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Now that the summer has officially arrived, more and more people are heading to the pool and the lake to go swimming and cool off. There’s nothing more refreshing than swimming on a scorching hot summer day. However, if you use contact lenses, you need to be aware of how swimming with them can affect your eye health. Pools use chlorine to keep the water clean and safe for swimmers. Unfortunately, contact lens wearers can end up with two common eye issues after swimming in a chlorinated pool. Conjunctivitis (also known as Pink Eye) can affect contact lens wearers after chlorine exposure. Contact lens wearers also often times experience eye irritation and redness after swimming in a chlorinated pool. The good news is that there are a few steps you can take to avoid anything serious happening when you are swimming with your contacts. Keep reading on below to learn more.
Use Eye Drops After Swimming
If you are experiencing irritation, redness, or dry eyes after swimming with your contacts, you can use eye drops to help out. Eye drops will help to restore the tear film in your eyes and provide lubrication for comfort. It’s always a good idea to put a few eye drops into each eye if you are dealing with eye discomfort after going swimming. If you have any questions about which types of eye drops are best for contact wearers, reach out to AV Eyecare today for professional advice.
Wear Goggles
If you are going swimming with contacts, you can wear well-fitted goggles to protect your eyes from coming into direct contact with the chlorinated water. Goggles will not only keep your eyes safe from chlorine related eye issues but also allow you to see clearly while you are underwater. Look into a nice pair of goggles before you go swimming this summer to avoid eye irritation and other eye-health issues related to swimming.
Remove Lenses Before Swimming
Another great tip for going swimming if you are a contact lens wearer is to simply remove your contacts before you jump in the pool. Removing the lenses will help you avoid bacteria from getting into your eye lens and prevent serious issues from occurring. If you do plan on wearing your lenses while you are swimming, you should use your regular cleaning solution on them after you are done swimming.
Discuss Your Options with an Eye Doctor
If you have tried the tips mentioned above but are still dealing with discomfort, you can always talk to your eye doctor to learn about additional options. Swimming with contact lenses can lead to serious health problems if you aren’t careful, so it’s certainly a good idea to be cautious. Reach out to AV Eyecare today to set up an exam and talk to a professional eye doctor about swimming with contact lenses. It never hurts to talk with a professional about protecting your eyes and making your eye health a priority.
