Enjoying a good sauna session is often the perfect way to unwind. However, for those who wear glasses or contact lenses, there may be a few extra considerations. Can you wear your glasses or contact lenses in the sauna?
You should not wear glasses or contact lenses in the sauna. The high heat and steam in the sauna environment poses risks to not only your glasses or contacts but to your eyes as well.
After all, you probably don’t even need glasses while you’re in the sauna. Down below, I’ll provide all the information you need to safely and comfortably enjoy a sauna session, regardless of whether you rely on visual aids.
Can You Wear Glasses in the Sauna?
To start off, if you do decide to wear your glasses in the sauna, it’s not the end of the world. There’s just a bit of extra risk involved, including damaging your glasses and potential skin burns if your glasses have metal on them.
Safety Considerations
Wearing glasses in a sauna can potentially pose a few issues.
The intense heat can potentially damage the frames, especially if they’re made of plastic, which could deform under extreme temperatures.
Additionally, the heat and steam can cause your glasses to fog up, reducing visibility, which could pose a safety risk.
You could also get burns on your face where your glasses touch your skin, especially if they have metal components. I wrote another article all about why you usually don’t burn in the sauna, but also times where you can get burnt in the sauna.
Check that out next!
Comfort Issues
Even if the heat doesn’t deform your glasses, it can make them uncomfortably hot, especially around the nose pads and temples.
This can cause discomfort, making your relaxing sauna experience less than enjoyable.
Our Recommendation
Given these potential issues, I generally recommend removing your glasses before entering the sauna.
If vision is a concern, try to sit in a spot where you can easily navigate your way out. Keep your glasses in a safe and cool place outside the sauna so you can quickly put them back on after your session.
Can You Wear Contact Lenses in the Sauna?
Contact lenses, while not as visible as glasses, also come with their own set of considerations for sauna use.
Health Considerations
The hot, steamy environment inside a sauna can cause your eyes to dry out, which can be uncomfortable, especially for contact lens wearers.
There’s also the risk that the steam could cause your contacts to warp or change shape, which could negatively affect your vision or potentially cause harm to your eyes.
Comfort Considerations
As I mentioned, the heat and steam from a sauna can cause dryness, which can make your contact lenses feel uncomfortable.
If you frequently use a sauna, this could even lead to chronic dry eye syndrome. Moreover, if steam gets trapped under your contacts, it could cause painful burns.
Our Recommendation
Given these potential problems, it’s generally best to remove your contact lenses before entering a sauna.
If you need to wear them for some reason, consider using daily disposables and throw them away after your sauna session.
Remember to blink regularly to help keep your eyes moist, and, if possible, use lubricating eye drops approved for use with contact lenses before and after the session.
Taking Care of Your Eyes Post-Sauna
The care you take of your eyes doesn’t stop when you step out of the sauna. In fact, what you do post-sauna can also impact your eye health.
Hydration is Key
Just as your body can get dehydrated from a sauna session, your eyes can too. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
This not only helps with overall body hydration but also maintains tear production, which can be beneficial for dry eyes.
Lubricating Eye Drops
Consider using lubricating eye drops after your sauna session, especially if you’re a contact lens wearer.
These can help combat any dryness caused by the heat and steam. Remember to use drops that are suitable for your eyes and approved for use with contact lenses if you plan to reinsert them.
Rest Your Eyes
Give your eyes some time to rest before you reinsert your contact lenses or put your glasses back on. This allows your eyes to adjust back to normal temperature and humidity levels.
The Effect of Saunas on Eye Health
The sauna’s impact on eye health is often a topic of discussion. There are some considerations for both the potential benefits and the potential harms.
Potential Benefits
The heat in a sauna promotes circulation, which can be beneficial for overall eye health. It might even provide some temporary relief from the symptoms of dry eyes.
Relaxation and stress relief from sauna sessions could indirectly benefit eye health, given the connection between stress and conditions like dry eye syndrome.
Potential Harms
On the other hand, the intense heat and steam can cause dryness, as we’ve discussed earlier, and could exacerbate eye conditions like blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).
Regular sauna users with these conditions should consult with an eye care professional for personalized advice.
The Bottom Line
So, what’s the bottom line when it comes to using a sauna as a glasses or contact lens wearer?
Glasses should ideally be removed before entering the sauna to avoid potential damage to the frames and lenses, as well as to prevent discomfort from hot frames.
Contact lenses also pose potential risks in the sauna environment, such as dryness and potential warping of the lens. It’s generally best to remove them before a sauna session.
Sauna sessions can potentially benefit eye health by promoting circulation, but they can also exacerbate certain eye conditions.
As with all health-related matters, if you have any concerns about sauna use and its impact on your eye health or the integrity of your glasses or contact lenses, consult with a healthcare professional or eye care specialist.
Remember, the goal of a sauna session is to relax and unwind.
By taking these precautions, you can ensure that your sauna sessions remain as stress-free as possible, even if you’re a glasses or contact lens wearer. Enjoy your sauna time safely!