Ever wonder what it feels like to open your eyes beneath the ocean’s surface? Whether you’re swimming along the shore or diving into deeper waters, that moment of hesitation—salt, sting, or sight—can leave you blinking in uncertainty.
In this article, we dive into the science and sensation behind seeing in saltwater. From whether it’s safe to open your eyes underwater, you’ll get clear answers to help you explore the underwater world with confidence—and your eyes wide open.
Can You Open Your Eyes Underwater?
If you’ve never done it, opening your eyes underwater can feel intimidating. Getting salt in your eye can really hurt—you’ve probably felt it before. You really can open your eyes underwater—it’s not as hard as it sounds. Although you can open your eyes underwater, You won’t see clearly, as everything will be blurry.
Your hand right in front of you will still look blurry. Opening your eyes underwater can only help you in case of grabbing a dropped item when you can spot it easily even if it’s blurry. But for snorkelers, a mask will be needed to see all the wonderful marine life clearly.
If you have to open your eyes underwater, submerge your face first, then open your eyes slowly. Pinch your nose to make the experience more comfortable so you can avoid water getting into your nose and sinuses while being submerged. Wait seconds until your eyes get comfortable in saltwater before trying to swim or dive.
In case of using contact lenses, it is recommended to open your eyes underwater, simply because you will lose them when the water enters your eyes.
Does Opening Your Eyes in Saltwater Hurt?
Opening your eyes underwater shouldn’t hurt unless you open it for very quick moments. At first, you may feel a slight sting if you have particularly sensitive eyes, but this should pass quickly.
It’s not painful to open your eyes underwater, but it usually feels uncomfortable. It’s mainly due to blurry vision and an uncovered nose. (unless your nostrils are closed), which can risk having water get into the nose and sinuses and cause you to feel uncomfortable. As a result of this, wearing a mask or goggles is very helpful when practicing water activities.
It is a fact that opening your eyes in saltwater is considered more comfortable than opening your eyes in chlorinated water (which is in swimming pools). This is because chlorinated water contains chemicals in order to keep the water sanitary for swimmers.
These chemicals result in eye stinging, especially when you open your eyes for more than a few seconds underwater. Saltwater usually stings less than pool water did if it gets in your eyes.
Is Saltwater Safe for Eyes?
You may be wondering if saltwater is safe for your eyes or not. The answer is yes, in general, it’s considered safe if saltwater gets into your eyes, and it shouldn’t result in any damage.
Because saltwater contains more salt than in your own tears, your eyes may get hurt when you open them underwater. Granted, Saline solution -which contains saltwater- is commonly used to refresh and hydrate the eyes.
Avoid keeping your eyes open underwater for an extended period, as the salt in water can dehydrate your eyes and lead them to feel uncomfortable.
Another potential risk with getting saltwater in your eyes is the bacteria that is included in the water. Bacteria can thrive in warm water or areas near sewage or runoff. The possibility of this risk is considered quite low, but ensure to rinse your eyes in fresh water after swimming, in order to get rid of any bacteria that stays in your eyes.
Another factor to keep in mind when opening your eyes in the ocean is that the salt may dry onto the skin close to your eyes.
This skin is quite sensitive and salt could irritate it and make it feel sore. This is another reason to rinse your face with fresh water after going in the ocean, which is that the salt doesn’t cause irritation when drying.
Why Can Some People Open Their Eyes Underwater While Others Can’t?
With a little bit of practice, most people can, but with sensitive eyes, forcing it to do that causes legitimate pain. Not discomfort, but pain. 8/10, which is severe enough that you will only think about how much it hurts you.
If you have less sensitive eyes, who maybe had only 1 or 2 levels of pain to push through, the reward will probably worth the effort.
