Going Swimming? Here’s How to Keep Your Eyes Safe

As temperatures rise and people head to the pool or big bodies of water to cool off, Emma Stahr, OD, an instructor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology and pediatric optometrist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, prepares to see children and teens experiencing adverse effects that can stem from water activities.

“In any body of water, and especially in a pool, there may be chemical irritants that can agitate the eyes and may cause an allergic reaction. A lot of the time, getting red eyes after swimming is an allergic reaction,” says Stahr, who completed her fellowship training at CU Anschutz. “There are also a lot of bacteria and other microorganisms that are found in any body of water that can cause eye infections or irritation. Some people are going to be more sensitive than others.”

To help keep water activities refreshing and fun, we spoke with Stahr about common issues people should be aware of and her tips on how to protect the eyes from harm.

The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.

Before someone jumps into a pool and starts swimming, is there anything they should do to best prepare and protect their eyes?

If you’re outside swimming, you want to wear sunscreen for SPF protection, but if you're getting in the pool, it's possible that the sunscreen will get into your eyes. It’s still important to wear sunscreen, but it may be useful to bring swimming goggles as well as some artificial tears with you to the pool in case your eyes get irritated so you can rinse them out afterward.

Also, if you’re going to be around an outdoor pool on a sunny day, those ultraviolet rays will reflect off the pool. It’s important to be prepared with sun protection, such as sunglasses and a hat, to help protect your eyes.

Wearing goggles in the pool is a common recommendation, but what should you do if you don't have goggles?

My biggest recommendation is to not open your eyes underwater. Also, limit how much you’re submerging yourself underwater to try to reduce the risk of irritation or infection. Afterwards, if your eyes are irritated or if you do get water in your eyes, you can use artificial tears or a preservative-free saline solution to rinse your eyes out.

Are there certain types of swimming goggles you recommend people use?

For most people, the type of goggles you wear will not be an issue, so wear whatever fits you best. If you have an eye condition where you want to limit the pressure you place on your eyes, goggles with a larger frame may be a better option.

Should you wear contact lenses while swimming?

You really don’t want to be swimming with contact lenses, whether it's in a pool or natural body of water, because there are natural microbes that live in the water. Having contact lenses increases your risk of infection with those microbes, even if you’re wearing goggles.

The challenge is for people who have really high prescriptions who want to be able to see when they’re swimming. If you are wearing contact lenses, the best case would be to get a really good, tight-fitting pair of goggles. The other best thing to do is wear daily disposable lenses that you can throw away after swimming. That’s because with monthly contact lenses that you clean and re-wear, it’s possible those lenses might hold on to some of those microbes.

Overall, studies show the risk of infection is not terribly high because the multi-purpose solutions and cleaners are designed to be effective, but you are at a slightly higher risk with monthly lenses versus daily.

After swimming, people often rub their eyes to dry them. Are there risks associated with that?

Anytime you rub your eye, you can cause micro-traumas, which essentially disrupts the front surface of your eye. Risk of injury may be increased if you have something in your eye, as you would essentially be rubbing these particles across the front surface of your eye.

For a person who swims regularly, such as a competitive swimmer, is there a need for them to see their eye doctor more regularly?

I wouldn’t say that you need to see your eye care provider more regularly unless you’re having issues. The best thing you can do if you are a regular swimmer is to wear goggles and take care of your eyes after swimming by rinsing them with artificial tears as needed.

If you’re constantly swimming, you're essentially constantly exposing your eyes to abrasive material that’s in the water, such as disinfectants that are used to rid the water of microbes. That can cause damage to your eyes over time in terms of disrupting the front surface of the eyeball. This can lead to discomfort and risk of infection.

If a person is planning to swim deep underwater or jump off a diving board, are there any concerns about how the pressure of the water can impact their eyes?

For most of the general population, I don’t think those pressure changes to the eyes will be terribly concerning. But if you are diagnosed with glaucoma, that is something that I would recommend discussing with your eye doctor because your eye pressure goals are very individual to you.

In general, if you have concerns about your eye pressure while swimming, mention it to your eye care provider.

For people doing other activities out on the water, such as paddleboarding or kayaking, what would you like them to keep in mind?

When participating in any water sport or activity, I recommend wearing protective eyewear. Wearing sunglasses may also be a good substitute, as it can help protect you both from the sun and from physical objects.