It’s blurry and we struggle to see under water without our swimming goggles, we unlike marine animals are not designed to live and function under the water, we need some type of protection to help us not only see better but protect our vision.
Goggles create a pocket of air around your eyes which allow light to refract properly and enable you to see clearly. Optical prescription lens goggles are now available for those who have poor vision.
When swimming in indoor pools we try and keep pools clean and safe using chemicals (mainly chlorine), when pH levels are high the chlorine disrupts the tear film causing your eyes to become red and irritated. An ideal pH prevents algae growth. Think of that combination of lotions, perfumes, sweat, and how urine when combined with chlorine forms a chemical irritant that also causes burning and itchy eyes. Bacteria in the swimming pool can lead to conjunctivitis. Ever walked into a swimming pool with a strong chlorine odour, sometimes the chlorine we add to the pool can bond with ammonia and nitrogen in the water to form chloramines which too can irritate your eyes. If you choose to not wear swimming googles best you make sure that you are swimming in waters where the pH levels are stable, chloramines removed, and the public are showering before entering and not peeing in the swimming pool. Baby diapers are checked, children are being forced to take frequent bathroom breaks and bugs, hair, leaves and other items are all scooped out before you enter, or easier, just wear goggles.
A saltwater swimming pool might seem like a better option and it is safer, but it too still contains chlorine and other chemicals which could all lead to red, itchy, watery and chemical conjunctivitis.
A typical saltwater swimming pool contains about one-tenth of the amount of salt in ocean water. Best wear goggles whilst swimming in the ocean as a high concentration of salt can dehydrate your eyes and this can cause eye burning, stinging and redness. Wear swim goggles to protect your eyes from pathogens and other irritations, ocean water also contains bacteria, viruses and other germs that can cause eye infections.
