If you have plans to go for a summertime swim, the last thing you want to think about is ‘how clean is this water?’. However, pools can carry bacteria that can lead to skin and eye infections if they’re not treated correctly. Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a common eye infection that is caused by bacteria or viruses entering the eye and leading to an infection. Its symptoms can be painful, and often require medical care to treat effectively. If you or your child are experiencing eye pain after a day in the pool, you should seek immediate medical care for treatment. Early intervention will help prevent severe symptoms.
At AFC Urgent Care Chestnut Hill, our walk-in clinic offers same-day eye infection treatment for patients of all ages! We’re open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. Simply walk into the clinic for same-day care today, or save a spot online in advance below.
Understanding the Link Between Eye Infections and Pool Water
Our eyes are a very fragile ecosystem. Irritation, usually caused by debris entering the eye, can cause inflammation, blurred vision, swelling, or even an infection to form. Pool water is treated with chemicals to sanitize the water. Exposure to chlorine and other chemicals used in pools can cause short term inflammation if you open your eyes underwater. If the water is dirty and hasn’t been appropriately cycled, dirty pool water can expose your eyes to bacteria and viruses which can lead to an infection if you get pool water in your eyes.
Eye Infection vs Eye Irritation Symptoms
If you are left with a red and irritated eye after swimming in a pool, you may automatically assume that you have an eye infection. However, exposure to pool chemicals can cause temporary irritation to the eye. Eye irritation may include pain in the eye, swelling, and blurred vision. This irritation will likely go away within a few hours. An eye infection, however, will continue to worsen over time. You may feel like you have something in your eye at first, however the discomfort will continue to increase until you treat the infection.
Pink Eye Diagnosis and Treatment
Pink eye is a common kind of eye infection that occurs when bacteria gets into the eye. It is most commonly contracted by children who don’t wash their hands and then touch their eyes. However, it can happen to anyone if your eye is exposed to bacteria or a virus. If you are experiencing increasing discomfort, redness, and swelling in your eye, you may have an eye infection. Diagnosis for pink eye usually includes your medical provider examining the eye and checking for signs of an infection. Treatment can include at-home care to stay comfortable, as well as medicated eye drops to help clear up the infection.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Chestnut Hill for Same-Day Eye Infection Care
Eye infections can be very painful. If you’re experiencing eye irritation or think you could have an eye infection after a day at the pool, you should seek medical care for proper diagnosis and treatment. Delaying care can put you at risk for developing complications from an infection. At AFC Urgent Care Chestnut Hill, our urgent care clinic in Chestnut Hill, MA, is open 7 days a week to provide rapid eye infection treatment on a walk-in basis.
We treat patients of all ages, and never require you to schedule an appointment in advance. If you’re looking for fast and affordable same-day care, you can rely on AFC Urgent Care Chesnut Hill! We work with most medical insurance plans, and we offer competitive rates for self-paying patients. To learn more, visit the clinic today for same-day treatment, or give our team a call at (617) 582-2200.
