Red Eyes and Swimming- Causes and Prevention

Introduction

Swimming is a most common and highly liked recreational activity. Swimming in restricted areas like a common pool, which does not have proper sanitation and hygiene, can lead to many illnesses and infections. It is important to check the pools where an individual swims, test the pool, and follow pool hygiene while swimming. Eyes come in direct contact with pool water while swimming. If individuals do not wear eye protection while swimming, this can affect the eye in many ways, leading to infection, inflammation, and swelling.

What Is Swimmer’s Eye?

A swimmer's eye infection might not be an infection at all. An infection indicates that bacteria, viruses, or fungi may be involved in the inflammation. It is far more hazardous than simple eye irritation caused by chlorine from a swimming pool. The redness and irritation from the swimming pool chemicals may cause the swimmer's eye.

What Are the Symptoms of a Swimmer’s Eye?

The symptoms of a swimmer's eye are dependent on the severity of pool eyes. The most common symptoms of these eyes are redness and itchiness around the eyes. For many individuals, this is not an issue and irritation that may resolve soon. More severe symptoms require additional treatment and care. Major symptoms to look out for include:

• Stinging sensations.

• Swollen eyelids.

• Redness in eyes.

• Light sensitivity.

• Blurred vision.

• Discharge from eyes.

When the eye is red along with discharge, this may be contagious. If that is the case, it is recommended to seek immediate care from an eye specialist and to treat and diagnose the suspected infection.

What Causes a Swimmer’s Eye Infection?

Swimmer's eye infection is mainly caused by chlorine and is used to prevent bacteria and mold growth in pools and saunas. The chemical treatment of the water in the pools is designed to prevent the spread of diseases and is directly responsible for chlorine eyes. This can lead to a very dangerous infection that often results from wearing contact lenses in an under-chlorinated pool, and non-chlorinated water sources like lakes and ponds are acanthamoeba. This type of infection can lead to perforations of the cornea, multiple surgeries, and a permanent decrease in vision or some cases, even loss of vision. This condition can be hard to treat. Never wear contact lenses in lakes or ponds; that can be very dangerous.

What Are the Methods of Preventing Red Eyes After Swimming?

The following steps can be followed to prevent red eyes after swimming:

Eyewash and Drops:

1. Rinse Eyes With Cool Water to Remove Harsh Chemicals: Rinsing eyes with cool water helps cleanse them and wash away traces of chloramines which can irritate the eyes. Splashing cool water over the eyes can relieve and reduce inflammation in mild cases.

2. Using a Saline Solution to Restore Eye Moisture: When eyes are scratchy and dry, saline solution can soothe them. Saline is similar to natural tears and helps eliminate impurities and cleanses the eyes. Use drops according to instructions to soothe eyes.

3. Lubricating Eyes With Artificial Tears: Hydration is important to soothe eyes. After a rinse, lubricating eyes with 1 to 2 drops of artificial tears can soothe them. Repeating the drops once an hour for four to six hours after swimming can be beneficial.

4. Milk Can Soothe Eyes (Beware of Possible Risk):Though it is not scientifically proven, swimmers claim that a few drops of milk can help soothe them. If any irritation is felt after using it, stop the usage immediately. Milk can help in balancing the ph and soothing the protein coating. Most doctors warn about this method as this can be unsafe.

Compresses:

1. Wet Tea Bags: Tea has anti-inflammatory chemicals like polyphenols, which help reduce irritation and inflammation. Placing these soaked tea bags for over 10 minutes can benefit greatly. It has great benefits in relieving pain and irritation than plain water.

2. Cool Compresses: Cooling eyes is the best way to reduce irritation and swelling. Ice packs over the eyes can be helpful, and wet cloth compression over the eyes can also be beneficial.

3. Cucumber Slices: Cucumber slices are traditional home remedies to treat eye inflammation and irritation. This will cool and soothe eyes. Cucumber contains phytochemicals that help ease inflammation and irritation.

4. Gel Eye Mask: Gel mask can soothe eyes and help with headaches. Using this gel mask after refrigeration can give additional benefits.

Prevention:

1. Avoid Contact Lenses:Never swim with contact lenses in your eyes. These contact lenses can trap bacteria and irritants on the eye's surface. Always take out lenses before swimming. Wearing contact lenses while swimming can lead to a serious eye infection.

2. Wear Swimming Goggles: If water does not hit the eyes, the eyes can be prevented from redness and itching. This is best achieved by wearing swimming goggles. Make sure wearing tight-fit goggles is important.

3. Avoid Cloudy Water and Strong-Smelling Pools: In most cases, the strong smell of pools is due to chloramines and not chlorine. When chlorine bonds with sunscreen, sweat, saliva, urine, and other substances, they turn into chloramines that irritate the eyes. Sometimes along with a strong smell, the water may look cloudy. Avoid pools if you do not hear any cleaning equipment, pumps, or filters and if the pool feels slippery.

4. Rivers and Lakes Are Safe for Swimming: Rivers and lakes do not require any chemical treatment. This makes the water bodies natural and harmful chemical aerosols away. But do avoid swimming in these natural bodies if any contamination is detected, and avoid lakes with high algae content. Avoid swimming in water bodies near any type of industry.

5. Test the Water Before Swimming: Water testing kits are available in the market. These kits help in checking major waterborne pollutants and illnesses, mainly E.coli. This organism in water can irritate the eyes and make the individual sick. This also states that there is a high probability of other pathogens present in water.

Conclusion

Everyone loves swimming, and it is the best activity for summer. It is a fun-loving exercise with immense health benefits. Proper hygiene, care, and sanitization during this activity can help to prevent the negative consequences of swimming which can result in serious infection, illness, and health hazards. Wearing eye protection, in this case, can be very helpful in preventing serious eye infections.