You've run out of solution at bedtime, or you're about to jump in the pool with your lenses still in. People ask us the same thing all the time: can you put contacts in water, even for a minute? The honest answer is no. Contact lenses and water don't belong together, whether that's tap water, bottled water, or the pool, sea, or shower. Here's why that rule matters, and what to do when you're caught short.

Shopping for coloured contact lenses and tripping over the labels can be genuinely confusing. The words 'tinted', 'enhancement', and 'opaque' get used as if you already know them. You don't have to, and sorting them out is easier than it first looks. Each type changes your eyes in its own way and by a different amount. So the right choice really comes down to how big a change you want, from a barely-there lift to a whole new eye colour by Friday night.

Quick answer: blue light contact lenses use a tint or coating that absorbs a portion of the high-energy light coming from screens, but the evidence that this actually reduces digital eye strain, protects your macula, or improves sleep is thin. UK and US eye health bodies do not currently recommend them on the strength of that evidence. If screens are leaving your eyes tired, the bigger wins come from your screen habits and, for contact lens wearers, choosing contacts built for comfort during long digital sessions.