Much has been written on this board about precautions in Asia when it comes to what you eat and drink. I learned the hard way that you really need to be careful about how you wash your hands as well, particularly if you wear contact lenses.
On a trip earlier this year to Viet Nam, we took all the normal precautions, drinking only bottled water etc. Not even the slightest tummy rumble.
But on the overnight train from Sapa back to Hanoi, I made the big mistake of washing my hands using the tap water in the restroom and then removing my contact lenses. Stupid I know, but it was late, I was tired...... Woke up a day later on the junk boat in Halong Bay with a MAJOR eye infection. Luckily we were headed back to Hanoi that day anyway and the SOS Emergency Clinic is just a few blocks from the Metropole. They gave me some antibiotic drops and patched it so we could finish the last day of the trip. Of course went straight to the ophthomalogist when we got home.
Moral of the story....if you wear contacts, carry antibacterial handcleaner (the gel kind that uses no water) and use it before touching your lenses!

Lindsey,
sorry it happened to you and thank you for the tip. I never thought about this potential problem with contacts. Does it creates problem with water in good Bangkok hotels?

sophia---I WANT TO YELL AT YOU BUT I WON'T!!!!!!!

bob

emtravel - even the good Bangkok Hotel's tap water comes from the main Bangkok water source - so yes, it would create a problem if the water from your tap at your good Bangkok Hotel was contaminated and you washed your hands in it before you removed your contact lense. Only use bottled water to drink, to brush your teeth, wash your toothbrush and wash your hands before removing your contact lenses. Perhaps you could include some sort of disinfectant handtowels in your luggage to wipe over your hands as well just to be on the safe side.

This is SO true. I am one of the dinosaurs of an ear bygone who wears semi soft, non disposable contact lenses so I have to soak them in solution nightly then wash them in the morning. Day 1 in Vientiane I got an eye infection - luckily minor - and we were staying at one of the best hotels in the city. Since then I carry along small bottles of Evian (figure source water likely to be the best) and use that to wash my lenses. Also convenient as going in I am generally not so heavy and just dump it if any spare going back when i am heavily laden with shopping!

OK Bob, you've got my curiosity going...WHo is Sophia and why are you not going to yell at her?

we have been back and forth on this forum about safety as it relates to eating, drinking, etc and especially about water and now she seems surprised that this is an issue even in quality hotels in bkk........?

Hmm. Interesting. I have been to many locations where one was instructed not to drink the water or use it for tooth brushing (Thailand, South Africa, Mexico, Costa Rica, etc.), but it never occurred to me, nor have I ever been told that it could cause a problem for my eyes. I have always washed my hands in tap water, with soap, and then usually dried them, before handling my contact lenses, and have never had a problem while traveling (although I have gotten the occasional eye infection at home). It's kind of strange to think about. After all, we bathe in that same tap water while we're there, and presumably we don't get skin infections... and I have a specific "travel doctor" I go to for pre-travel inoculations, meds, etc. and she has never mentioned it either despite always reminding me not to drink the water and despite the fact that she knows that I wear contacts (she always reminds me to bring extras). For that matter, the utensils and linens we use in restaurants and hotels in Thailand were presumably washed in that same tap water, and I doubt that water was boiled before they used it to wash the dishes...

I am just trying to think this through. I have never rinsed my lenses in tap water (my contacts are the kind I rinse in lens solution), nor have I ever put tap water directly into my eyes (although I'm sure the occasional drop of water has gone in my eyes while showering -- after all, one can't shower in Evian!). I try to always be careful about touching my eyes or contacts after I've been touching doorknobs, faucets, etc. in public places (e.g. on planes, in restaurants, airports, etc., even here in the U.S.).

This is food for thought. I don't want to be too OCD about it, but then again, getting an eye infection abroad would be a pain.

Hi Bob,
ok, don't yell at me. I were the one who told me precautions about food! After getting shots and armed with antibiotics, I find another danger lurking ahead :0(
Contact lenses infection!
I will let you know if I will survive this trip in best hotels! If you will not hear from me in October, that's it, I will not make it back.
Lindsey, ny name is Sophia and I communicated with rhkkmk (see above).
thanks everybody.

sophia---your trip is going to be fabulous...you will have no trouble what so ever and you will enjoy every minute....you have every possible situation covered....so...now just sit back and enjoy it...be practical and RELAX!!!!!!!

WHEN ARE YOU GOING 2006???