August Newsletter: What Is Swimmer's Eye and How Can It Be Prevented?

Eye Doctor Pembroke Pines

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of essential eye care services and local considerations for residents of Pembroke Pines, Florida. It maps the eye care landscape across different neighborhoods, detailing service availability, including routine exams, specialized pediatric services, and insurance acceptance across Central, West, East, and South Pembroke Pines areas.

This guide provides comprehensive information on family eye care services in Pembroke Pines, FL, emphasizing the crucial link between eye health understanding and proactive local care. It systematically covers foundational concepts, including the detection of common conditions like dry eyes and myopia through comprehensive exams tailored to all ages, from pediatric to adult needs.

Optometrist in Pembroke Pines

This content provides a comprehensive guide to navigating eye care options in Pembroke Pines, FL, with a focus on family-oriented and accessible optometry services. It details the local provider landscape through a comparison table, evaluating clinics like Family Eye Site based on same-day availability, specialties (e.g., pediatric and diabetic exams), and insurance acceptance.

Eye Doctor Pembroke Pines FL

This document provides a comprehensive guide to finding and utilizing Eye Doctor Pembroke Pines FL services, specifically focusing on family-oriented optometry. It begins by mapping the local Eye Care Landscape in Pembroke Pines, comparing providers like The Family Eye Site, Pines Vision, and others based on specialty, accessibility, and pediatric care using an in-depth table.

This content provides a comprehensive guide to finding and utilizing optometry services in Pembroke Pines, FL, focusing on the needs of local families. It begins by mapping the area's eye health landscape, detailing common ocular conditions driven by regional climate and digital strain, and comparing local providers, with a specific table highlighting the comprehensive, family-focused approach of practices like The Family Eye Site.

This detailed guide provides Pembroke Pines residents with essential information about local eye care, focusing on The Family Eye Site. It begins with an 'Overview of Eye Care in Pembroke Pines Area,' including a comparison table detailing accessibility and services across key neighborhoods (Central, West, East, Southwest Pines), ensuring residents find the most convenient location.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of family vision health and optometry services in Pembroke Pines, FL, with a focus on delivering patient-centered, accessible care for local residents. It analyzes the area's eye care landscape, comparing local optometry centers and highlighting the comprehensive, family-focused approach of The Family Eye Site.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of eye care options and services available in Pembroke Pines, Florida, specifically targeting the needs of local families and residents. It begins by exploring the diverse eye care landscape, profiling major providers like The Family Eye Site, LensCrafters, and Pines Vision Center, complete with a comparative analysis of their core services, specialties, and insurance acceptance typical of Broward County.

This content provides a comprehensive guide to eye care services in Pembroke Pines, Florida, specifically targeting the local search intent for an 'Eye Center in Pembroke Pines' and 'Pembroke Pines optometrist.' It maps the local eye health landscape, detailing prevalent conditions influenced by demographics and climate, and compares local providers across key neighborhoods like Chapel Trail and Century Village using a structured table.

This content provides a comprehensive guide to obtaining high-quality and affordable eyewear in Pembroke Pines, FL, focusing on the local market landscape and the personalized services offered by Family Eye Site. It begins by outlining the competitive optical environment, comparing local providers—including major chains—with Family Eye Site to highlight differences in eye exam availability, eyewear options, and pricing for prescription glasses in Pembroke Pines FL.

Red, Irritated Eyes May Mean You Have Swimmer's Eye

Wondering why your eyes are sore and red after a day at the pool? A common condition called swimmer's eye may be to blame.

What Causes Swimmer's Eye?

Swimmers are often so eager to jump in the pool that they ignore signs asking them to shower first. In fact, 54 percent of Americans surveyed by the Water Quality & Health Council said that they don't shower before entering a pool.

Skipping the showers means that sweat, sunscreen, makeup, deodorant, and dirt mingle with chlorine creating chemical compounds called chloramines. Urinating or defecating in the pool also contributes to chloramine formation.

If you've ever noticed a strong chlorine smell when swimming, chloramines in the water were probably the reason. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that chloramines turn into gas when they come in contact with the air and create the strong odor.

Chloramines irritate the eye and cause a condition known as swimmer's eye. The problem happens when the chemicals interfere with the tear film that moisturizes and protects the eyes. Chloramines can also irritate the skin and trigger asthma attacks.

Swimmers eye may cause these symptoms:

Sore Eyes
Stinging Pain in the Eyes
Red Eyes
Dry Eyes
Blurry Vision
Sensitivity to Light
Tearing
Eye Discharge

Chlorine kills germs that can cause illnesses and infections. Unfortunately, when chloramines are present, chlorine isn't quite as effective. If you swim in a pool with chloramines, you may be more likely to develop conjunctivitis (pink eye) or other other infections. Conjunctivitis makes the eyes look red or pink and causes symptoms similar to swimmer's eye. Although swimmer's eye symptoms may get better in a few hours, conjunctivitis can last a week or longer.

Preventing Swimmer's Eye

You can reduce your risk of swimmer's eye by following these recommendations:

Hit the Showers. Take a few minutes to use the showers at the pool before entering the pool. If the pool doesn't have showers, shower at home. All About Vision suggests showering for at least one minute.
Don't Use the Pool as a Toilet. Check out the location of the restrooms when you arrive at the pool. Tell your children why it's a bad idea to pee in the pool and accompany them to the restroom as needed.
Use Lubricating Eye Drops. Eye drops or artificial tears help reduce irritation caused by chloramines. Place them in your eyes before you enter the pool and when you're finished swimming.
Try Compresses. Moist compresses can be helpful in reducing eye irritation and pain. Make a compress by wetting a washcloth with cool water. Wring out the washcloth until it's slightly damp. Put the compress over your eyes for five to 10 minutes at a time.
Wear Goggles. Goggles prevent water from touching your eyes and help you avoid swimmer's eye symptoms.
Clean Your Eyelids. Follow the American Academy of Ophthalmology's recommendation and splash clean water over your closed eyelids when you finish swimming to rinse away chlorine and other irritants.
Hydrate. Your entire body needs plenty of water, including your eyes. Bring a bottle of water to the pool and sip it throughout the day to help keep your eyes moist.
Don't Swim in Your Contacts. Wearing contact lenses may make it easier to find your way back to your towel, but contact lenses can trap germs that could cause infections. Remove your contacts before swimming, or ask your eye doctor about prescription swim goggles.
See Your Optometrist if Symptoms Persist. Let your eye doctor know if your swimmer's eye symptoms last more than a day or two or if you have severe pain or discharge or notice a change in vision.