When a person is swimming in a swimming pool and opens his eyes underwater : Does that harm his eyes?

Question

If yes : Why?

Answer 1

I am a lifeguard at a pool, there are countless amounts of chemicals used in a pool, we use sodium chloride or calcium chloride, this is done to kill any bactieria and the level is kept at about 2ppm (parts per million) which is too much. We also used Carbon dioxide (liquide gas) to help regualte the ph. These are the main chemicals that are used but there are others. If these chemicals are kept at safe levels there should be any problem, at our pool we have to check them every 2 hours. Hope this answers your question

Answer 2

Not really. It only causes a stinging discomfort but it should not harm one's eyes. sodium chloride and calcium chloride is used normally of course. But I wouldn't bank on them using some other chemical to regulate the pH level. Carban dioxide is mostly used but it depends on what type of chemicals they use to purify the water. They would not add another acid when they use acids to purify the water. And only a complete moron would add a base if they already use a base to purify the water. But i suppose the water in the pools are not definitely neutral. It might be a little acidic or a little alkali, but i shouln't hurt too much to be concerned about.

Answer 3

I don't think it does, because swimming pool water contains bleaching agents, usually ClO-, since ClO- are too big to move across the cell membrane of your eye, they stay out of your eye cells. Still, it burns when you open your eyes while underwater, this is due to a higher concentration of ClO- ions outside your eye cell membranes, resulting in a lower water potential, like in a hypertonic solution, water will move out of your eye cells, dehydrating them, resulting in the burning sensation.

I hope that answers your question.

Answer 4

Assuming the water is chlorinated, opening one's eyes underwater would cause them to become dry and itchy, but causes no long-term damage. Visine is a life saver!

Answer 5

Hi. Most swimming pools use chlorine or some other anti-bacterial chemical. It will sting, but should not cause permanent damage.

Answer 6

Not if done for a brief time. Pool water has less osmotic pressure than tears, so the time should be limited. I have done it with no noticeable effects.

Answer 7

It depends: if the water is very clean, it will not harm your eyes. If the water is dirty, then microorganisms enter into your eyes.

Answer 8

i don't know, but it burns my eyes so i don't do it

Answer 9

only if there is a lot of pee in there ...