As the title says, whenever I kite in very warm ocean waters my eyes not only turn red but they start itching like crazy. Typically I can survive the first session by keeping my eyes shut whenever I'm under water. But I often need to cut the 2nd session short because it becomes unbearable.
I'd really like to understand why this is only an issue in very warm ocean water. Does anybody else have the same issue and what do you do about it? I do wear Spex goggles which help a bit (better than Seaspecs or Kurtis goggles IMHO). Still, I'd love to spend more time on the water.
Some examples:
Californian Coast, 10-17 ˚C: no issues
Maui or Oahu, 27 ˚C: itchy red eyes
Northeastern Brazil, 28 ˚C: itchy red eyes
Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
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StillLovinIt
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touffegong
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
Maybe because of the sun ? Like when you ride at the sunset ?
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Flyboy
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
My suggestion: it's possible that there's something in the water that you're allergic to. Whatever that something is, may not be present in the colder water.
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Eduardo
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
sunblock on your face getting into eyes? or allergy sensitivity to bright light?
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Hugh2
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
If it is an allergy, trying an anti-histamine would test that possibility, either a pill or a nasal spray.
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dragnfly
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
Sun block/ lotion getting in your eyes?
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StillLovinIt
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
It's definitely not the sunblock. I know the feel of cheap sunscreen running into your eyes, it typically happens early in the session and you don't just feel it when being underwater. I'm using the same super waterproof/sticky sunblock (Aloe Gator) back home when I kite in hot inland destinations (Sherman Island) without issues.
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edt
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
Good question. Probably bacteria, but who knows. You know it wasn't until 2016 that the CDC decided to do a study about why swimmers get red eye swimming in pools and we've been doing that for 100 years.
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tautologies
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Re: Red itchy eyes *only* in warm/tropical water (even with goggles), why?
Most of the time its getting sunburned. Are you using decent sunglasses? It could be sun lotion, but probably its the sun.