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Safeguard Your Eyes at the Pool
Posted by: Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute in Eye Health
Having fun at the pool or doing water aerobics this summer can be a great way to cool off from the heat. Chlorine and Saline do a great job keeping the water clean, but they can also be hard on your eyes.
Pools Are Tough on the Tear Film
Chemicals in pool water wash away the tear film, a thin layer that coats the surface of our eyes. This tear film keeps our eyes moist, smooth, and clear. Chlorine and other chemicals used to keep pool water clean can wash away the moist layer of the tear film, leaving eyes uncomfortable and red. Without fully functioning tear film protection, eyes are exposed to harmful pool chemicals and lingering bacteria. Chlorine can cause a reaction, leaving the surface and edges of your eyes red, itchy, watery, and uncomfortable. The chlorine bacteria that survive can lead to an eye infection, such as pink eye (conjunctivitis).
How to Protect Your Eyes While Having Fun at the Pool
- Wearing goggles is your best defense against eye infections while swimming. Choose a pair that fits you well and forms a protective seal over your eyes. This simple step can provide a significant level of protection, giving you a sense of security and peace of mind to fully enjoy your time in the water.
- Chlorine and Saline play a role in disinfecting swimming pools. Failure to achieve the right balance can lead to eye irritation with burning, stinging, dryness, and redness. Another reason why protecting your eyes with goggles is so essential. The optimal pH balance for a swimming pool is approximately 7.4, which matches the pH of the human eye.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes while outside but, most importantly, around a pool from overexposure to UV rays and discomfort from intense light. This will give you a sense of reassurance and safety during your pool days.
- Staying hydrated is essential for your overall health and for keeping your eye film healthy. Drinking plenty of water can help maintain the moisture and clarity of your eyes, so make sure to keep a water bottle handy during your pool days. By staying hydrated, you are taking a proactive step in protecting your eyes.
- If you wear contacts, ditch the lenses. Wearing contact lenses in any type of water, including a pool, hot tub, ocean, or lake, puts you at high risk for corneal infection. Bacteria can grow on the lenses even after just one swim.
After a long day at the pool, if your once-clear view of a fun summer pool day becomes blurry or foggy, try flushing your eyes with a cool eye rinse or using saline eye drops for quick relief. If you have questions or want advice on eye drops, don’t hesitate to contact our office. We are here to support you and provide the best advice for your eye health.
References: American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association. This blog provides information and discussion about eye health and related subjects. The content provided within this blog and any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered medical advice. If the reader or any person has a medical concern, they should consult with an appropriately licensed physician.
