Mr.BA From Singapore, joined Sep 2000, 3423 posts, RR: 23 Posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3985 times:
Cheers folks...
Just thought of bringing this up. I go swimming quite frequently in swimming pools and I believe they add chlorine into the water to kill the germs. However I don't wear a pair of goggles and I open my eyes in the water and after every swimming session my eyes can be a bit blurish but after a night's sleep it's ok... just wondering, are there any harmful effects when chlorine comes into contact with our eyes?
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3962 times:
Well I was a high school swimmer for two years, and rarely ever wore goggles, except during "meets". Although I had the hazy vision and burning sensastion you refer to almost daily (what with practice and all), that was 12 years ago, I can still see just fine without glasses, contacts, or surgery.
So unless you stick your face directly into a bucket of chlorine, I wouldn't be too concerned about it.
Clefan From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 299 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 3946 times:
Chlorine in its concentrated form will damage the eye. The chlorine in pool water will not damage the eye. Most of the irritation caused by swimming without goggles is because of the pH in the pool.
Redngold From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 6907 posts, RR: 51 Reply 5, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3918 times:
... and the pH of the pool is lowered because of the addition of... chlorine.
That haziness is actually caused by salt formation on your eyes by the chemical reaction of the chlorinated water with tears. Eventually it gets wiped away after a few hours of tear-cleansing. If you rinse your eyes then it may go away slightly faster, but the irritation and redness with persist just as long.
Redngold From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 6907 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 3890 times:
Seawater is more pH balanced and less corrosive overall... But depending on the beach it could have lots of bacteria in it!
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7419 posts, RR: 65 Reply 9, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 3876 times:
good answers y'all.
Use artificial tears like Refresh or Systane, afgter swimming. Both are non prescrition drops.
Visine sucks so don;t use it.
And DO NOT wear Contacts when you do swimming UNLESS they are DAILY DISPOSABLES (the kind you throw out EVERY NIGHT after you have orn them)
mirrodie, O.D.
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
Buckfifty From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 1314 posts, RR: 21 Reply 10, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 3871 times:
After swimming in h.s. for three years, I became allergic to chlorine. Everytime I go swimming in the pool now, my nose will run like crazy, and my eyes will turn beet red. Add on top of that swimmer's ear, I ain't going anywhere near water.
But no, I still see quite good. I think the PS2 has more to do with me losing vision than swimming ever did.
An-225 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 3950 posts, RR: 45 Reply 11, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 3861 times:
I go swimming quite frequently, and I don't recall a loss of vision. I do suppose that following Mirrodie's advice is even healthier than just ignoring the problem alltogether.
Alex.
Money does not bring you happiness. But it's better to cry in your own private limo than on a cold bus stop.
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7419 posts, RR: 65 Reply 12, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 3856 times:
Definity don;t IGNORE an eye health problem.
My last patient today came in saying that he's had reduced vision out of his right eye for the last 2.5 years. His last eye exam was 3 yrs ago , he says.
To make a long story short, his right eye is BLIND due to glaucoma that silently ate away his vision in that eye. Sadly, no cure exists for vision loss as of yet.
So please...it kills me when I come across MAJOR problems when they could have been treated much earlier.
but don't take my word for it... go to your family eye care provider and get a second opinion.
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
AWspicious From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3820 times:
As a side note; There's growing concern about people peeing in swimming pools. Something to do with ammonia mixing with chlorine forming a type of gas that's proving to be harmful to the respiratory system. Researchers are looking into a link between high cases of asthma sufferers and frequent swimmers.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 15, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 3802 times:
Ammonia and Chlorine......I belive that is the base chemicals for Phosgene gas. Which the combatants in World War One enjoyed shooting at each other.
In the amounts in urine and a swimming pool, I doubt that there is any threat.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
MD-90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 8418 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 3798 times:
I don't understand how you can not wear goggles if you swim laps. Although I've never tried testing the old wives tale of how your contacts can float right off your eyes if you open them underwater (I wear soft contacts). MSU's pool is filtered with ozone and bromine, not chlorine, and it's really easy on your eyes and skin (and no chlorine build up in your hair). I used to swim at a much smaller pool that used chlorine and it was bad.
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