Should You Wear Contact Lenses During the MDS? Advice from Organizers and Experienced Participants

The Marathon des Sables (MDS) is often described as the toughest footrace on Earth—and for good reason. Running through the unforgiving deserts over several days tests not just your physical endurance but also your practical preparation, including decisions around vision correction. If you typically wear soft contact lenses, you may be asking: is it safe—or even advisable—to use them during the MDS ?

Below, we share official guidance from the MDS team along with valuable firsthand experiences from previous participants to help you make the best choice.

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Official Guidance: Contact Lenses Are Not Recommended

According to the MDS organizing team, wearing contact lenses in the desert environment is generally discouraged. Here’s why:

• Hygiene is a Challenge: Without access to showers and with limited clean water, it’s difficult to maintain the level of hygiene necessary to safely insert and remove contact lenses. The risk of eye infections increases significantly.

• Sand Exposure is Unavoidable: The wind-blown desert sand easily gets into your eyes, which can be particularly painful and dangerous when wearing lenses.

As the MDS team explains:

"We do not recommend wearing contact lenses, as it can be problematic if you get sand in your eyes. Additionally, your hands may not always be clean (no showers, etc.), so it may not be very hygienic to handle contact lenses. We therefore recommend wearing glasses instead."

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What Do MDS Participants Say?

In addition to the official advice, several past participants have shared their personal experiences that strongly reinforce the recommendation to avoid contact lenses:

• One participant who normally wears contact lenses said:

  "Hello hello. I wear contact lenses but not during the MDS. Sand, dirty hands… I don’t want to risk it. I wear prescription sunglasses and at night, glasses."

• Another finisher of the MDS offered this candid reflection:

  "Having never worn lenses I’m not best to answer this but having participated in this year’s MDS I can tell you no matter how hard you try to prevent it, sand still gets everywhere. You have a permanent crunch when eating as sand is in there, and it also collects under the lower eyelid. I would expect wearing lenses is just inviting an eye infection—probably best to go with glasses to be on the safe side."

These remarks from seasoned MDS runners highlight the relentless presence of sand, even in places you’d never expect, and the high risk associated with inserting or wearing contact lenses in such conditions.

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Recommended Vision Correction Options

Given the tough environment, both organizers and experienced participants recommend:

• Prescription Glasses: Simple, safe, and easy to use without needing to touch your eyes.

• Prescription Sunglasses: Ideal for daytime to protect from sun and sand while maintaining clear vision.

• Backup Eyewear: Always bring a second pair in case of damage or loss.

This setup offers both protection and peace of mind without the hygienic and practical concerns of lenses.

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Final Thoughts

From sandstorms to sanitation, the desert environment poses significant risks to eye health that glasses can help avoid. The wisdom of those who’ve gone before you—and faced the deserts firsthand—strongly supports opting for glasses, both for day and night use.

Take their advice to heart, and give yourself one less thing to worry about in one of the world’s most demanding races.

Good luck with your MDS journey!

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