Don’t flush contact lenses
Find out how flushing contact lenses down the toilet impacts the environment
Seeing Clearly
Have your ever flushed your lenses down the toilet?
If you did so, please don’t!
Flushing down contact lenses down toilets or sinks puts them somewhere they don’t belong – into our wastewater systems, rivers and oceans. Have a look below and find out more about the potential issues and health concerns this may cause.
Let’s look at the numbers
1 in 5
people flush their contact lenses down the toilet or the sink.1
44 tons
of contact lens waste is released into water systems every year.1
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I never flush my contact lenses down the toilet?
Flushing contact lenses down toilets or sinks puts plastics into our wastewater systems, rivers and oceans. Marine life ingest microplastics, causing health problems and increases the risk of microplastics entering our food chain. Find out more by reading our detailed summary.
How can I best dispose of my contact lenses?
You can drop off collected contact lenses, blister packs and foils at many optometry offices that have partnered with specialist recycling companies. Visit our recycling site to see whether there are options in your area, or if there are any mail-in options where you can send your contact lens waste to.
If you are interested in the science behind it
Microplastics in marine ecosystems (Environmental research)
Marcharla E, Vinayagam S, Gnanasekaran L, et al. Microplastics in marine ecosystems: A comprehensive review of biological and ecological implications and its mitigation approach using nanotechnology for the sustainable environment. Environmental Research 2024;256:119181.
Potential Health Impact of Microplastics (Environment & Health)
Li Y, Tao L, Wang Q, et al. Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects. Environ Health 2023;1(4):249–57.
Microplastics removal from a primary settler tank in a wastewater treatment plant (Environmental Pollution)
Lofty J, Muhawenimana V, Wilson CAME, et al. Microplastics removal from a primary settler tank in a wastewater treatment plant and estimations of contamination onto European agricultural land via sewage sludge recycling. Environmental Pollution 2022;304:119198.
Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory? (Nature Scientific Reports)
Nelms SE, Barnett J, Brownlow A, et al. Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory? Sci Rep 2019;9(1):1075.
Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review (Marine Pollution Bulletin)
Cole M, Lindeque P, Halsband C, et al. Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 2011;62(12):2588–97.