contact lenses, following precautions and common sense can save you from a good deal of irrational and inadvertent fears. Follow the safety guidelines (eye care) when wearing contact lenses and stay safe!

By Uniqso Enquiry