Why does chlorine hurt your eyes

What's safer for your eyes—chlorine or saltwater? Can I swim with contacts? Why do my eyes turn red? How can I soothe my eyes? Contact Contact Us. Call Member Services. Email Member Services. Non-Discrimination Statement. Notice of Privacy Practices. Patient Rights. Terms and Conditions. VSP Direct. VSP Global. Eyes of Hope. Swimming pool water is chlorinated to keep it sanitized. The chlorine helps reduce water-borne bacteria and viruses to prevent pathogens and disease from spreading.

While chlorine is a successful water sanitizer, its efficacy depends on a number of factors including how recently it was added to the water, the concentration of the chemical and how much the pool is used. When your eyes are submerged in chlorinated pool water, the tear film that usually acts as a defensive shield for your cornea is washed away. This means that your eyes are no longer protected from dirt or bacteria that are not entirely eliminated by the treated pool water.

So, swimmers can be prone to eye infections. One of the most common eye infections from swimming is conjunctivitis or pink eye, which can either be viral or bacterial. Another eye issue that often develops from contact with chlorinated water is red, irritated eyes. When your cornea dehydrates as a result of exposure to chlorine, the irritation is often accompanied by blurriness, which can result in distorted vision temporarily.

Of course, some people with more sensitive eyes might get eye irritations even at the recommended levels of chlorination, but many more people will experience eye irritation if chlorine levels are elevated.

Typical mild irritations from normal chlorine levels include redness and can be treated with artificial tears and cool compresses. This is no big deal. Moderate irritations may include a scratchy sensation while blinking and some burning while the eyes are open.

If you have a more intense reaction though, you may need to seek medical care. This is because underwater, the natural tear film that normally protects your cornea from bacteria gets washed away, which leaves your eye exposed to all of the dirt and bacteria that might be in the water.