Ahhhh summertime… it’s finally here! With temperatures warming up, work schedules cooling off, and a holiday weekend approaching it’s likely that you’re enjoying more time outdoors, possibly taking time to dip into in a pool or two. So, how can you best prevent your eyes from getting bothered by chlorine?
TRICK QUESTION! Chlorine is actually used to sanitize pool water and is NOT directly responsible for making your eyes red and itchy post-swim. In fact- the more chlorine the pool has, the less likely it is that the water will negatively affect your eyes! When you open your eyes under water, the film that usually protects your cornea from air-born bacteria gets temporarily washed away (hence, your eyes become prone to infection). What makes your eyes red, itchy, and susceptible to long-term discomfort from viral or bacterial infection (pink eye) are actually chloramines. Chloramines form when chlorine comes in contact with foreign, dirty contaminants (like sweat, urine, body oils, makeup, etc.). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommend showering with soap and water (and not peeing in the pool!) as simple ways to combat the formation of nasty chloramines.
If you wear contact lenses while swimming, it’s even more important to take extra precaution in the pool. You’re more likely to develop acanthamoeba keratitis, which can flare up if amoebas get trapped between your cornea and your contact lens. If infected, the eyes can become severely or permanently damaged. Be sure that the pool you’re swimming in has plenty of sanitizing chlorine, and, when you leave the pool, remove your contacts and rinse them with contact solution right away.
Of course, the best way to ensure clear vision both during and after your swim is to invest in a pair of tight-fitting goggles!
For more information on eye health and safety schedule an appointment to meet with one of our fabulous optometrists by clicking here or by calling (414) 727-5888.