There are those who like to see blur underwater, and those who keep their eyes closed. But between a municipal swimming pool and an isolated lake, the risks are not the same. Can we really contract a serious infection if we open our eyes underwater? Here are the answers of Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of True Medical.
A rare risk of amoeba … but which exists
Dr. Gérald Kierzek is first reassuring: the risk of contracting the famous “brain eaten amibe” is “extremely rare”. But there are more frequent risks, during swimming in summer. In particular the risk of eye infections, bacterial or parasitic:
- Bacterial conjunctivitis, for example, are not summed up with simple redness: they can cause pain, flows, blurred vision and require antibiotic treatment.
- In some pools, chlorine and especially chloramines, formed in contact with organic matter, such as sweat, urine or bodily residues also cause stubborn irritations. “”Poorly maintained swimming pools can house all kinds of bacteria and mushroom germs, as well as urine, faeces or sweat “ confirms our expert.
- Lentil carriers, on the other hand, are ideal targets for a rare but formidable infection: Keratitis in Acanthamoeba, a microscopic amoeba capable of seriously damaging the cornea. About 1 out of 50,000 lenses could be the victim after swimming in contaminated, natural or even the tap water. “”Amibes are parasites, their action is sneaky because they quickly attack the eye and are quite difficult to eradicate, some keratitis put months to cure. A patient with keratitis will present a red eye, painful with a drop in visual acuity, secondarily, but also a photophobia, that is to say intolerance to the light“The Prof. Brézin Head of the Ophthalmology Service at Cochin Hospital detailed. The more early and the better healing.”The affected patients cross a few complicated weeks, but if they consulted early enough, it is treated fairly well. Unfortunately, in the serious forms that have had time to degrade the eye significantly, consequences, such as decreased visual acuity, can remain“Also exhibits Antoine Brézin.
The risk depends on where you swim
The danger does not only come from swimming pools. Nature is full of invisible organisms that can disrupt your summer.
- In natural waters (rivers, lakes, ponds), there is the possible presence of bacteria such as leptospires, viruses (hepatitis a and e), parasites (cuparies responsible for dermatitis of the swimmer);
- In seawater, salt, sand and microorganisms can irritate your eyes. Immediate rinse with physiological serum is often recommended;
- In the pools, a blurred vision, redness and tingling can appear after a few minutes.
However, actually serious pathologies remain very uncommon.
“”Primary Amibian Meningo-Encephalitis (MEAP), caused by Amibe Naegleria Fowleri, remains an extremely rare pathology: 310 cases in 50 years in the world, and only 11 survivors“says Dr. Kierzek.”In addition, you can only contract this disease when contaminated water enters your nose. It is not transmitted by the eyes or by the mouth “.
What to remember before opening your eyes underwater
In summary, before opening your eyes underwater, it is better to know what you risk. A swim in a well -chlorinated swimming pool will often only cause temporary discomfort.
On the other hand, certain stagnant or not very clean waters can represent a real danger, especially for children and lenses.