Most children and adults frequent the swimming pool often during the summer months. Hours in the pool are fun and a great way to burn off energy, but the effects of chlorine can be harsh on our skin, hair and eyes. Practicing the following tips and understanding how chlorine affects your eye health may prove to be helpful this summer.
An easy measure is to make sure your child wears swim goggles with a proper fit. Decide if your child will be more comfortable with small socket or large socket goggles. Small socket goggles fit inside the eye socket area and fit securely while guarding against water seepage. Large socket goggles go outside the eye socket area and require rubber suction material to stay in place.
Most importantly, select a pair of swim goggles that fit your child well. Fun colors and characters can be appealing to children too.
How to relieve eyes already exposed to chlorine
If you or your child are already experiencing burning, red eyes and blurry vision, here’s how to alleviate the symptoms from chlorine exposure:
• Flush out eyes with cool water.
• Apply lubricating eye drops (this helps to restore normal tear production)
• Use cold compresses for fast relief
Some may experience burning and a gritty sensation, which is normal. Although the temporary vision problems might be alarming, normal vision usually returns to its previous state within a couple of hours. If cloudy vision persists longer than two hours, or if your child has any eye discharge, it’s time to see an eye doctor to determine whether or not an eye infection is present.
Contact lens wearers should take extra precaution
While swimming, chlorine and bacteria can get trapped beneath contact lenses if left in during a dip in the pool. Generally speaking, it is best to remove contacts prior to swimming, but if you require them, try swimming with goggles and cleaning your lenses thoroughly after getting out of the pool. You can also check with your eye doctor about daily disposable contact lenses, so you can dispose of the contact lenses immediately after swimming.
Keep checking in as we address eye safety during the summer months!
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