Yes, swimming can cause dry eyes. Pool chemicals and salt water can break down the protective tear film that keeps your eyes lubricated.
With the hot weather in the UK this summer, swimming is one fun activity that many have participated in to cool down. But after spending some time in the pool, you might find your eyes to be a bit irritated, itchy, and dry. Other factors can also affect your eyes, such as windy conditions when you’re swimming outdoors.
This September it’s National Eye Health Week; a week of raising awareness of the importance of good eye health and regular eye tests. Taking place 21st - 27th September 2026, we’re getting involved with one of their seven themes for the week, dry eyes, by sharing useful information on its relation to swimming.
With expert advice from founder and optometrist, James Sutton, we take a closer look into dry eyes and what you can do to protect your eyesight.
What are dry eyes? Understanding the Symptoms and Causes
Dry eyes happen when your eyes do not produce enough tears to lubricate your eye or your tears dry up too quickly. This lack of moisture leads to your eyes feeling dry and uncomfortable.
What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
- Red and sore eyes
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
Gritty and itchy eyes
What causes dry eyes?
There are many causes of dry eyes that might be a contributing factor including:
- Lots of screen time without a break
Wearing contact lenses
Spending time in heated, windy, or air conditioned environments
You have a condition such as blepharitis
Why Do Swimmers Get Dry Eyes?
It is common for frequent swimmers to experience eye dryness. There’s a range of different factors that make their eyes more likely to dry out. Such as:
- The water breaks down the eye's natural tear film
Long exposure to salt water or chlorinated pools doesn’t give swimmers’ bodies the chance to replenish their tear film. As it doesn’t have the chance to lubricate the eyes properly, eyes can become more sensitive, irritated, and dry after you’ve left the pool.
Chlorine is used as a pool disinfectant and while it is important for pool hygiene, it is an irritant for the eyes.
Salt water also makes the eyes sting and dries them out when you're swimming in the open water.
- Weather conditions affect outdoor swimmers
When swimming in outdoor pools or in open water, it’s not just the chlorine or salt water that dries out swimmers’ eyes. Windy weather can also irritate the eyes and dry them out while you swim.
- Opening your eyes underwater
One of the main reasons to avoid opening your eyes underwater is because chlorine, salt water, and other chemicals and bacteria can irritate your sensitive tear film. This irritation and redness, also known as ‘swimmer’s eye’, can also cause your eyes to dry out along with other symptoms.
Dry Eye Relief for Swimmers: 5 Optometrist-Approved Tips
James Sutton, optometrist and founder of psg.co.uk, provides his five useful tips for swimmers to relieve their dry eyes. As a keen swimmer himself of over 50 years, James has tested all of these tips to properly look after and protect his eyesight.
1. Give your eyes a break from contact lenses
Wearing contact lenses dries your eyes out, so if you have dry eye symptoms you want to give your eyes a break from them. Switch back to wearing your glasses for a while to give your eyes a rest from contacts.
For swimming, one of the most important tips to follow is to never wear contacts when swimming. James highlights the dangers of wearing contacts in the water:
“There’s a reason why you shouldn’t wear contact lenses in the shower - water and contact lenses shouldn’t mix. In swimming pools, chemicals like chlorine affect the eyes while tap water and open water contain bacteria that can cause infections. One of the more serious infections is Acanthamoeba which can potentially cause long-term vision loss”.
2. Wear goggles that fit well
One symptom of a swimmer's eye is eye dryness and this can be reduced through protecting your eyes while you are in the water. Wearing traditional or prescription swimming goggles protects eyes from chlorinated water and salt water, helping to relieve any eye irritation.
“The best way to protect your eyes under the water is to wear goggles that fit well, that are not too tight, and which don’t leak. The goggles minimise your exposure to chlorine or salt water that can irritate your eyes initially, and make them feel dry later”.
3. Rinse your eyes after swimming
Many swimmers have experienced red and sore eyes after taking a dip. Because your eyes have been exposed to chlorinated pools or sea water, it’s best to rinse any residue away straight after your swim. James recommends swimmers to: “Rinse your eyes out with fresh water, or saline solution, to reduce any eye irritation or eye dryness”.
4. Add moisture back to your eyes
Water and even swimming conditions, such as heated pool areas or windy outdoor pools, can take their toll on your sensitive eyes. Take care of them after your swim by using lubricating eye drops to add some moisture back to your eyes. A few drops will lubricate your eyes after harsh swimming conditions to soothe and protect them.
5. Take a break from swimming
If you’re a regular swimmer, you might experience frequent eye irritation or dryness. It’s beneficial to schedule in some swimming breaks now and again to let your eyes rest and reset. Giving your eyes a break from harsh chlorine or salt water to give them time to repair.
Discover more this National Eye Health Week
If you’d like to learn more about dry eyes and other eye health topics, join the online conversation for National Eye Health Week from the 21st - 27th September 2026. Discover more resources and information from Vision Matters.
