Dealing with chlorine exposure: What to do when chlorine gets in your eyes

Did you remember your towel? Check. Sunscreen? Check? Floaties? Check. Wait, what are you doing with your contacts still in your eyes? Can you wear contacts in a swimming pool? Contrary to what some may think, contacts are not like little-bitty goggles that protect your eyes.

Understanding chlorine exposure and eye irritation 

Chlorine does a lot more than just make your friend Nancy's blonde hair turn green in the summer. It kills germs and other invisible critters that try to live in your pool water. 

Overview of chlorine in swimming pools 

The difference between crystal clear pool water and green, sludgy lake water is chlorine.

Chlorine kills microbes, especially algae, so the water stays clear. However, it doesn't kill all of them. It just keeps them in check.

Effects of chlorine on contact lenses 

Chlorine is bad for your lenses, very bad. For one thing, soft contact lenses are porous, allowing chlorine to get absorbed into them, but that's not the only way chlorine affects contact lenses.

Chlorine can also get trapped between the lenses and your eyes. Trust us; you don't want chlorine sitting right on your eyeball.

Chlorine also breaks down your natural tear film, making your eyes dryer, more prone to irritation, and at greater risk of bacterial infection.

Can you swim with contact lenses? 

Of course, you "can" swim with contact lenses if we're going to be technical. Meaning there isn't some supernatural force that prevents you from getting into the pool while wearing your contacts (unless there's something you're not telling us). So, the real question is, should you wear contacts in a swimming pool?

Risks of swimming with contact lenses 

Besides irritation from chemicals, the real risk is the same reason you shouldn't expose your contacts to any water. No matter how much chlorine is in the pool, teeny-tiny nasties in the water can still get into your eyes and contaminate your lenses.

Tips for safely swimming with contacts 

The only safe way to swim with contact lenses (besides NOT swimming with contact lenses) is to wear tight-fitting goggles that can minimize, or possibly even eliminate, the exposure of your lenses to pool water. As a matter of fact, there are even prescription goggles available, so you don't even need to wear your contacts. Who knew? (Well, we did. Now you do.)

What to do when chlorine gets in your eyes 

Okay, so you got all excited and jumped in the pool with your contacts in before you read this. Your flamingo raft was calling you. We get it. So, now what?

Immediate steps for chlorine exposure 

Step one: Immediately remove your eyeball. You ruined it, and there's no going back. 

Just kidding. You just need to remove chlorine from your eyes as quickly as possible to minimize irritation. So here are the real steps:

1. Remove your contacts: Remember what we said about your contacts absorbing chlorine? Yeah, you want to take them out right away.
2. Rinse your eyes with non-chlorinated water: If all you have around is the garden hose or bottled water, you can make do with that for starters. However, sterile saline solution is even better (you carry that around with you, right?). 
3. Use rewetting drops: A few drops of artificial tears should do the trick. 
4. Use a cold compress to reduce inflammation: You can use a wet cloth, cucumber slices, or chilled wet tea bags to place on your eyelids (while your eyes are closed, of course).
5. Decontaminate your lenses: Soak your lenses for a full 24 hours in contact lens solution before wearing them again. If you're wearing daily disposables, you can just throw them away and put in new ones. Easy-peasy.

Seeking medical attention 

Although your eyes might be red and irritated temporarily, they should clear up within a few days. You should get them looked at if you experience eye pain, the redness seems to be getting worse, or there is any discharge, swelling, or issue with your vision.

Chlorine and contacts: A dubious friendship or foes for life?

While nobody's going to physically prevent you from swimming in a chlorinated pool with contacts, it's still a bad idea. Opt for water-tight goggles to protect your eyes when swimming with contacts, or better yet, leave your contacts soaking in their solution while you enjoy the pool.

Keep your summers fun by minimizing eye irritation from chlorine in pool water. Be sure to rinse out your eyes after swimming to reduce dryness and irritation when you put in your lenses later.

If you like the idea of online eye exams or never running out of contacts, check out our coupons and promo codes.

FAQs 

How can I protect my eyes while swimming in chlorinated water? 

Wear tight-fitting goggles to minimize exposure to chlorine. 

Is it safe to wear daily disposable contacts while swimming? 

No, because chlorine and microbes can get trapped under your lens while you're swimming.

What should I do if I experience prolonged eye irritation after swimming?

Seek medical attention if your eye irritation doesn't resolve after a few days after trying home remedies.