Eye Health and Swimming Pools

eye doctor in OKC
August 19, 2021
James Ashford

No summer is complete without lounging by the pool or splashing around with family and friends. Nevertheless, swimming pools can expose you to illnesses and eye health problems that you need to be aware of. Indeed, swimming in unsanitized water, even briefly, exposes you to issues like irritation and infection. To help you reduce risks and protect your family’s eyes, educate yourself on the relationship between eye health and swimming pools. And don’t hesitate to consult an eye doctor in OKC or elsewhere if you’re experiencing any swimming-related eye health issues.

Give me the facts

You may have heard terms like chlorine and pH thrown around in pool-talk, and you also may know that it is crucial to keep both at the right levels in order to kill germs. However, properly balancing them is also important for eye health.

Is chlorine safe?

Chlorine is a disinfectant that kills bacteria (like salmonella) and algae. It works by reacting with water to form an acid. Thus, the right levels of chlorine in swimming pools will reduce your risk of developing an infection. However, too much chlorine can damage the tear film on the cornea, especially in children since they have more sensitive eyes.

Chloramine is a compound that forms from chlorine. It appears when chlorine binds to human waste (sweat, bodily fluids, etc.). Swimming pools with poor ventilation and water spraying features often release chloramine into the air. In other words, if a pool is poorly maintained, waste will build up and chloramine levels will rise, typically causing a strong chemical smell. The high levels of chloramine in poorly maintained swimming pools can cause dry eyes and irritation.

What is an ideal pH level?

pH levels measure how basic or acid a liquid is. In pools and hot tubs, the right pH level can help prevent illnesses and keep summers comfortable. The pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8 in swimming pools and hot tubs. Similarly, chlorine should be at 1 ppm (part per million) in swimming pools and at 3 ppm in hot tubs and spas.

Important note: If you have a hot tub, avoid the chlorine stabilizer known as cyanuric acid. This acid binds to chlorine particles, so there is less chlorine freely available to kill bacteria. Ultimately, cyanuric acid delays the kill time of chlorine, leaving more germs in the water for longer.

What’s the most common eye health problem you should look out for in pools?

In chlorinated water, dry eyes is the most common eye problem. Chlorine saps the tear coating from your eye, causing damage like:

  • Stinging, burning and scratching.
  • Stringy mucus in or around your eyes.
  • Blurry vision and tired eyes.
  • Light sensitivity.
  • More.

If these symptoms persist, visit your eye doctor in OKC or locally to get a prescription or other treatment. You may also find that home remedies, like putting a warm washcloth over your eyes, can relieve some irritation and inflammation.

Four helpful tips to preserve eye health when swimming

To avoid the pain and irritation of dry eyes and other swimming-related problems, take note of these tips:

  1. Check chlorine and pH levels of swimming pools and hot tubs for protection against irritated or red eyes. Remember to always maintain an ideal pH and avoid pools with high levels of chloramine. Check the levels a few times a week in warmer months and twice a month in colder weather.
  2. Wear protective goggles, use eye drops and stay hydrated to help prevent dry eyes.
  3. Remove contact lenses since they can trap water and cause bacteria to grow.
  4. Rinse your eyes and face to get rid of chemical residue on your skin and eyelids.

See an eye doctor in OKC or elsewhere for your regular exam

Summertime at the pool can be fun, safe and healthy with these considerations in mind. But don’t forget that in addition to these helpful tips, seeing your eye doctor in OKC or locally for a regular check-up is the best way to support eye health. And Vision Care Direct is ready to help you afford it.

We are a doctor-owned vision plan that puts optometrists back in control while enabling affordable patient care through negotiated savings for services and materials. To learn more about how Vision Care Direct can help you and your family prioritize eye health while having fun in the summer swimming season, reach out today.

Not sure where to get started with recommending self-funded plans? Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma is pre-paid plan provider with and extensive of specialists who deliver eye care in Tulsa and nationwide with excellent value for employers and plan recipients.

Find out more about our self-funded plans and other flexible options.

GET LASIK DISCOUNT

Learn about benefits of LASIK for Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma members.

Let's Talk About You

Let us know if you have any questions or if you’d like to chat.

Popular blog posts

What Is Genetic Ophthalmology and What Does It Mean for Eye Health?

What Is Genetic Ophthalmology and What Does It Mean for Eye Health?

Genetic ophthalmology (GO) is an emerging field that could provide more effective treatment for genetic eye diseases such as glaucoma. However, GO also raises some serious concerns that should be addressed as this technology progresses. What is Genetic Ophthalmology?...

