Eye Protection While Swimming

If you swim, you should wear swimming goggles -- they are important for everyone. Goggles do more than simply enabling you to see underwater; they also help keep pool water out of your eyes to prevent problems from chlorine and microorganisms in the water as well.

If you swim regularly, chlorine can actually eat away at the corneal surface of your eyes. That can cause everything from itchy, irritated eyes to temporary blindness.

It is never a good idea to wear contact lenses in a swimming pool without goggles. Contacts can float out and wearers are at an increased risk of eye infections when microorganisms attach themselves to the lens, creating a place for bacteria to grow.

When you are shopping for swim goggles, be sure to look for those with a good seal for water protection. If you enjoy swimming in outdoor pools in warmer months, make sure your goggles provide protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun as well.

Resources:

Learn more about ultraviolet protection, how to properly fit goggles, finding those with a proper seal, and other useful information.

Swimming is not the only activity that requires eye protection -- it is necessary for many other athletic activities as well. The American Academy of Ophthalmology provides a guide to eyewear specific to many sports.

If you swim outside, you should wear goggles that protect against ultraviolet radiation. Discover exactly what UV radiation is, and why it can damage our eyes.

October 11, 2003