From the Guidelines
It's generally advisable to avoid swimming while using steroid eye drops, as swimming can wash away the medication and introduce bacteria or other contaminants to your eyes, potentially causing infection. When considering swimming with steroid eye drops, it's essential to prioritize the potential risks to your eye health. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, although focused on bacterial keratitis, highlights the importance of minimizing water contact when wearing contact lenses due to the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis and other infections. While this study does not directly address steroid eye drops, the principle of minimizing water exposure to prevent infection is relevant. Given the potential for swimming to compromise the effectiveness of steroid eye drops and increase the risk of infection, it is recommended to wait at least 20-30 minutes after applying the drops before swimming, and ideally avoid swimming altogether during your treatment period. If swimming is unavoidable, using waterproof goggles to protect your eyes and never wearing contact lenses while swimming can help mitigate some risks. After swimming, waiting at least 15 minutes before applying your next dose of eye drops ensures your eyes are completely dry. Always follow your doctor's specific instructions regarding your particular eye condition and medication regimen, as they can provide personalized advice based on your health status and the specific steroid eye drops you are using.
From the Research
Swimming with Steroid Eye Drops
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that using steroid eye drops affects swimming abilities or poses a risk while swimming.
- However, it is essential to consider the potential risks associated with steroid use, as outlined in studies 2, 3, which highlight the increased susceptibility to infections.
- The use of corticosteroids has been shown to increase the risk of infections, including opportunistic infections 2, 3.
- While the provided studies focus on systemic corticosteroid use, it is crucial to note that topical corticosteroid use, such as eye drops, may have different effects.
- Studies 4, 5, 6 discuss the use of corticosteroids in various infections, including COVID-19, and their potential impact on secondary infections and mortality.
- However, these studies do not provide direct evidence related to swimming with steroid eye drops.
- In the absence of specific research on this topic, it is difficult to provide a definitive answer regarding the safety of swimming while using steroid eye drops.