Top 5 KPIs to Track When Assessing Plan Performance and Satisfaction

Top 5 KPIs to Track When Assessing Plan Performance and Satisfaction

As a broker, you need to maintain a diverse product portfolio so you can help companies build packages adapted to their needs and budgets. Tracking these 5 key performance indicators when comparing plans will help you better identify the ones that are more likely to...

How to Get Discounts on Frames and Discontinued Lines

How to Get Discounts on Frames and Discontinued Lines

Eyewear and contact lenses are vital to the optometry field. Keeping this in mind, doctors should be aware of the purchase costs of these goods to boost their revenue. Frame reps make commissions on sales, so they’re incentivized to sell as much as possible, but are...

Designing a Modern Optometry Practice

Designing a Modern Optometry Practice

One question that optometrists should consider is, “When patients walk into your optometry office, how do you want them to feel?” Naturally, patients desire comfortable, welcoming, and modern environments, as these characteristics put them at ease. Therefore,...

November 2022: Native American Heritage Month

November 2022: Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month celebrates a rich culture and educates people about issues unique to the Native American community. It’s an opportunity to draw attention to health issues that disproportionately affect Native Americans. It’s a group that is at higher...

Top 3 Reasons to Work with Smaller Plan Providers

Top 3 Reasons to Work with Smaller Plan Providers

In the healthcare benefits industry, brokers are essential in helping small businesses find plans. Smaller companies might not have the resources or experience to do thorough research into the options available. Fortunately, there are brokers who understand that...

3 Signs It’s Time to Review and Upgrade Your Benefits Package

3 Signs It’s Time to Review and Upgrade Your Benefits Package

A routine inventory of your benefits package can tell you where you may be able to reduce spending and, equally importantly, can also ensure that it continues to meet the needs of employees. That’s why Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma recommends reviewing your benefits...

October 2022: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 2022: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You might be wondering about the link with vision health. The truth is that a simple eye exam can sometimes detect early signs of cancer. Breast cancer can result in metastasis. When cancer cells break away from the main tumor, they...

Understanding the Ins and Outs of the Vision Plans You Accept

Understanding the Ins and Outs of the Vision Plans You Accept

For eye doctors in Tulsa OK, as well as other states, a regular review of the plans you’re currently accepting, and their ins and outs, is something you should be doing. By understanding the vision plans you accept, you can better identify how you are paid and the...

Top Strategies for Helping Plan Providers Meet Their Goals

Top Strategies for Helping Plan Providers Meet Their Goals

When trying to reduce healthcare spending, employers who offer employee benefits in the state of Oklahoma, as well as anywhere else, should be aware of one fact: there are options available that don’t increase the costs to employees via high deductibles. As a broker,...

Rethinking How You Offer Value Part 3: Build Digital Connections

Rethinking How You Offer Value Part 3: Build Digital Connections

The pandemic has sped up the digital transformation. Many professionals are embracing the virtual world because they realize connections matter. We've been sharing tips about how to rethink the way you offer value as a broker who offers plans accepted by an...

eGuide: Top 10 Ways Vision Care Direct Makes a Broker’s Job Easier

eGuide: Top 10 Ways Vision Care Direct Makes a Broker’s Job Easier

Top 10 Ways eGuide - Vision Care Direct Makes a Broker’s Job EasierOur eGuide is chocked full of ways Vision Care Direct can simplify working with a vision plan.  When you quote a vision plan certainly you are looking at the price and size of the network, and so is...

FDA Says Stop Using This Eyecare Product Today

FDA Says Stop Using This Eyecare Product Today

In February 2023, the Food and Drug Administration strongly advised people to stop using Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment, citing the possibility of bacterial contamination. Citing safety issues like “lack of appropriate microbial testing" and “lack of proper...

FDA Pushes for Stronger LASIK Warnings

FDA Pushes for Stronger LASIK Warnings

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK, one of the most widely sought-after vision correction procedures, is now under scrutiny due to the potential for lasting side effects. Therefore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it is...

The Link Between Nutrition and Eye Health

The Link Between Nutrition and Eye Health

If you want to improve the overall health of your eyes, adding a few vitamins and minerals is an excellent place to start, as researchers have continued to link nutrition and eye health. According to the American Optometric Association, certain eye-friendly nutrients...

Vision FAQ: Your guide to choosing the right plan for your business

Vision FAQ: Your guide to choosing the right plan for your business

From monthly premiums to specific provider networks, shopping for a vision plan can seem intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. Choosing the vision care plan best suited for your workers involves a delicate balance of benefits and costs. Ultimately, though, a vision...

Search blog posts