why do I get bloodshot eyes after swimming?

Question

Everytime I spend time in the swimming pool I get blood shot eyes and also my eyes get sore as well. Sometimes I get a headache too. why is this?

Answer 1

To a certain extent it is the chlorine but also a matter of the pH level being a bit high or that you just may be a little more sensitive to the chlorinated water, period. If the water is over-chlorinated, say more than 1.4 ppm, and the pH is higher than 7.3, you WILL feel the discomfort and, by the way, that will also cause the high chlorine odor around the pool as it evaporates.

Chlorine is the most economic bactericide on the market. The pH level refers to the "potential of Hydrogen" or the level of acid or alkalinity of a substance, in this case chlorinated water. There are chemicals normally used to control these, like "pH-Minus" to lower the pH level or "Soda Ash" (same as baking soda) to raise the pH level.

The slightly alkaline level potentiates the effects of the chlorine. Try this at home while using rubber gloves to protect your hands: take a half cup of baking soda (same chemical used in swimming pools to raise the pH) and mix it in a gallon of hot water and add one cup of bleach (it's only about 5-7% hydrochloride) and carefully scrub some of this mixture on those dark green/black spots on the cement of the homes, let it stand for 3-4 minutes and hose away. You'll see how effective it is as opposed to just bleach alone. Use this solution to clean the tiles in your bathroom and you'll see that they stay clean for about 7 months! (Careful when you do this; open the windows and put a fan to blow OUT... the fumes are strong and can irritate your throat and mucous membranes in your nose, and be sure to wear gloves and do not let the mixture come in contact with your skin or it will irritate or burn; it it does, flush it with cold water). Use this once a month in your sink/basin/tub drains to rid it of the gunk that builds up!

The pH is kept slightly alkaline to inhibit algae and fungus growth which can harbor bacterial growth, cause slippery surfaces (someone can slip and get injured) and cause bad odors. Also, if it were left to drop to the acidic side, it would likewise burn the eyes and discolor bathing suits and start eroding metal parts of the pool (pipes, machinery like the pump, filter bed, etc).

The pH must also be kept slightly alkaline for purposes of keeping the water clear (not just by eliminating algae) by helping build a "floc" when combined with the aluminum sulfate ("alum") in the filter bed that is beneficial in helping to trap minute matter that would otherwise escape the filter bed and remain suspended in the water, thus causing cloudiness.

Your best bet is to find out what the chlorine and pH levels are and if these are higher than I indicated above, use goggles; over-chlorinating and keeping a very high pH level is a waste of expensive chemicals but you can't tell those employed in pool maintenance anything or they're easily offended since it's easier to dump chemicals and walk away for a few hours than have to check the chemical levels every two hours (as all health codes require).

If your eyes DO get red, flush your eyes every few minutes with cold, drinking water. It will cause the redness to go away by making the capillaries shrink and by flushing the eyes free of the irritating chemicals. Do not use more chemicals (like Clear Eyes, Visine, Murine, etc) on eyes that are irritated by chemicals. Just flush with drinking cold drinking water and stay out of the sun. Use goggles or stay out of the water if the discomfort is too great for you.

Answer 2

If you're swimming without wearing goggles, then the chlorine in the swimming pool water will be affecting your eyes in a negative way - it doesn't cause permanent damage, but they'll probably start to hurt if you're in the water for too long, and it certainly makes your eyes go red because it's is a powerful oxidant and is used in bleaching and disinfectants.

Wikipedia has the following statement which might help you; "Strong oxidising agents are often used, especially simple chlorine compounds such as sodium hypochlorite. Other disinfectants include bromine compounds and ozone generated on site by passing an electrical discharge through oxygen or air. Chlorine may be supplied in the form of sodium hypochlorite solution, powdered calcium hypochlorite ("cal hypo"), cyanurated chlorine compounds (so called "stabilized" chlorine), or by dissolving chlorine gas directly in water. Maintaining a safe concentration of disinfectant is critically important in assuring the safety and health of swimming pool users. When any of these pool chemicals are used, it is very important to keep the pH of the pool in the range 7.2 to 7.6; higher pH drastically reduces the sanitizing power of the chlorine due to reduced ORP, while lower pH causes bather discomfort, especially to the eyes."

Answer 3

squirrels research is correct as well as the answers by others, the thing to note is the pH level. your eyes have a pH level very close to neutral 7.2-7.4 that is why the pH level in a public pool the operator should be very diligent in trying to maintain that level.
also note that the chlorine level should be between the range of
1.0-3.0 ppm (parts per million) any more than that is a waste and can cause swimmer discomfort. here is a hint to tell if the pool is not chemically balanced: if you smell the chlorine, it is out of balance. your eyes shouldn't be bothered by a properly balanced pool, unless you stay in the water for extended periods of time, then it doesn't matter how balanced it is, just the action of water against the eyes is going to be an irritant.

Answer 4

well in the water is chlorine and chlorine is an element that dries out that is why your skin is dried out and your hair is thick and frizzy you get a hedache probly from your eyes being irritated...chlorine dries your eyes and your body is trying to moisen them with tears that's how you have the headaches ..thats why your eyes look blood shot but really aren't...try wearing a pair of goggles and using eye drops...

Answer 5

Well take my advice used to happen to me. It's because of all the chlorine they put in water and disinfectants. It can be bad for the eyes so i suggest you get goggles and wear them all the time while swimming even though water can get into them.

Answer 6

The Chlorine is making your eyes sting. As for your headache's, it's probably due to holding your breath whilst underwater - you don't breath "normally" when swimming and this starves your body of oxygen which brings on your headache.

Answer 7

Bloodshot eyes are from the clorine in the water . I would guess that you are keeping your eyes open in the pool , not good !
Try using a mask , and see if that helps , if not you may have an allergy to the clorine and may have to stay away from the pool .

Answer 8

Yup as stated a thousand times, chlorine.

The effect in pools isn't always the same, if you don't fancy wearing goggles then I suggest that you change the location you go swimming.

Answer 9

Chlorine.

Answer 10

Chlorine.