Swimming and Eye Safety
How Water Affects Your Eyes
Chlorine and other pool disinfectants disrupt your tear film by causing osmotic stress on the surface of your eye. According to the AOA, pool chemicals accelerate tear evaporation and cause temporary dryness, irritation, and redness after swimming. Even people who do not wear contact lenses feel these effects.
Saltwater pools use lower chlorine concentrations but still contain enough chemicals to irritate the eye surface. If your eyes burn or sting after swimming, the chemical disruption of your tear film is the primary cause.
Lakes, rivers, oceans, and even treated pools harbor microorganisms that can infect the eye. According to the AAO, bacterial keratitis (corneal infection) risk increases with water exposure, in natural bodies of water. Acanthamoeba, a parasite found in freshwater and tap water, poses a rare but vision-threatening risk.
According to the AAO, the CDC estimates 85% of Acanthamoeba keratitis cases occur in contact lens wearers. This infection is misdiagnosed early, and delays in treatment worsen outcomes. Warm freshwater environments carry the highest risk.
Goggles with a watertight seal are the most effective way to protect your eyes while swimming. According to the AOA, they prevent pool chemicals, bacteria, and parasites from contacting your eye surface. Prescription swim goggles are available for people who need vision correction in the water.
Choose goggles that fit snugly without pressing too hard on your eye sockets. A proper seal prevents water seepage without causing discomfort during longer swims.
Contact Lenses and Swimming
The US FDA recommends that contact lenses not be exposed to any form of water, including pools, lakes, oceans, hot tubs, and showers. All major eye care professional societies agree with this guidance. Contact lenses can absorb water and trap microorganisms against your cornea, creating ideal conditions for infection.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is the most feared complication. This parasite can adhere to the lens surface and penetrate the cornea, causing severe pain, scarring, and potential vision loss.
According to the AAO, reusable contact lenses carry a higher Acanthamoeba keratitis risk than daily disposable lenses. If you swim with contacts accidentally, daily disposables can be discarded immediately after exposure. Reusable lenses that have contacted water should be thrown away, not reinserted after cleaning.
Switching to daily disposable lenses reduces your overall infection risk from water exposure. Discuss this option with your eye doctor if you swim regularly.
If you swim with contacts in accidentally, remove and discard them as soon as possible. Rinse your eyes with sterile saline or preservative-free artificial tears. Do not use tap water to rinse your eyes or lenses.
Watch for symptoms of infection over the following days: eye redness, pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, or discharge. According to the AAO, any eye symptoms after water contact with contact lens wear should be evaluated promptly by an eye care provider, as Acanthamoeba keratitis is misdiagnosed initially.
Protecting Your Eyes in Different Water Environments
Chlorinated pools are safer than natural water but still irritate the eye surface. Wear goggles to prevent chemical exposure. After swimming, rinse your closed eyelids with clean water and apply preservative-free artificial tears to help restore your tear film.
Hot tubs pose additional risk because warm water promotes bacterial and amoebic growth. The steam can also deposit chemical residue on your eyes. Avoid submerging your face in hot tubs, and remove contact lenses before entering.
Ocean water contains salt, sand, and marine microorganisms that can irritate or infect your eyes. Waves can force water into your eyes unexpectedly. Goggles provide the best protection during ocean swimming, snorkeling, and diving.
Saltwater exposure can worsen dry eye symptoms for hours after swimming. Use lubricating drops after ocean swims to help your tear film recover.
Freshwater environments carry the highest risk for Acanthamoeba because this parasite thrives in warm, still, or slow-moving freshwater. Lakes, ponds, and rivers also harbor diverse bacteria that cause keratitis. Never wear contact lenses while swimming in freshwater.
If you swim in natural freshwater, wear watertight goggles and rinse your face and eyes with clean water afterward. Report any new eye pain, redness, or blurry vision to your eye doctor within a day.
After-Swim Eye Care
After any swim, apply preservative-free artificial tears to soothe irritation and help rebuild your tear film. Blink several times to spread the drops across your eye surface. If redness and irritation persist beyond a few hours, consider using lubricating drops again before bed.
Avoid rubbing your eyes after swimming. Rubbing can push irritants or microorganisms deeper into the eye surface and worsen inflammation.
Watch for these symptoms in the hours and days after swimming: increasing redness, pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, discharge, or a sensation that something is in your eye. These can indicate bacterial keratitis, Acanthamoeba keratitis, or chemical conjunctivitis.
Seek prompt evaluation from your eye doctor if any of these symptoms develop, if you wore contact lenses in the water. Early treatment of corneal infections leads to better outcomes.
If you swim frequently, invest in well-fitting goggles and replace them when the seal degrades. Use lubricating drops before and after each swim. Consider daily disposable contact lenses if you wear contacts, and always remove them before entering any water.
Swimmers who use orthokeratology (overnight rigid lenses for vision correction) should never wear their lenses in water. Goggles are the safest option for seeing in the pool.
Swimming and Eye Safety Questions
Chlorine at standard pool concentrations does not cause permanent eye damage. It irritates the tear film and conjunctiva temporarily, causing redness and stinging that resolves within hours. Goggles prevent direct chlorine contact with your eye surface.
If you need vision correction, prescription swim goggles allow you to see underwater without the infection risk of wearing contact lenses. They are available in standard and custom prescriptions at most optical shops and sporting goods stores.
Your surgeon will give you specific guidance, but most eye procedures require you to avoid swimming for at least two weeks. LASIK, cataract surgery, and other procedures leave temporary openings in the eye surface that increase infection risk. Follow your surgeon's timeline before returning to the water.
Children who open their eyes underwater in chlorinated pools may experience temporary redness and stinging. This does not cause permanent harm, but goggles are a better option. In natural water, children should always wear goggles to reduce infection risk from bacteria and parasites.
Rinse your eye gently with clean water or sterile saline. Do not rub your eye, as this can scratch your cornea. If the gritty feeling persists after rinsing, see your eye doctor to check for a corneal abrasion.
Some swim goggles include UV-blocking lenses, which protect your eyes during outdoor swimming. Check the label before purchasing. If your goggles do not block UV, wear sunglasses between swims and limit unprotected sun exposure around water, where UV reflection is intensified.
Enjoy the Water Safely
Protect your eyes every time you swim by wearing goggles, removing contact lenses, and using lubricating drops after your session. If you notice any eye symptoms after swimming, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for evaluation.