If you’re wearing contacts, take them out first. However, keep in mind that you should never swim with contacts in, since they can trap irritants and bacteria against your eyes. [3] X Expert Source Mark Cannon, ODBoard Certified Optometrist Expert Interview. 24 August 2020. While flushing your eyes probably won’t provide immediate relief, it’s an important first step, since your eyes will stay irritated as long as they have residue in them. Cool water may help the inflammation go down, but warm water is also fine to use if you prefer it.
Keep a small bottle of saline solution in your beach or pool bag so you have it on hand when you need it.
Stay away from medicated eyedrops formulated to treat red eye, since these can dry your eyes out and make the irritation worse. Adding a couple drops of artificial tears to your eyes before you start swimming can help keep them from drying out in the first place. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Opthamologists Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research Go to source
Milk may work by balancing the pH of your eyes or soothing them with a protective coating of protein. [8] X Research source If you experience further irritation after using milk, rinse your eyes with water to remove it. While there’s not a lot of formal research about the risks of putting milk in your eyes, some doctors warn that it could be unsafe because milk isn’t sterile. [9] X Research source
If the washcloth gets warm before your eyes feel better, wet it again with cool water and repeat. You can also wrap an ice pack in a clean, lint-free cloth if you prefer a colder compress. To avoid spreading germs, don’t share the washcloth or ice pack with anyone else until you’ve had a chance to wash it.
While tea is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, there’s no evidence that it works better for relieving irritated eyes than plain water. However, because of their size, shape, and absorbent properties, teabags make great eye compresses![13] X Research source
Like tea, cucumber contains phytochemicals that might help ease irritation and inflammation. [15] X Research source Plus, refrigerated cucumber slices are cold, moist, and fit nicely over your eyes, making them excellent natural cold compresses. If you don’t have a cucumber on hand, some DIY health and beauty gurus recommend using cold, raw potato slices instead. [16] X Research source Rinse your eye area when you’re done to wash away any grainy residue.
If you need glasses or contacts to see well, look into getting prescription goggles as a safe alternative to use while swimming. [18] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Opthamologists Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research Go to source Swimming with your contacts in puts you at risk of developing a serious eye infection. An infection in your cornea can eventually cause permanent damage to your vision. If you forget to take out your contacts before you swim, don’t panic! Take them out immediately after you’re done, then soak them in contact solution for a full 24 hours to remove contaminants. [19] X Research source If your lenses are single-use, throw them away and start using a new pair. [20] X Research source
Make sure you use goggles that fit well. They should fit snugly around your eyes so that water doesn’t seep in while you’re swimming. If you can’t stand goggles, try to keep your eyes closed as much as possible while you’re underwater. If you have children, encourage them to wear goggles as well to keep their eyes healthy.
The pool has a strong chemical smell (or any other type of smell) The water looks cloudy instead of clear You don’t hear any cleaning equipment, such as pumps and filters, operating in the pool The pool feels slippery or sticky instead of clean
Only swim in natural bodies of water that have been deemed safe for swimming; avoid areas that have a “no swimming” policy. Avoid swimming in lakes or rivers that are contaminated with pollution. Avoid swimming in lakes or ponds that seem stagnant. Don’t swim in water that’s cloudy or green in color. Avoid swimming in lakes that have lots of algae. They could contain cyanobacteria, which can irritate your eyes or make you ill. [24] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Avoid swimming in lakes near pastures or farmland or lakes with pipes draining into them, since they could be contaminated by E. coli.
E. coli is often used as an indicator for water that can irritate your eyes or make you sick, since other pathogens can be hard to detect. If this type of bacteria is present in certain quantities, there is typically a higher probability that other pathogens will be present as well. In some areas, you may be able to buy an inexpensive test kit from your local Department of Health.
