(I-MED Pharma)
There’s nothing like a dip in the pool on a hot summer’s day – until you’re done swimming and your eyes are red, itchy, or irritated! If you’re a frequent swimmer or even just planning summer travel and looking for some tips on how to deal with swimmer’s eye and prevent dry eyes after swimming, we’ve got you covered.
What is Swimmer’s Eye?
You’re probably familiar with the feeling of swimmer’s eye, which is the irritation your eyes can experience after swimming. Swimmer’s eye is a form of conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the conjunctiva[1], which can cause symptoms including redness or bloodshot eyes, itching, burning, stinging, blurry vision, or a gritty sensation in the eyes.
Swimmer’s eye can have one or several of certain distinct causes, including contaminants in the water, chlorine, and byproducts of the process of disinfection. The irritation can incentivize rubbing your eyes, which can lead to abrasions on the cornea or secondary infections[2]. For those who swim frequently, such as children attending regular swimming lessons, the repeated contact with the irritants and allergens in the pool may also disrupt the tear film – the outer layer of the eye that keeps them hydrated – and ultimately cause eyes to become dry[3].
Finding Relief for Swimmer’s Eye
While eye irritation and blurry vision after swimming often resolve themselves within a few hours[4], the symptoms of swimmer’s eye, and potentially of the long-term dryness that it may entail, can cause real discomfort and affect your performance and enjoyment of swimming itself. Below, you’ll some tips for preventing irritation and finding relief.
Wear Goggles
Swimming goggles are one method to help keep chemicals and irritants out of your eyes while you swim. Some research indicates wearing goggles may lead to adverse short-term effects, such as changes in intraocular pressure, which can be a concern for patients with conditions such as advanced glaucoma[5], [6]. Hygiene is also important in maintaining your goggles. If you have any reasons for concern, it would be worth speaking with your eye care professional about using them, especially if you’re a frequent swimmer. However, on the whole, they can help protect the eyes and keep them comfortable.
Keep Your Eyes Clean
When you get out of the water, rinsing your eyes straight away with clean water helps to remove chlorine and other irritants that can cause discomfort. Keeping your eyes clean helps keep them healthy, and using a solution like I-LID ‘N LASH® HOCL Cleansing Spray after swimming can also help maintain your eyelid hygiene. This cleansing and hydrating spray contains HOCl, a gentle but powerful disinfectant with strong anti-microbial properties that helps control bacterial overload and enhance the health of the lids and lashes. Eyelid wipes like I-LID ’N LASH® Wipes are another option to gently cleanse the eye area, removing debris and reducing bioburden to keep your eyes clean and healthy.
Saltwater over Traditional Chlorine
With a lower chlorine content, swimming in saltwater pools instead of traditional chlorine pools, when possible, may be one way to help lessen the adverse effects of chlorine on the eyes.
Stay Afloat by Managing your Dry Eyes after Swimming
Using a cold or a hot compress, or alternating between them[7], may be helpful in managing the discomfort of both swimmer’s eye and of symptoms of dry eye that may persist. Cold compresses can help relieve inflammation by constricting the blood vessels, while hot compresses can help improve blood flow and relax the eyes. The I-RELIEF™ Hot & Cold Therapy Eye Mask with ThermaBeads™ is a reusable eye mask for dry eyes that acts as a long-term source of both cold therapy and moist heat therapy.
Another source of relief when experiencing dry or irritated eyes is artificial tears, which help lubricate the eyes and increase comfort. When searching for the best eye drops for dry eyes after swimming, make sure you’re looking for preservative-free artificial tears, since preservatives may compromise the health of your tear film. Artificial tears like I-DROP® PUR, for mild to moderate dry eye, and I-DROP® PUR GEL, for moderate to severe dry eye, can help relieve dry eye symptoms like burning and itching after swimming in chlorine.
Keeping Your Eyes Safe & Healthy in the Water
Remove Your Contacts
Swimming with contact lenses should be avoided, as it can increase the risk of infection, irritation, and other adverse conditions[8]. If need be, explore the option of prescription goggles instead.
Pink Eye? Reconsider Swimming
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) can have a number of causes, including chemical and allergic reactions, but pink eye caused by bacteria and viruses is highly contagious. It’s a good idea to refrain from swimming with pink eye, not just to avoid infecting others, but also to avoid worsening your symptoms[9].
Recent Surgery? Consult Your Doctor
If you’ve recently undergone eye surgery, such as laser eye surgery (LASIK), make sure to consult your doctor beforehand about the recovery time needed before getting in the water. Certain procedures may only require a short recover time before swimming, but with some surgeries, swimming directly afterwards can pose serious risks to your eye health and vision[10]. It’s critical to consult your health care professional and follow their directions.
Swimming can be a wonderful, healthy way to spend your time, and taking some time to consider and take care of your eye health will help ensure you enjoy yourself without needlessly enduring irritating symptoms. If ever you experience any discomforting symptoms after swimming, especially if they are persistent, it’s worth paying a visit to your eye care professional to assess your eye health and get set up with the right tools to manage dryness and discomfort.
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[1] “Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye).” American Optometric Association, www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/conjunctivitis. Accessed 30 May 2025.
[2] Ahmad, Syed Shoeb. “Water related ocular diseases.” Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 32, no. 3, July 2018, pp. 227–233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjopt.2017.10.009.
[3] Boyd, Kierstan. “What You Should Know about Swimming and Your Eyes.” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 5 June 2018, www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/swimming-contacts-your-eyes.
[4] Rozell, Zeke. “Is It Bad to Open Your Eyes in the Pool?” All About Vision, 14 Dec. 2022, www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/swimmers-eye/.
[5] Zhang, Xu, et al. “Short-term effects of two types of goggles on intraocular pressure and anterior eye segment biometrics.” BMC Ophthalmology, vol. 22, no. 1, 12 Feb. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-022-02308-y.
[6] Ma, Kyoung Tak, et al. “The Effect of Swimming Goggles on Intraocular Pressure and Blood Flow within the Optic Nerve Head.” Yonsei Medical Journal, vol. 48, no. 5, 2007, p. 807, https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2007.48.5.807.
[7] Sharpe, Matthew R. “Swimmer’s Eye: What Is It and How to Prevent and Treat It?” SharpeVision, 28 Feb. 2022, https://sharpe-vision.com/blog/swimmers-eye-what-is-it-and-how-to-prevent-and-treat-it/.
[8] Rodrigues, Aimee. “Can You Swim with Contact Lenses?” All About Vision, 12 Jan. 2019, www.allaboutvision.com/eyewear/contact-lenses/how-to/swim-in-contacts/.
[9] Barden, Anna. “Why You Should Avoid Swimming with Pink Eye.” All About Vision, 28 Aug. 2020, www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/infections-allergies/conjunctivitis/swimming/.
[10] Porter, Daniel. “When to Resume Exercise after an Eye Surgery or Injury.” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 11 Dec. 2024, www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/resume-exercise-sports-after-eye-surgery-injury.