Chlorine in swimming pools can irritate your eyes and may lead to conjunctivitis. Microbes can also get into your eyes from the swimming pool water. It’s important to know how to protect your eyes and prevent any irritation or infection.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, can spread in a swimming pool. Chlorine from the water can cause eye irritation, which may make it easier for bacteria or viruses to grow as the eye’s defenses are weakened. The chlorine itself can also cause a reaction.
Conjunctivitis happens when the conjunctiva of the eye becomes inflamed. This inflammation can make the eye’s blood vessels more noticeable and give your eyes a red appearance.
Conjunctivitis that is due to a bacteria or virus can be very contagious.
Read on to learn about the different types of conjunctivitis and how to protect your eyes when you go swimming.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis can vary depending on the cause.
Common symptoms may include
- pink or red-tinged eyes
- feeling as though there is sand or grit in your eyes
- crustiness that builds up in your eyes overnight
- itchy eyes
- watery eyes or excess tears
Some other complications include pain in the eye, sensitivity to light, blurry vision, or intense redness of the eye.
Acute conjunctivitis lasts from
Conjunctivitis can have different symptoms depending on what’s causing it.
The four types of conjunctivitis, according to the
- Viral: Discharge is typically watery. You may also have a cold or flu. This type often starts in one eye and moves to the other in a few days.
- Bacterial: Discharge typically occurs as thick pus that makes your eyelid stick together. You may also have an ear infection.
- Allergic: This type typically affects both eyes, and you may have watery, swollen eyes. Intense itching, itchy nose and throat, sneezing, and asthma can occur.
- Irritant: You may experience mucus discharge and eye watering.
The most common type of conjunctivitis is viral conjunctivitis.
Viral
Many types of viruses, including the ones that cause colds, can cause conjunctivitis. So, if you have a cold, it’s possible you may also develop pink eye.
Viruses that can lead to pink eye
- adenoviruses (this is one of the main causes)
- Rubella virus
- Rubeola virus, which causes measles
- herpesviruses, such as herpes simplex virus, VSV, Epstein-Barr
- picornaviruses, such as the coxsackievirus A24 and enterovirus 70
Learn more about adenoviral conjunctivitis.
Bacterial
Various types of bacteria can cause pink eye. Some common types of bacteria that can cause conjunctivitis
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pneumonia
- Haemophilus influenzae
This type of conjunctivitis is typically treated with antibiotics.
Allergic
This type of conjunctivitis can result from an allergic reaction. It’s not contagious but can cause your eyes to become itchy, red, and watery. You may also experience swelling of your eyelids.
Chlorine in pool water can cause this type.
Other common causes include:
- pollen
- animals
- cigarette smoke
- car fumes
Irritant
Irritant conjunctivitis happens when something comes into contact with your eye.
This can be due to things like a loose eyelash or shampoo. Chlorine in swimming pool water can also irritate the eye.
This type of conjunctivitis usually goes away once the cause of irritation is removed.
Microbes may survive in pool water even though it has had chlorine added to it. The chlorine itself can also irritate your eyes and cause conjunctivitis. This is known as the “swimmer’s eye.”
If you wear contact lenses, you may be more likely to get an eye infection from the swimming pool.
This is because contact lenses can hold water directly against your eye. This means that any microbes will have prolonged contact with your eye.
It is best to avoid swimming in contacts. You can use goggles with correction instead. Or, if you do wear them, make sure to replace them after swimming.
You should avoid swimming if you have conjunctivitis as it may worsen your symptoms and risk transmitting the condition to others if it is due to an infection.
If you have conjunctivitis that is due to an allergy or an irritant, the pool water may irritate your eyes further. Though, this type of conjunctivitis is not infectious.
If your pink eye is due to an infection — that is, a microbe such as a bacteria or virus — as well as irritating your eyes further, the condition can spread to others via the water if you go swimming.
To protect your eyes from irritation from pool water, you may want to wear goggles. It’s also a good idea to take out your contact lenses before you go swimming.
After swimming, make sure to wash your eyes with clean water.
To help stop the spread of infectious pink eye in swimming pools, you should avoid swimming if you have this condition.
To prevent the possibility of contracting conjunctivitis, make sure to wash your hands often. You can use hand sanitizer with at least
If you wear contact lenses, it’s a good idea to take them out when you go swimming. You should also stop using them whilst you have an eye infection to prevent reinfection. Clean any contact lenses that you had been wearing and throw away any disposable lenses that you used.
If you touch your eye, for example, when applying treatment, make sure to wash your hands before and straight after to stop germs from getting into your eye.
Also, wash any bedding and towels regularly in hot water and avoid sharing personal items such as washcloths and makeup brushes to prevent reinfection or transmitting the condition to others.
If you have symptoms of conjunctivitis, speak with your pharmacist or doctor, who can advise you on specific treatments to help reduce symptoms and treat any infection you may have.
Common treatments include:
Antibiotic eye drops or ointments if bacteria is the cause, for example:
- moxifloxacin
- ciprofloxacin
- trimethoprim/polymyxin
You typically take these for 7 to 10 days, and they can treat a wide range of bacteria types.
If your conjunctivitis is due to irritation from the swimming pool, washing your eyes with plain water should help. Nonprescription eye drops can also help relieve symptoms.
If symptoms persist, it’s a good idea to seek medical help.
It is possible to get conjunctivitis from a swimming pool, either due to microbes or the chlorine in the water. But there are ways you can protect your eyes and reduce the risk.
Rinsing your eyes with water can help to get rid of any irritants after swimming. You can also use eye drops to reduce inflammation.
If your symptoms are due to a bacterial infection, you’ll need to get antibiotic treatments from your pharmacy or doctor.
If you have persistent irritation in your eyes and symptoms of conjunctivitis, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional who can advise you on the best course of treatment.
They can also properly diagnose your condition and help you avoid getting it again.