Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Rinse your eyes
• Part 2 of 3: Applying a compress
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing irritation
• Tips
• Warnings

Do your eyes tend to turn red and become irritated after being in the pool? This is a reaction to the chloramines, chemicals that build up in swimming pool water when it is not properly treated with chemicals. The resulting eye irritation will eventually go away on its own, but there are ways to soothe your eyes in the meantime. If you've been swimming in seawater, you can use the same methods to make your eyes feel as good as new again.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Rinse your eyes

1. Rinse your eyes with cool water. After swimming, residue from the pool water may remain in your eyes, and rinsing with cool water will remove the traces of chloramines or other substances responsible for the irritation. Hold your face over the sink and slowly pour water from a cup into your eyes, one at a time. Dry your eyes with a soft cloth when you are done.
   • While rinsing your eyes will not provide immediate relief, it is an important first step, as your eyes will be irritated as long as there is residue in them.
   • Cool water can help reduce inflammation, but warm water is also fine if you prefer.
2. Use a saline solution to restore moisture to your eyes. If your eyes feel dry and itchy after swimming, a saline solution can help soothe them. Saline solution is essentially synthetic tear fluid, and it helps add moisture, making your eyes feel better right away. You can find standard eye drops in every drugstore. After getting out of the pool, use a few drops according to the directions on the package.
   • Keep a bottle of saline solution in your beach bag so that you have it with you when you need it.
3. Try a few drops of milk. This method of calming the eyes has no scientific basis, but many swimmers use it to care for their eyes after a long day in the pool. Use a dropper or a spoon to put a few drops of milk into your eyes. Blink your eyes a few times to remove excess milk. Milk is standard and is supposed to neutralize the chemicals from the pool water, making the pain go away.
   • Use this method at your own risk. No scientific research has been done on the effectiveness of this method or what possible side effects it may have.
   • If you notice that the irritation persists after using milk, rinse your eyes to remove it.
4. Rinse your eyes with sodium bicarbonate. This is a home remedy thought to help soothe irritated eyes. Like a milk rinse, it has not been scientifically confirmed. If you want to try this method, mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 cup of water. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and squeeze it over your eyes to rinse. Blink your eyes a few times so that they are well covered. If the irritation gets worse or doesn't go away in a few minutes, flush your eyes with clean water.
   • Be careful not to rub your eyes as baking soda can be gritty.

Part 2 of 3: Applying a compress

1. Use a cool compress. A cool compress will help reduce swelling and reduce irritation. Simply wet a washcloth with some cool water and drape it over the closed eyelids for a few minutes. The stinging will naturally become less bad on its own. If the washcloth gets warm before your eyes feel better, wet it again with cold water and repeat the procedure.
2. Put wet tea bags on your eyes. Tea has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling and irritation. Soak two tea bags in cold water, lie back and close your eyes, then put the tea bags on your eyelids. Leave the pouch there until it reaches room temperature. If your eyes are still sore, wet them again with cool water and repeat.
3. Try cucumber slices. Cool the cucumber and then cut two thick slices off. Lie down and close your eyes, then place the discs on your lids. The cool cucumber will soothe irritation to your eyes and help restore moisture to the irritated skin.
4. Use grated potato. Potato is astringent, which means it can help reduce irritation and reduce inflammation. Grate a white potato and place it on your closed eyes. Leave the potato on your eyes for about 5 minutes, then rinse it off with cool water.
5. Make a compress with aloe. Aloe is used against all kinds of inflammation and provides a soothing compress for the eyes. Stir together a teaspoon of aloe vera gel and a teaspoon of cold water. Saturate two tufts of cotton wool with the mixture. Lie down, close your eyes and put the cotton wool over your eyes. After 5-10 minutes you can remove the cotton wool and rinse your eyes.
6. Use an eye mask with gel. Gel eye masks soothe the eyes and can help with headaches. You keep them in the fridge for a source of relief when you need them. You can buy a gel eye mask online or at a drug store.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing irritation

1. Wear goggles when you go swimming. This is the best way to avoid irritating your eyes from the chloramines or sea water. If the water can't get to your eyes, they won't turn red or hurt every time you swim. By using goggles you can swim to your heart's content and keep your eyes open underwater, without having to deal with pain afterwards.
   • Make sure your goggles fit properly. It should fit snugly around your eyes so that the water doesn't seep in while you're swimming.
   • If you hate swimming goggles, try to keep your eyes closed as much as possible underwater.
   • If you have children, also encourage them to wear goggles to keep their eyes healthy.
2. Avoid swimming in swimming water that is not "healthy". Have you ever been in a pool with a strong chemical odor? Many people think they smell chlorine, but chlorine has no odor. The strong odor of ammonia is actually the smell of chloramines, which are formed when chlorine binds with sweat, sunscreen, urine, saliva, and other substances that swimmers get into the water. A pool with a strong odor is one that has not been properly treated with chlorine and other chemicals to remove all chloramines. To make sure that a pool is not very clean, pay attention to the following pointers:
   • The pool has a strong chemical odor (or any other odor)
   • The water looks cloudy instead of clear
   • You do not hear cleaning equipment, such as pumps and filters, working in the pool
   • The pool feels slippery or tacky instead of clean.
3. Also be careful when swimming in lakes and rivers. Lakes and rivers obviously do not need to be chemically treated to make them safe for swimmers. If all goes well, harmful bacteria are naturally cleaned up. However, some lakes and rivers are part of a disturbed ecosystem and can contain bacteria that can irritate your eyes.
   • Swim only in open water that has been designated as safe for swimming; avoid those areas where it is clearly marked "no swimming".
   • Do not swim in lakes and rivers contaminated by pollution.
   • Do not swim in lakes and pools with standing water. Do not swim in water full of algae or green color.
   • Avoid swimming in lakes with a lot of algae. They can contain Cyanobacteria, which can be toxic and cause eye, skin and ear irritation. If swallowed, cyanobacteria can cause stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
   • Avoid swimming in lakes near pastures or farmland, which may be contaminated by E. coli.
4. Take general steps to stay healthy while swimming. To stay healthy during and after swimming, do not open your eyes and mouth while underwater. Take a shower when you are done, and if you have an abrasion or bleeding while swimming, treat the cut or wound right away. Although the risk of serious illness is low in most swimming areas, the risks still exist and it is worth being on the lookout for.
   • See a doctor if you see signs of infection, such as patches that feel soft, red, swollen, or warm to the touch, which could be a sign of staph infection.
5. Test the water you are swimming in if you are unsure of safety. You can buy self-kits to test the quality yourself. Search online for kits that check for major forms of waterborne illness and pollutants, especially E. coli, and follow the instructions carefully to perform the test.
   • E. coli is often used as an indicator of water that can make you sick, because other pathogens are difficult to detect. If E. coli is present in certain amounts, there is a high probability that other pathogens will also be present.

Tips

• Moisten your eyes with a clean, wet towel.
• If your child is too small to bend over over the sink, wet some kitchen paper or a washcloth with warm water. Have the child hold this on each eye for a few minutes.
• Next time, wear goggles to avoid this problem.

Warnings

• Remove contact lenses and glasses before using these methods.