As enjoyable as swimming is, it is not gentle on the eyes. Particles and chemicals in the water can affect your eyes in a different way, leading to various levels of vision problems. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy swimming without risking your vision:
Don't Swim With Your Contacts
If you wear contact lenses, try as much as possible not to swim with them. The contacts can trap both bacteria and dirt particles, both of which are disastrous for your eyes. The trapped bacteria can cause eye infections while the dirt particles can cause eye irritation. In case you forgot to remove your contacts and they have been contaminated by water, remove them as soon as possible, clean, and disinfect them before using them again. If you have to swim with contacts, opt for the disposable variety that you can discard after swimming.
Wear Fitting Goggles
Apart from bacteria and dirt particles, the reflections off the water's surface are also bad for your eyes. Ultraviolet (UV) rays that form part of the reflections bouncing off the water's surface can lead to blurry vision and eye irritations. Fortunately, this is something you can easily avoid by wearing the right kind of goggles. The goggles will also reduce the risk of irritants and bacteria entering your eyes by keeping your eyes dry as you swim and blocking the UV rays that might cause eye damage.
Use Eye Drops after Swimming
The chlorine used to treat swimming pools also affects the eyes; this is why many swimmers experience dry and itchy eyes after coming out of a swimming pool. The effect is there due to the difference, in pH levels, between your tears and the pool water. The effect is minimal if the chlorine is well balanced in the pool, but this isn't always the case with all swimming pools. Drinking lots of water may help to keep your eyes moist and prevent the problem. There are also eye drops you can use immediately after coming out of the pool to keep your eyes moist.
These discussions on the effect of swimming on eye health aren't meant to scare you; rather, they are meant to educate and keep you safe. Hopefully, you won't be dealing with any swimming-related problems anytime soon. In case you do develop any eye issues, however, stop any water related activities until you can have your eyes checked by an eye doctor.