27 Jul Your Eyes and Underwater Sports
During summer, diving into pools and hitting the beach is a great way to take the edge off. However, participating in underwater sports directly affects your eyes’ health. Whether you want to get into a body of water for fun or professional sports, the last thing you want is an eye infection or injury. Fortunately, there are practical solutions and preventive measures you can take to protect your eyes and enjoy the water.
Wear Goggles Underwater
Contrary to misguided perception, you should wear Goggles for any underwater sports or non-sports activity. Goggles are a convenient and practical way to protect your eyes from potential contaminants and irritants in the water.
However, choose goggles that fit perfectly and create a seal on top of your eyes. You should also make sure that your goggles aren’t too tight, which might cause headaches. The best way to increase your visibility underwater is to get prescription goggles.
Eye Irritants
Whether it’s a river, ocean, lake, water park, or pool, eye irritants occur all the time. In fact, it is normal for people to come out of the water with stinging eyes. Practically, people experience chloramine burn, a compound that builds up when chlorine interacts with common contaminants like oils, urine, and dirt in the water. On the other hand, if the pool doesn’t have balanced pH levels of a pool are not balanced, then chloramine would cause mild and temporary irritation in the eyes.
Don’t Wear Contacts Underwater
Remember, wearing goggles does not 100% guarantee that people won’t get any water in their eyes. When it comes to dangerous organisms, acanthamoeba is present in the most body of water in the world. But as long as you wear goggles, you probably don’t have to worry about acanthamoeba.
However, if you’re wearing contacts underwater, acanthamoeba can cause keratitis. It is a condition that can cause severe damage to your cornea and lead to permanent blindness. But even if there are no germs in the body of water, contacts can still cause problems.
And that’s because contacts are not designed to expose your eyes to water. Typically, contacts fall out, swell up, or get tight around your cornea, causing moderate to severe irritation. So, leave your contracts behind and use goggles while enjoying an underwater sports activity.
Final Thoughts
In most cases, folks need to update their contact lens or eyeglass prescription urgently. It is crucial to understand that your eyes are in a state of change and require regular eye examination. It is the best way to ensure your existing eyeglasses or lens prescription fits the clarity and quality of your vision.
So, if you feel irritation or discomfort in the eye after diving into a body of water – seek the expertise of an ophthalmologist to detect any deterioration. And if you’re planning to participate in an underwater sports activity, get proper eyewear gear.
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We specialize in testing for different types of eye care needs. Contact us and book your appointment right now.