Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
VH

Our Location

(707) 206-0290

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • Insurance and Payments
  • About Us
    • Meet the Optometrist
  • Eyecare Services
    • Contact Lens Exams
    • Eye and Vision Exams
    • Lasik Eye Surgery
    • Hard to Fit Contacts
    • Computer Vision Treatment
    • Sports Vision
    • Sunglasses
  • Frames
    • Designer Frames
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
    • Appointment Request
  • Community Content
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletters >
  • Swimming Pool Eye Safety

Swimming Pool Eye Safety

  • Created in Newsletters

Woman swimming with goggles

How to Protect Your Eyes at the Swimming Pool

There's no better place to be than a swimming pool on a hot summer day. Although swimming is an excellent way to relax and get a little exercise, spending time in a pool could cause eye discomfort or increase your risk of an eye infection. Fortunately, you can protect your eyes by following a few simple guidelines.

Wear Swim Goggles

Chemicals used to kill bacteria in pools can irritate your eyes, making them red and itchy. Interestingly, irritation may not be caused by the chemicals alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the combination of pool chemicals and sweat, urine, feces, personal skin products, dirt, and skin cells in the water may be to blame.

When these substances mix with chlorine, irritants called chloramines are created. Chloramines can cause skin and eye irritation, coughing, nasal irritation, and wheezing. Chloramines are reduced if everyone showers before entering the pool and, of course, doesn't use the pool as a toilet.

Swim goggles also help you protect your eyes from the irritating effects of chloramines and also reduce dry eye symptoms. Make sure your goggles fit comfortably but are tight enough to prevent water from entering your eyes. If you normally wear glasses or contact lenses, prescription swim goggles, available from your optometrist, are an excellent option.

Don't Swim in Contact Lenses

Does it take you 10 minutes to find your beach towel because everything looks blurry without your contact lenses? Swimming without your contacts definitely makes locating your spot in the sun difficult. Although wearing your contact lenses in the pool might seem like a good solution, you're more likely to develop a painful eye infection if you don't remove your lenses before swimming.

Contact lenses trap water against your eye. If the water contains bacteria or micro-organisms, you could develop a serious infection that could damage your vision. Bacteria and micro-organisms can be found in pools, lakes, ponds, the ocean, or any body of water.

It's best to leave your contacts in their case when you swim. If you do wear swim goggles with your contact lenses, daily disposable lenses are the best and safest option for your eyes. Make sure the goggles fit well and don't leak. Should your contact lenses come in contact with the pool water, take them out immediately and dispose of them. If you wear reusable lenses, sure to disinfect them before using them again.

Put on a Pair of Sunglasses

Sunbathing without sunglasses can increase your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and skin cancer around your eyes. Before you head to the pool, make sure your beach bag includes sunglasses that offer 100 percent protection from Ultraviolet (UV) A and B rays. Any style of sunglasses will be helpful, but wraparound glasses offer the most protection.

Sunglasses also reduce your risk of developing photokeratitis, or sunburn of the eyes. Symptoms of photokeratitis include redness, pain, tearing, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light. Although photokeratitis symptoms usually go away on their own in a few days, wearing sunglasses is an easy way to avoid the uncomfortable condition.

If you wear goggles in the water, make sure the eyewear offers UV protection and reduces glare. When you're out of the water, wear a hat to shade your eyes, in addition to wearing sunglasses.

Do you need a new pair of sunglasses? Contact our office to schedule an appointment for an eye exam.

Sources:

American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Photokeratitis - Including Snow Blindness, 6/3/21

American Optometric Association: Pool of Knowledge: Educate Patients on Swimming and Eye Safety, 5/22/18

U.S. Masters Swimming: Answers to Several Common Eye-Related Health Questions, 3/4/15

CDC: Chemical Irritation of the Eyes and Lungs, 5/15/19

  • Common Eye Conditions
    • Age-Related
    • Cognitive and Acquired
    • Vision Impairment
    • Injury & Irritation
    • Eye Lids
    • Changes in Appearance
  • Contact Lenses
  • Eye Diseases
  • Eyeglasses
    • Eyeglass Lenses
  • Eye Symptoms
  • How the Eyes Work
    • Basic Visual Skills
  • Pediatric Vision
  • Protecting Your Eyes
  • Visual Rehabilitation
  • Vision Problems
  • What is Vision Therapy
  • Vision Therapy Programs
  • We Can Help With
    • Cataracts
    • Corneal Disorders
      • Disorders
    • Glaucoma
    • Refractive Disorders
    • Adult Strabismus
    • Retinal Disorders
  • Newsletters
    • Glasses & Frames
    • Contacts
    • Tips for Healthy Eyes
    • Conditions That Affect Vision
    • Kid's Vision
    • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
    • Medical Perspectives

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you.

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Rohnert Park Office

Monday:

11:00 am-4:00 pm

Tuesday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Locations

Find us on the map

    No testimonials found. Please add

Featured Articles

  • March Newsletter: Are Your Eyes Getting Enough Vitamin D?

    Not getting enough of a key vitamin might increase your risk of several eye diseases. ...

    Read More
  • March Newsletter: Is Your Prescription Up to Date? What You Need to Know about When and Why You should See Your Optometrist

    Not sure when you need to see the eye doctor? ...

    Read More
  • Saccadic Fixators

    This entails a wall-mounted square board with a starburst design. Along the various striations of the starburst are lighted buttons. As the buttons light up, the patient works quickly to see how many of these lit buttons they can push before they go out. The key is to keep the head still. Peripheral ...

    Read More
  • Patches

    Eye patches are used to strengthen muscle control in weak eyes. By placing a patch over the strong eye, the weaker eye is forced to do the heavy lifting. While it may be uncomfortable for the patient at first, the muscle controlling the weaker eye will become tougher and more resilient. This will allow ...

    Read More
  • Rotation Trainers

    Rotation trainers consist of a disk – with various designs – that is attached to a rod-like base. As the disk rotates, the patient is asked to perform tasks that are designed to test and enhance eye-hand coordination, space awareness, perceptual awareness and visual acuity. ...

    Read More
  • Computer Software

    Computer aided vision therapy consists of a software package designed to enhance eye tracking skills, visual thinking, processing skills and binocular vision skills. Eye teaming, focusing and tracking are not optical in nature, and problems in these areas are the result of poor eye muscles. Specialized ...

    Read More
  • Prisms

    A prism has the same cross-section across the entire length of its shape. When used in eyeglasses, they often correct abnormalities associated with nearsightedness, farsightedness and double vision. Eyeglasses, or corrective lenses, reduce or increase the size of the image based on the eyes’ ability ...

    Read More
  • February Newsletter: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month

    Do you know how age-related macular degeneration could affect your vision? ...

    Read More
  • February Newsletter: Why Dry Eye Is So Difficult to Treat

    Are dry eyes a frequent problem? Try these tips. ...

    Read More
  • January Newsletter: How to Tell if You Have Macular Degeneration

    Do you know the symptoms that may mean you have macular degeneration? ...

    Read More

Newsletter Signup

Sign up for more articles!

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map