Is it bad to open your eyes underwater?

Experts answer the question and provide tips on how to swim safely.

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an optometrist based in Los Angeles, California

Yelling, Hang on a minute!

What are the risks of opening your eyes underwater?

No matter how clean and dump the water looks, the risk is very real and very present.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Theres also a risk of getting mild corneal abrasions from floating debris, like sand.

What about swimming pools?

Not only that, but the chlorine itself can be very irritating to your eyes and cause redness.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

You never know exactly how much chlorine is in a pool.

It could be over-chlorinated or under-chlorinated, Dr. Hilal-Campo says.

Its the only way to comfortably and safely open your eyes underwater, Dr. Richardson says.

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an optometrist based in Los Angeles, California

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If youre not planning to submerge your face underwater at all, it may be okay to go goggle-free.

(More on this below!)

If you reallymustpeer underwater without goggles, aim to do it for the shortest period of time possible.

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This is what Dr. Richardson advises her clients who are surfers or who participate in water sports.

These tear drops can be bought over-the-counter at a pharmacy without a prescription.

Dr. Hilal-Campo advises using the preservative-free artificial tears once every hour, for about six hours.

The advice differs if you were wearing contacts.

What if you dont have artificial tears on handcan you just flush your eyes out with clean water?

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