Eyewash and Mouth Exposure to Dirty Fish Tank Water: What Can Go Wrong?

Earlier this week, I found myself in a situation I never anticipated. I was in the middle of a water change for a newly home axolotl, a creature known for its hearty appetite and frequent bowel movements, when something unexpected occurred. Does this sound like a story you'd want to hear?

The Dirty Truth about Dirty Water

Let's set the scene: I had just moved a subadult axolotl into a 40-gallon "big girl" tank that had been cycling for quite some time. Overdosing the tank with copious amounts of guaranteed-live nitrifying bacteria in the three biofilters had made the water less than palatable, but I could live with that. I nicknamed the product "hot garbage" due to its pungent scent.

A Wadi Incident

Water changes are usually routine for aquarists, but on this occasion, I encountered something that could have been out of a thriller movie. The siphon, responsible for removing the waste from the tank, suddenly malfunctioned, causing a gush of water to splash my left eye as I bent over to check the water levels. Can you imagine the chaos that ensued?

Immediate Actions and Concerns

My first thought was of the iconic error from the 80s sitcom Gimme a Break!, where Nell Carter’s vacuum suddenly drains her fish tank. I quickly disengaged the siphon and raced to wash my hands and eyes, extract my contact lenses, and wash them again. My contact lenses and my safety were my top priorities.

Closing the Incident Unsanely

Once the water change was completed, I took a shower and doused my eyes with a saline solution, hoping that would be enough to clear any pathogens. However, by the evening, the sclera—the white part of my eye—had turned a cherry-red, and I knew something was terribly wrong.

Medical Consultation and Resolution

The following day, I called the ophthalmologist's office, but it was closed. I left a message on the doctor's on-call line, with no answer. I spent the whole day in anxious anticipation of what could have colonized my eyeball. Eventually, they managed to fit me in and, much to my relief, the doctor did an admirably thorough check.

He chuckled as he showed me a video of my eye and explained that the redness was more of a bruise from overzealous eye-washing. I definitely hadn’t thought you could wash your eyes too well. He sent me home with eye drops to handle the inflammation and any possible infection. My condition is already improving, but I won’t be able to wear my contacts for a week.

Precautions for Future Water Changes

As someone who handled a direct hit to the eye with water that was thoroughly dosed with bacteria, my advice to anyone who encounters a similar situation is to take immediate action, but be cautious. Ensure that you always remove contact lenses and perform a thorough eyewash if water accidentally splashes into the eye. However, don't go overboard. You could do more harm than good.

Remember, this is not medical advice. If you experience any concerns, please consult a professional. Your health and safety should always be your top priority.