Tap Water

[kimby2007]

Anyone know why tap water hurts dry eyes so much? Everytime I am in the shower my eyes start to burn from the tap water. I am considering wearing goggles soon but am curious to know what is exactly about water that causes the pain.

[calli66]

Tap water isn't "salty" like tears----that's why the eye rinse products are always "saline solution." It also has small amounts of chlorine in it if it's city water. Tap water hurts normal eyes, too, but dry eyes even more because they're raw to begin with---no protective tears---very vulnerable.

Here's a quote I found by searching "why are tears salty."

"Basically, tears are salty because people are salty! That might sound like a
silly answer, but it is the true answer. All cells in the body have a certain
amount of salt in them (called osmolarity). The liquids surrounding the cell
have the same amount of salt (called isotonic). If the liquid had more salt,
water would rush out of the cells the cell would shrivel up. If the liquid had
less salt, like pure water, the water would rush into the cell and the cell
would pop. So you see, it is important that body fluids have just the right
amount of salt, including tears!" (Quote by Erin Cram, Admin MadSci Network)

I tried my own explanation but I think the quote does a better job.

C

[gz9gjg]

Hello kcoffiner,

I hope you don't regularly get lots of tap water in your eyes! Municipal water systems have reduced their chlorine use in recent years, and stuff like Acanthamoeba can get in.

Good luck,

Lynne

[rubyslippers]

You should not expose your membranes to non-isotonic solutions. If you use a Neti you should be using an isotonic solution. Same is true for your eyes.

[clairvoyant]

I don't know about the whole tap water thing but maybe your problem is like mine. Periodically, my eyes will burn in the shower and I am pretty sure it is from hair, face and eye soaps. One of the dry eye books out there reccomends changing to fragerence free non-irritating face/hair products. You can also use drops before a shower.