Swimming Might Be Making Your Eye Floaters Worse
It was a sunny afternoon when I dove into the local pool after a long week of screen time and squinting at spreadsheets. I was just looking for relief and a bit of exercise, but what I noticed after swimming caught me off guard—those pesky little floaters in my vision seemed… more active. If you’ve ever finished a swim and seen tiny specs or cobweb-like lines drifting around your field of vision, you’re not alone. Turns out, swimming might have more of an effect on your eye floaters than you’d think.
Can Swimming Really Make Eye Floaters Worse?
So, let’s get straight to the point: can your favorite low-impact workout stir up those floating squiggles? Absolutely—at least temporarily. While swimming doesn’t directly cause floaters, it can make existing ones more noticeable. Here’s why.
Pressure and Movement in Water
When you’re swimming, especially diving or doing flips, your head moves quickly and with force. This movement can shift the vitreous humor in your eye—the gel-like substance that gives it shape. Floaters are actually clumps or strands within this vitreous, and all that motion can cause them to move around more aggressively, making them easier to see.
Temperature Fluctuations
Going from hot to cold, like jumping into a chilly pool on a warm day, can cause blood vessels to react. This might increase awareness of visual disturbances like floaters. It’s similar to how migraines can trigger visual auras.
Goggles and Eye Pressure
Here’s a surprising one—tight swimming goggles. They can slightly increase pressure around the eyes, which might temporarily shift the vitreous or alter how floaters appear. I used to tighten mine too much before a lap swim and noticed floaters swirling as soon as I took them off. It wasn’t dangerous, but definitely annoying.
- Sudden eye movement → floaters shift into view
- Water impact or pressure changes → increased awareness
- Bright pool lights → higher floater visibility
Why Chlorine and Pool Chemicals Might Be a Bigger Deal
If you’re swimming in a public pool, you’re dealing with chlorine—lots of it. Chlorine is known to irritate the eyes, especially the cornea. That irritation can lead to increased blinking and rubbing, both of which can aggravate floaters indirectly.
Chlorine and Eye Rubbing
Rubbing your eyes after swimming is a common reflex. But here’s the issue: excessive eye rubbing has been linked to worsening eye floaters. The pressure you put on your eyeball can move the vitreous around more than you’d expect, especially if you’re already experiencing posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).
Inflammation and Floaters
Some people are more sensitive to pool chemicals, especially those with mild underlying eye inflammation. That reaction can worsen floater visibility. According to American Academy of Ophthalmology, any kind of eye irritation—even mild allergic responses—can increase awareness of vitreous issues.
- Chlorine dries and irritates the eye surface
- Rubbing from irritation increases vitreous disruption
- Sensitive eyes = more noticeable floaters post-swim
Saltwater vs. Chlorinated Pools: Which Is Better for Eye Floaters?
Saltwater pools might sound like the better alternative, and in many ways, they are. They’re less harsh on the eyes, meaning less irritation and lower risk of rubbing. But keep in mind—they’re still pools. Sudden water pressure and underwater flips can still stir up floaters.
My Own Experience
I personally noticed fewer problems with floaters when switching to a saltwater pool. The reduced eye sting made me less likely to rub my eyes post-swim, and that alone helped. Of course, floaters didn’t go away, but they weren’t as prominent.
For those with sensitive eyes or a history of eye floaters, understanding when floaters signal a deeper issue is key. You don’t want to ignore sudden increases, especially after activities like swimming or diving.
Should You Avoid Swimming If You Have Eye Floaters?
In most cases, there’s no reason to stop swimming. But being smart about it helps. Wear UV-protective goggles, avoid over-tightening straps, rinse your eyes after pool exposure, and skip the eye rubbing. If you’re noticing persistent changes in your floaters, it’s time to read up on PVD causes and talk to your eye care provider.
Also, if you’ve had LASIK or other eye procedures, swimming could increase your risk of more visible floaters. Here’s an excellent resource that dives deeper: do floaters get worse after cataract surgery?
For a comprehensive overview of common causes, you can check out our full guide to eye floater causes as well as our main article on eye floaters.
#LNF
Camellia Wulansari is a dedicated Medical Assistant at a local clinic and a passionate health writer at Healthusias.com. With years of hands-on experience in patient care and a deep interest in preventive medicine, she bridges the gap between clinical knowledge and accessible health information. Camellia specializes in writing about digestive health, chronic conditions like GERD and hypertension, respiratory issues, and autoimmune diseases, aiming to empower readers with practical, easy-to-understand insights. When she’s not assisting patients or writing, you’ll find her enjoying quiet mornings with coffee and a medical journal in hand—or jamming to her favorite metal band, Lamb of God.
