No, not while you have symptoms: the CDC's advice for people with pink eye is plain, "Do not use swimming pools." Viral and bacterial pink eye are very contagious, and the CDC says some eye-infecting viruses can spread in pools that don't have enough chlorine. Goggles are not a way around this rule, and if you wear contacts, the FDA and CDC say to keep them out of all water, pink eye or not.
Why does the CDC say not to swim with pink eye?
The CDC's pink eye prevention page lists "Do not use swimming pools" as one of the steps to reduce the risk of spreading pink eye to others. It sits next to washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and washing towels and pillowcases in hot water.
The reason is spread. The CDC says viral and bacterial pink eye are very contagious and can spread easily from person to person. A pool day also tends to come with shared towels, goggles, changing rooms and close contact, and the CDC says not to share towels or eye and face makeup with someone who has pink eye.
- Viral or bacterial pink eye: stay out of the pool while you have symptoms
- Don't share: towels, washcloths, eye drops, eye makeup or eyewear such as goggles
- Wash your hands: soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after touching your eyes
Can pink eye actually spread through pool water?
It can, though it is not the most common route. The CDC says adenoviruses, a common cause of viral pink eye, can spread through water such as swimming pools without enough chlorine, or lakes, but that this is less common. Adenoviruses usually spread through close contact, coughs and sneezes, and touching a surface with the virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
The CDC says keeping enough chlorine in pools is important to prevent outbreaks of pink eye caused by adenoviruses. As a swimmer, you can't check the chlorine level yourself, and lakes aren't chlorinated. So the safe move is the same either way: wait until your eyes are better.
Won't the chlorine kill it, or will goggles protect other people?
Don't count on either. The CDC's advice to skip pools while you have pink eye has no exception for chlorinated pools or for wearing goggles. The germs usually spread through close contact, unwashed hands and shared items, and goggles do nothing about those.
Pool chemicals can also irritate your eyes on their own. The CDC explains that when chlorine mixes with sweat, pee, dirt, skin cells, deodorant and makeup from swimmers, it forms irritants called chloramines that can cause red, itchy eyes. A strong "chlorine" smell usually means chloramines. If your eyes are already inflamed, that extra irritation can make it harder to tell whether your pink eye is getting better.
I wear contacts. What's the rule for water?
Two separate rules apply. First, for pink eye, the CDC says to stop wearing contacts until your eye doctor says it's okay, or, if you didn't see a doctor, until your symptoms are gone.
Second, even with healthy eyes, the FDA says not to expose contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean. It says to take your lenses out before swimming, because pool water, hot tubs, lakes and the ocean carry a risk of eye infection. The CDC adds that tap water, lake water and other water can carry an ameba called Acanthamoeba, which causes a painful infection that is hard to treat and can lead to a corneal transplant or blindness.
If water touches your lenses, the CDC says to take them out as soon as possible, then throw them away or clean and disinfect them overnight before wearing them again. If you need to see well in the water, the CDC says prescription goggles may be a good option once your pink eye has cleared.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911See a clinician the same day if you have pink eye with eye pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision that doesn't clear when you wipe away discharge, or intense redness. The CDC lists all of these as reasons to see a healthcare provider.
Get checked if symptoms get worse or don't improve, if bacterial pink eye isn't better after 24 hours of antibiotics, or if you have a weakened immune system.
If you wear contacts and your eye becomes painful, very red, blurry or light-sensitive, take the lenses out, keep them in their case, and contact your eye care professional right away, as the FDA advises.
A newborn with pink eye symptoms should be seen by a doctor right away, per the CDC.
Call 911 for an eye injury or a chemical splash in the eye with severe pain or sudden loss of vision.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›When can I swim again?
The CDC doesn't give a set number of days for pools. A sensible line is the same one the CDC uses for contacts: wait until your symptoms are gone, or until your clinician says you're clear.
For timing, the CDC says viral pink eye usually clears in 7 to 14 days without treatment, though some cases take 2 to 3 weeks or longer. Bacterial pink eye usually clears in 2 to 5 days without treatment but can take up to 2 weeks. Antibiotics don't help viral pink eye. For bacterial pink eye, antibiotics may shorten the infection and help prevent spread.
If your red eyes came from allergies, the CDC lists only viral and bacterial pink eye as very contagious. Pool chemicals may still irritate sore eyes, so it's fine to wait until they settle.
Common questions
Can I swim with pink eye?
Not while you have symptoms. The CDC's advice for people with pink eye is "Do not use swimming pools," because viral and bacterial pink eye are very contagious. Wait until your eyes are better.
Can I swim with pink eye if I wear goggles?
The CDC makes no exception for goggles. Pink eye germs usually spread through close contact, unwashed hands and shared items like towels, which goggles don't stop. Wait until your symptoms are gone.
Can you catch pink eye from a swimming pool?
It's possible but less common than catching it from a person. The CDC says adenoviruses can spread in pools without enough chlorine, or in lakes, and that keeping enough chlorine in pools helps prevent pink eye outbreaks.
Why are my eyes red after swimming?
Often it's pool chemicals, not an infection. The CDC says chlorine mixes with sweat, pee and dirt to form chloramines, which cause red, itchy eyes. If redness lasts, comes with discharge, or you have pain or light sensitivity, get it checked.
Can I swim in my contacts after pink eye clears?
The FDA says to take contacts out before swimming every time, because pool, lake and ocean water can cause eye infections. If water gets on your lenses, the CDC says to throw them away or disinfect them overnight. Prescription goggles are an option.
Can my child go to swim lessons with pink eye?
Not while they have symptoms. The same CDC advice applies to kids: no pools while they have pink eye, and no sharing towels, washcloths or eyewear such as goggles. Newborns with pink eye symptoms need to see a doctor right away.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.